BYD EMax 7 Electric MPV Launched At Rs. 26.90 Lakh
BYD India has launched its latest electric vehicle in the country- the eMax 7. It has become the first 6/7 seater EV in the country. It will replace the E6 (the manufacturer’s first-ever offering in India) in BYD’s portfolio. In other words, it is the facelifted E6. There are two trims- Premium and Superior and the price starts at Rs 26.90 lakh, ex-showroom. Like other BYD models, the eMax 7 is also brought to our shores as CBUs.
The eMax 7 can now be booked against a token amount of Rs. 51,000. The company offers special benefits for the first 1,000 bookings, made before the launch date. Benefits worth the booking amount (Rs 51,000) and complementary 7kW and 3KW AC chargers. Deliveries will begin in May next year.
BYD eMax 7 Design
In terms of dimensions, the eMax 7 is fairly large. It has a wheelbase of 2800mm, ample to accommodate all three rows of seating. The length, width and height are 4,710 mm, 1,810 mm, and 1,690 mm respectively.
The eMAX 7 gets notable cosmetic reworks and feature additions. The design of the headlamps and taillamps has been slightly redone. The front fascia now looks fresh with sleeker LED headlamps, angular air ducts, and a Chrome slat that runs from one headlamp to the other. The vehicle also comes with sharper body creases and new alloy wheels. The tail lamps now get a connected design. There are 4 colour options available.
Interior
The cabin now looks more premium with the Black and Brown colourway, than the one on the E6. BYD E6 has had immense acceptance in the fleet segment. The eMax 7 intends to target the personal vehicle space. The interior is thus comfortable and packed with features. There is now a larger 12.8-inch rotatable touchscreen offered. The previous vehicle had a 10.1-inch unit. There is also wireless smartphone connectivity.
The centre console has slight revisions gone into it. It gets two wireless charging pads, improved switchgear, and a new sleek drive selector with integrated fingerprint sensor tech. The steering wheel is an all-new unit with mounted controls. The instrument cluster continues to be an analogue unit. Other notable features are leatherette seats with ventilation, a panoramic glass roof and ADAS.
The BYD E6 was a five-seater. However, the eMax 7 offers three rows of seating. It can be had as a six or seven-seater. The 6-seater gets comfortable captain seats in the middle row. Both the second and third-row seats get roof-mounted AC vents, cup holders, adjustable headrests, and three-point seat belts. The driver seat offers 6-way electric adjustments while the front passenger seat offer 4-way adjustments.
Powertrain Specifications
The eMax 7 is already on sale in several international markets where it is available with two battery packs- 55.4kWh and 71.8kWh. On the smaller battery version, the motor produces 163 hp while on the 71.8kWh version, it is 204 hp.
The previous E6 was offered with a 71.8kWh unit. BYD uses its signature Blade battery technology on all its EVs including the eMax 7. The vehicle also uses the signature 8-in-one powertrain. The setup, same as the global model, produces 204 hp and 310 Nm. This is in fact, 95hp and 180 Nm more than the previous E6. The range is a claimed 530 km per charge. It also comes with V2L capabilities. The smaller battery pack is available on the ‘Premium’ variants alone.
Price And Variants
Premium 6 seater- 26.90 lakh (ex-showroom)
Premium 7 seater- 27.5 lakh (ex-showroom)
Superior 6 seater- 29.3 lakh (ex-showroom)
Superior 7 seater- 29.9 lakh (ex-showroom)
Market Rivals In India
In the Indian market, the eMax 7 will compete with the Toyota Innova Hycross and Maruti Suzuki Invicto. Both these MPVs have hybrid versions. There is, however, no direct EV rival to the eMax 7. However, Kia is working on an EV based on the Carens. When launched, it will compete with the eMax 7.
Will BYD Consider Local Manufacturing Of The eMax 7?
As per reports, the Chinese manufacturer might soon consider local manufacturing of its products. It is said to be in conversations with Indian conglomerates (likely Ambani and Adani) to form a joint venture. If these go well, BYD will be able to set up its factory in India. It will then be able to bring big-ticket investments to our land. Plus, local manufacturing will allow the company to lower the vehicle prices.
BYD’s Business In India And Abroad:
Globally, the company has commenced deliveries of 9 million NEVs and is probably a few weeks away from the 10 million mark. In India, BYD has a strong presence in the electric bus segment and among material handling equipment products. The current portfolio consists of the eMax 7, Atto 3 and Seal.