The updated Yuan Plus has a starting price of RMB 119,800, or about $16,650. The model is available in several overseas markets under the Atto 3 name.

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BYD's (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) model updates continue, and now it's the turn of the Yuan Plus to get a significantly lower starting price.

The new energy vehicle (NEV) maker today launched the Yuan Plus Glory Edition, with a starting price of RMB 119,800 ($16,650), which is RMB 16,000, or 11.78 percent, lower than the RMB 135,800 starting price of the previously available Champion Edition of the model.

The Yuan Plus, which initially went on sale in China in February 2022, is the first SUV of BYD's all-electric platform, e-platform 3.0, and its first model to be built for the global market, having already been launched under the Atto 3 name in several overseas markets.

BYD rolled out a number of Champion Edition models in the last round of model updates, with the Yuan Plus Champion Edition being launched in September 2023. The model it launched in the latest round of updates after the 2024 Chinese New Year holiday was the Glory Edition.

The Yuan Plus Glory Edition is offered in five variants with starting prices of RMB 119,800, RMB 126,800, RMB 129,800, RMB 139,800 and RMB 147,800.

The previous Yuan Plus Champion Edition was also offered in five versions with starting prices of RMB 135,800, RMB 142,800, RMB 145,800, RMB 155,800 and RMB 163,800.

The Yuan Plus Glory Edition adds black exterior and black interior options and upgraded support for continuous voice calling for the cockpit, according to BYD.

The updated version remains unchanged in terms of core specifications, with length, width and height of 4,455 mm, 1,875 mm and 1,615 mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,720 mm.

The Yuan Plus Glory Edition has the same battery packs as the previous Champion Edition, with the two least expensive models carrying a pack with a capacity of 49.92 kWh and offering a combined range of 430 kilometers. The other three versions are powered by a battery pack with a capacity of 60.48 kWh and offer a range of 510 kilometers.

The model continues to be powered by a single motor with a peak power of 150 kW and peak torque of 310 Nm. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds.

The Yuan Plus Glory Edition is the latest model to be updated by BYD, after updating a model almost every day last week.

On February 19, BYD launched the Qin Plus Glory Edition as well as the Chaser 05 Glory Edition, marking the launch of its latest round of major model updates.

To date, BYD has also updated the Dolphin, Han, Tang, Song Plus, Seal DM-i, and Song Pro DM-i, all of which have seen price drops.

For the full year 2023, BYD sold 3,024,417 NEVs, reaching its target of 3 million units, a 62.3 percent increase year-on-year.

BYD has a sales target of 4 million units in 2024, giving a higher sales forecast of 4.2 million to suppliers, including 2 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and 2.2 million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), according to a report by local media outlet 36kr on February 26.

BYD's sales were significantly lower month-on-month in January and February, at 201,493 units and 122,311 units respectively, due to factors including the Chinese New Year holiday.

($1 = RMB 7.1967)

BYD's initial plan for its 2024 sales target is 4 million units, report says