Arcfox plans to start offering the α-S electric sedan in Japan in 2024, with Japan's startup Turing making some changes to the model's smart features.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

Arcfox, the electric vehicle (EV) brand affiliated with Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), plans to start selling EVs in Japan next year, despite its lackluster performance in its home market.

Beijing Electric Vehicle Co (BJEV), the EV-making arm of BAIC Group, signed a letter of intent on October 8 to collaborate with Turing, a Japanese startup dedicated to mass-producing fully autonomous EVs, according to a press release by Arcfox today.

BJEV and Turing will provide high-level intelligent driving products for the Japanese market and explore the commercialization of autonomous driving technology in Japan in the future, according to the release.

(Image credit: Arcfox)

Based on the partnership, Arcfox plans to begin offering the α-S electric sedan in the Japanese market in 2024.

Turing will make some changes to the model's smart features to meet the travel needs of the Japanese market, Arcfox said.

The Arcfox α-S was unveiled on April 17, 2021, and is the world's first production vehicle to feature Huawei's Huawei Inside smart car solution.

The model is currently priced from RMB 223,800 ($30,690) in China and RMB 329,800 for the Huawei Inside version.

In terms of performance, the "Huawei Inside" Arcfox α-S has a 4WD motor with a peak power of 473 kW and peak torque of 655 Nm, accelerating from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 3.5 seconds.

It supports 800V high-voltage fast charging with up to 187 kW of charging power, and BAIC previously claimed the model could replenish its range of nearly 200 km in 10 minutes.

However, sales of the Arcfox α-S have been weak in China, with its all-time high monthly sales not exceeding 1,500 units.

In August, Arcfox sold 2,029 vehicles, with the Arcfox α-S contributing 1,473, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) shared by local automotive media Yiche.

Arcfox sold 2,016 vehicles in September, according to figures released by the company earlier this month, which did not provide a breakdown of sales by model. It also currently sells the α-T SUV and the small-sized EV Koala.

($1 = RMB 7.2919)

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