BREAKING: BYD to launch Tang electric SUV and Song Max EV MPV in India, make passenger car market debut

OVERDRIVE has learnt from industry sources that BYD is set to make its debut in the passenger car market in India with two of its more popular global offerings. These will be the BYD Tang electric seven-seater SUV and the BYD Song Max electric MPV.

BYD India passenger car launch plan

BYD has been around in the Indian market as a commercial vehicles manufacturer since 2007. But its recent success with the BYD e6, a premium MPV aimed at the fleet segment, seems to have prompted the firm to take the leap into the Indian passenger vehicle market. The company has also put in place a dealership network for the e6, which means that most of the groundwork needed for a sales/service network to support such a move is already in place. Another prompt for this move could be the massive potential the Indian four-wheeler EV market shows currently, where sales have grown over 2.5 times in the past year and demand still outstrips supply. It is expected that the company will launch the BYD Tang EV and the BYD Song Max EVs in India as CBUs, before ramping up operations to a CKD setup. Even as CBUs, these vehicles could well offer the range and tech of the premium luxury brands at significantly lower prices.

BYD Tang electric SUV, range, specifications, expected price

The BYD Tang electric SUV is set to lead BYD India's foray into the passenger space. The second-gen Tang is BYD's global SUV flagship and is the second model from the firm's Dynasty series of high-performance EVs, made most popular by the Han EV sedan. The BYD Tang is powered by the company's proprietary blade LFP battery, which uses a staggered cell structure for improved energy density, damage protection and thermal efficiency. In this luxury SUV, the battery is rated at 86.4 kWh which gives the Tang a WLTP range of 400 km. The battery can take DC charging of up to 110 kW which charges the battery from 30 to 80 per cent in 30min  and AC charging up to 40 kW through BYD's proprietary AC chargers.

The Tang is powered by two electric motors making a combined 516PS and 680 Nm in its most potent form, which should also make it the most powerful electric SUV in the country with a 0 to 100 kmph time of 4.6s. A more basic variant with 214PS and 565 km of NEDC range is also available, which could well be the version that BYD brings to India. Notable features in the three-row SU include a full suite of ADAS tech, LED lighting, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen, 31-colour ambient lighting, two-sone climate control, wireless charging, Dirac 8-speaker audio, heated and cooled front seats, 22-inch alloy wheels(possible downsized for India) and 8 airbags. The BYD Tange should be priced at around Rs 60 lakh when it launches in the Indian market.

BYD Song Max electric MPV, range, specifications, expected price

However, the mainstay of the BYD passenger car line-up will most likely be the BYD Song Max MPV. The Song max is closely related to the e6, essential its more premium, passenger market version, which will allow BYD to bring it in as a CKD. Given that assembly operations for the e6 are already underway at the firm's facility in Chennai. This could allow BYD India to price the Song Max competitively at around Rs 30 lakh.

The BYD Song Max for India should use the same 71.7 kWh battery pack as the BYD e6 and give it a range of over 400 km. But a more powerful electric motor can be expected, possibly a 161PS and 280 Nm unit. Charging speeds should be similar to the e6, which can accept 60 kW DC charging which fully charges the battery in 1.5 hours. A 6.6 kW AC charger and the 40 kW AC fast charger should also be available. Internationally, the BYD Song Max MPV comes equipped with features like matrix LED lighting, 12.8-inch touchscreen with Wifi, 8 airbags, 360-degree camera, auto headlamps and wipers, climate control, powered seats, etc.

BYD Song Max, BYD Tang launch date India

BYD's decision to foray into the Indian market is further proof that the EV segment in India shows massive potential, given that it is the second-largest EV maker in the world after Tesla. With EVs still in a nascent stage and rising fuel price making this form of mobility more attractive than ever to consumers, electric vehicles sales growth rates could well sustain for some time to come in India. The BYD Tang could be the first to launch in India later this year as a brand builder in the more discerning passenger car market, followed by the more mass-market Song Max later. It is expected that BYD will also expand its touchpoints in the country from the eight cities it is present in, to make these EVs more accessible to a wider audience.