The updated Frigate 07 SUV has a starting price of RMB 179,800, which is RMB 23,000, or 12.79 percent, lower than its predecessor's starting price of RMB 202,800.
(Image credit: BYD)
BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) is moving forward with its model refresh today, and now it's the turn of the Frigate 07, the flagship SUV of the Ocean series.
The new energy-vehicle (NEV) maker today rolled out the updated Frigate 07 SUV, calling it the Frigate 07 Glory Edition, similar to the naming it has used for its other new models in this round of model updates.
The Frigate 07 Glory Edition has a starting price of RMB 179,800 ($24,980), which is RMB 23,000, or 12.79 percent, lower than its predecessor's starting price of RMB 202,800.
The Frigate 07, which initially went on sale on December 9, 2022, is the flagship SUV of BYD's Ocean lineup. The other product array of the BYD brand is the Dynasty lineup.
The previously on-sale Frigate 07 offered six options with starting prices of RMB 202,800, RMB 215,800, RMB 228,800, RMB 245,800, RMB 259,800 and RMB 289,800.
The Frigate 07 was not updated in BYD's Champion Edition model update last year, mostly likely because it hadn't been on the market for long at the time.
The Frigate 07 Glory Edition is available in five options with starting prices of RMB 179,800, RMB 189,800, RMB 202,800, RMB 229,800 and RMB 259,800.
The updated model's dimensions remain unchanged, with length, width and height of 4,820 mm, 1,920 mm and 1,750 mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,820 mm.
Its cockpit system has been upgraded to the latest DiLink 100, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8-core processor based on a 6 nm process and upgraded with a new 5G baseband.
Its virtual voice assistant features have also been significantly upgraded and now support 20-second continuous conversations, and an AI voice that BYD said is comparable to the voice of a real person.
Other upgrades include a 6-kW VTOL mobile power station, 10.25-inch full LCD instrumentation, and 50 W wireless charging for phones.
The Frigate 07 is only available in hybrid versions, with three options with a CLTC battery range of 100 kilometers, one with 175 kilometers and another with 205 kilometers.
The model's most powerful 4WD version can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, while the 2WD version does it in 8.9 and 8.5 seconds respectively.
Being a mid-range to high-end model, the Frigate 07 saw a significant increase in sales in its initial launch with the increase in production capacity, with monthly sales in April and May 2023 at just over 10,000 units, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.
Over the past few months, the model has been weak, with sales dropping to 774 units in February.
BYD sold 122,311 NEVs in February, down 36.84 percent year-on-year and down 39.30 percent from January, mainly due to disruptions caused by the Chinese New Year holiday.
BYD is continuing to push forward with its latest round of model updates in hopes of accelerating the replacement of NEVs for traditional gasoline vehicles.
On February 19, 2024, the second working day after the Chinese New Year holiday, BYD launched lower-priced Glory Editions for the Qin Plus and the Chaser 05, 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, Yuan Plus, Song Pro DM-i, Seagull, and e2, all of which have seen prices drop.
($1 = RMB 7.1975)
