The Bao 8 is the second model from Fang Cheng Bao and the first under the BYD umbrella to feature Huawei's driver assist system.
Fang Cheng Bao has launched its new hybrid sport utility vehicle (SUV) model, the Bao 8, in an attempt to disrupt the off-road SUV market by combining BYD's (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) electrification technology with Huawei's intelligent driving capabilities.
The BYD sub-brand rolled out the Bao 8 at an event in Shenzhen today, its second model after the Bao 5 off-road SUV and the first under the BYD umbrella to feature Huawei's driver assist system.
The Bao 8 is offered in two six-seat variants and two seven-seat variants, with a price range of RMB 379,800 ($52,520) to RMB 407,800, lower than the RMB 400,000 to RMB 500,000 range that was widely expected.
BYD and Huawei began joint development on the Bao 8 in January this year, and the two officially signed a deal in late August to create the world's first smart-driving solution exclusive to hardcore off-road vehicles.
The Bao 8 is equipped with Huawei's Qiankun ADS 3.0, which was released in April, and enables advanced intelligent driving features including urban NOA (Navigate on Autopilot).
The system uses a safety-first end-to-end network architecture to deliver a more human-like, safer, and more efficient driving experience, according to the companies.
The system enables the vehicle to automatically drive from one parking space to another, and can autonomously cope with a variety of complex scenarios including gates and narrow lane turnarounds.
In addition to being equipped with Huawei's Qiankun ADS 3.0, the Bao 8's smart cockpit also supports Huawei HiCar, which brings seamless connectivity between the vehicle and smartphone.
BYD officially announced the Fang Cheng Bao brand on August 16, 2023, and the brand's first model, the Bao 5, was launched on November 9, 2023, with deliveries beginning at the end of the same month.
The Bao 5 is currently offered in four variants in China, with a starting price range of RMB 239,800 to RMB 302,800.
The Bao 8 is a higher-end model, starting at RMB 387,800 and RMB 407,800 for the two six-seat variants and RMB 379,800 and RMB 399,800 for the two seven-seat variants.
Like the Bao 5, it is based on BYD's DMO hybrid platform, where O stands for off-road and DM for dual mode.
The Bao 8 measures 5,195 mm in length, 1,994 mm in width and 1,905 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,920 mm, while the Bao 5 measures 4,890 mm in length, 1,970 mm in width and 1,920 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,800 mm.
The Bao 8 is powered by a high-power 2.0 T engine, as well as dual electric motors with a total power of 550 kW and a maximum torque of 760 Nm, which enables the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds.
The model comes standard with a BYD blade battery pack with a capacity of 36.8 kWh and has a combined range of 1,200 kilometers on a full tank of fuel and full charge.
The Bao 8 is equipped with DiSus-P body control system, the most advanced of the three branches of BYD's DiSus system, with up to 200 mm of suspension adjustment travel.
The DiSus system was released in April 2023 and the other two branches are DiSus-C and DiSus-A.
The Bao 8's main competitor is Great Wall Motor's Tank 700 Hi4-T, which is currently offered in two variants starting at RMB 428,000 and RMB 468,000 respectively.
Fang Cheng Bao describes the Bao 8 as a new type of off-road vehicle equipped with electric technology, which offers faster powertrain response and a higher level of intelligence than traditional off-road vehicles.
The launch of the Bao 8 is expected to drive further sales growth for Fang Cheng Bao.
The BYD sub-brand delivered a record 6,026 vehicles in October, up 11.14 percent from 5,422 in September, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.
So far this year, Fang Cheng Bao has delivered 36,449 vehicles, bringing the brand's cumulative deliveries since launch to 42,161.
BYD Fang Cheng Bao to launch new models more intensively from Q4
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