China’s BYD debuted its Yangwang U8, a high-end plug-in hybrid SUV that can float in the event of a water-related accident, at the Geneva auto show on Tuesday.
The model, which weighs about 3.5 metric tonnes, has four electric motors—one in each wheel—that allow it to park sideways like a crab and to turn completely on the spot.
Although BYD is considering exporting the SUV to other markets, it is only available for purchase in China at this time.
“This vehicle could perhaps be brought to certain European markets with limited distribution, but not necessarily exactly in its current form,” BYD’s marketing manager for France Guillaume Calvar told. “But for the moment, we are … testing its appeal,” he added.
Since it began deliveries in November, BYD said that it had sold 3,653 units of the U8, which is priced in China at 1.098 million yuan ($152,550), by the end of January.
The Yangwang U9 sports supercar, which the automaker also unveiled in China on Sunday, is now accepting pre-orders with a starting price of 1.68 million yuan.
According to Calvar, BYD has not yet determined whether to market its high-end Yangwang brand in Europe.
The company’s current priorities are the launch of its premium Denza brand and its electric and hybrid BYD range.
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