Chinese automaker BYD has entered the passenger vehicle segment in India with the launch of the e6 electric MPV. The all-electric offering will be sold only in the B2B market, and prices start at Rs 29.15 lakh, going up to Rs. 29.60 lakh (ex-showroom). The latter gets the 7 kW onboard charger as standard. The BYD e6 MPV is available in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Chennai. BYD India currently retails electric buses in the country.
Also Read: Chinese Electric Vehicle Maker BYD Launches $1.8 Billion Capital Raising: Report
Speaking on the launch Shrirang Joshi, Sales Head of Electric Passenger Vehicles - BYD India said, "We are extremely happy to finally bring our globally tested All-New e6 to the Indian market. Focusing on safety, reliability, interior space as well as economic viability, we feel that the All-New e6 will be a hit in the Indian B2B market. We have also focused on improving the driving experience with some of the best-in-class features both in terms of driving comfort and interior features. The total cost of ownership will tremendously benefit our customers and the segment, overall. Thrilled to be a part of India's EV revolution, we will roll out more product ranges in the future."
The BYD e6 Electric MPV's cabin gets a 10.1-inch touchscreen unit with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
Ketsu Zhang, the Executive Director - BYD India, said, "We are delighted to launch the All-New e6 to achieve India's Electric Revolution goals with our premium green technology. We believe this could be a perfect and a strategically time for BYD India to surge in key markets across India. We strive to surpass local customer's expectations，and I'm confident that the All-New e6 and more product portfolio in the future will certainly achieve this."
The e6 electric MPV uses the firm's Blade battery technology packing a 71.7 kWh lithium-ion unit. The model promises a range of 520 km on a single charge in the city and a combined output of 415 km. The electric motor develops about 94 bhp and 180 Nm, while the top speed stands at 130 kmph. The e6 can be charged from 30 to 80 per cent using a DC fast charger in 35 minutes.
The BYD e6 Electric MPV gets the segment-largest boot capacity of 520 litres
BYD says its Blade battery aims to redefine safety standards for the entire industry. The company says its new generation lithium iron phosphate battery has passed the nail penetration test to achieve high levels of energy density and safety. It's also passed the other extreme test conditions including crushing, bending, heating in a furnace to 300-degrees Celsius and overcharging by 260 per cent. The company says it saw no fires or explosions during the tests.
The e6 electric MPV promises a safe and comfortable ride quality and offers a boot capacity of 580 litres, the largest in the MPV segment. It comes with Bosch's IPB intelligent brake control system with a linear braking feel. The model also comes with regenerative braking to improve efficiency.
It's unclear at the moment if BYD India will introduce the e6 for private buyers as well
On the feature front, the BYD e6 comes with LED DRLs and taillights, leather seats with six-way adjustable front seats, a 10.1-inch rotatable touchscreen system with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The model also gets a CN95 Air filtration system. BYD is retailing the e6 with a 3 years/125,000 km warranty. The battery cell warranty stands at 8 Years/500,000 km and a traction motor warranty of 8 Years/150,000 km.
