Deepal, the new energy vehicle (NEV) unit of Changan Automobile (SHE: 000625), has launched a new model, the S09, as the latest large SUV (sport utility vehicle) option in the Chinese market.
Deepal officially launched the S09 at an event on May 22, offering only extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants.
The six-seater SUV measures 5,205 mm in length, 1,996 mm in width and 1,800 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 3,105 mm.
Deepal offers five options for the S09 with starting prices of RMB 239,900 ($33,310), RMB 259,900, RMB 279,900, RMB 279,900 and RMB 309,900.
The prices are low for a large SUV of that size. For comparison, Li Auto's (NASDAQ: LI) similarly sized Li L9 EREV starts at RMB 409,800.
Shortly after last night's launch, Deepal said on Weibo that the S09 had received 21,168 firm orders as of 12:00 midnight.
Deliveries of the S09 began at launch, and Deepal is offering customers a limited-time RMB 35,000 discount on the purchase of the vehicle, bringing the SUV's starting price down to RMB 204,900.
The Deepal S09 comes standard with a 1.5 L displacement engine as a range-extender and is available in rear-wheel drive versions as well as four-wheel drive versions.
The rear-wheel drive models have a powertrain with a maximum power of 231 kW and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.
The four-wheel drive versions have an additional front motor with 131 kW and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds.
The model comes standard with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack with a capacity of 40.18 kWh from CATL and a CLTC pure electric range of 220 km or 210 km.
The Deepal S09 is equipped with Huawei's ADS SE or ADS Max driver assistance systems, with the ADS Max supporting assisted driving from one parking space to another.
By the second half of this year, the two highest priced variants of the Deepal S09 are expected to be upgraded to Huawei's latest ADS 4 driver assistance system.
Deepal is the NEV brand announced by Changan in 2022, and officially launched its first model, the SL03, on July 25, 2022, as a competitor to the Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) Model 3.
Its current models also include the S05 SUV, S07 SUV, L07 sedan, and G318 SUV.
Deepal delivered 20,138 vehicles in April, up 58.02 percent year-on-year but down 17.37 percent from March, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.
In the January-April period, it delivered 87,822 vehicles, up 66.24 percent year-on-year.
The brand said last December that it was targeting global sales of 500,000 vehicles in 2025, with 400,000 expected in the domestic market and 100,000 in overseas markets.
($1 = RMB 7.2013)
