The $25,000 EV Is Here: BYD Yuan Up Announced in Colombia for $25,700

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Via the final days of July, a brand new arrival has been quietly remodeling the EV panorama in Latin America: the BYD Yuan Up. Its silent look has occurred thus far in Chile and Colombia (that I might confirm), and it has the potential to revolutionize the market of both nation as a result of, as a number of information shops have already identified, it’s been offered at a cheaper price than its direct ICEV opponents.

The BYD Yuan Up could be thought of a small automobile within the US, however in Latin America, it’s really seen as a decent-sized SUV. For the next evaluation, I’ll give attention to Colombia, as these small SUV-like automobiles are all the craze within the Colombian market, whereas Chile, being wealthier, has a choice for bigger SUVs and pickup vehicles.

BYD Yuan Up heats the competitors in Colombia

At 4.31 meters (169 inches) lengthy and 1.83 meters (72 inches) large, this automobile presents direct competitors to a number of the most bought fashions in Colombia, together with the highest three 12 months to this point: Mazda CX-30, Toyota Corolla Cross, and Renault Duster. The catch? After all, that this might be the one EV in that checklist.

The BYD Yuan Up arrived in Latin America solely in its most costly trim. It comes with a comparatively small 45 kWh battery (the principle sacrifice it makes to attain a great worth), however in any other case brings a great design and a luxurious really feel to its inside, in addition to a 130 kW motor able to reaching 100 km/h (~60 mph) in 7.9 seconds. As most BYDs available in the market, it claims the capability to achieve 80% battery cost in half-hour (on this case due to 65 kW peak cost). The official vary estimate is 380 km underneath the optimistic NEDC cycle: make of that info what you would like.

However let’s get to what everybody right here might be ready for: its worth, and the way it compares to the ICEV competitors.

These three fashions lead the Colombian market thus far in 2024, with the Mazda CX-30 and Toyota Corolla Cross remaining forward of the Renault Duster regardless of their larger value, primarily as a result of they provide HEV variants (MHEV within the case of Mazda), that are exempt from site visitors restrictions in giant cities.

I assume most of you already see the place I’m going with this.

The BYD Yuan Up could also be dearer than the Renault Duster entry-level trim, nevertheless it additionally enters the competitors with a major benefit: exemption from the above-mentioned ICEV site visitors restrictions (which in Bogota are each second day). One other issue is that the entry-level Duster has a handbook transmission, $26,600 being wanted to get an computerized one … sufficient to position it above the Yuan Up cost-wise.

As for its Japanese competitors, the Yuan Up is cheaper than any of the alternate options, and extra so if we take into account that the entry-level Mazda and Toyota are pure ICEVs and a bit extra must be paid to get oneself a hybrid.

BYD appears to have discovered a candy spot the place it could possibly play to its strengths whereas nonetheless sustaining a cheaper price than its direct competitors, making it in order that the downsides (that are mainly the comparatively low vary and a smaller trunk) will be missed.

Closing ideas

The Latin American EV market is heating up due to the arrival of extra aggressive EV choices which are beginning to threaten the ICEV best-sellers. The BYD Yuan Up is just the latest arrival on a rising checklist of champions that ought to sow worry into the hearts of Legacy Auto, which additionally consists of: the Geometry E, the Tesla siblings, and the BYD Seagull. And extra are coming.

The Yuan Up is being touted as successful already, however my predominant query is whether or not it’ll have sufficient to achieve a spot within the high 3 most bought automobiles in Colombia. What do you suppose?

By the best way, in keeping with some feedback, 18 hours after its presentation, the primary cargo of this automobile (resulting from arrive in September) is already bought out. Folks will now have to attend till December for the second cargo.