(Yicai) Sept. 21 -- Chinese new energy vehicle maker BYD has officially launched the first model of its high-end car brand Yangwang, priced at CNY1.1 million (USD150,400).

BYD will begin delivering the Yangwang U8 to customers in 13 provincial-level regions in China, including Shanghai and Shenzhen, late next month, the Shenzhen-based automaker announced yesterday.

The U8 has 1,200 super horsepower, a zero-to-one-hundred acceleration of 3.6 seconds, all-terrain in-situ U-turn, flat tire stability, and emergency floating capabilities, BYD noted, adding that the supercar has also a plug-in hybrid system, making its combined cruising range reach 1,000 kilometers.

The intelligent cockpit of the U8’s luxury version is equipped with a four-nanometer fifth-generation chip customized by BYD and Qualcomm and the Yangwang Link smart network connection system, so it has a complete application ecology.

The Yangwang marquee will build independent sales channels and adopt a full direct sales model with experience stores and showrooms.

BYD announced in January this year the launch of the Yangwang U8 and U9 supercars. Both models were priced at CNY1.1 million, becoming the company’s first products above CNY1 million.  

BYD officially opened presales for the U8 at the Shanghai Auto Show in April. Earlier this month, the firm said the preorders for the U8 exceeded expectations but did not release the exact figures.

The first batch of Yangwang directly-operated stores has already opened in 16 Chinese cities, including Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, while more than 70 are under construction. BYD plans to open over 90 Yangwang stores in 40 cities in China before the end of the year.

Editor: Futura Costaglione