Industry dynamics

Voyah moves fast to launch new Dream and Courage models

Publishtime:2019/08/16 Views:15
Voyah starts presales of the Courage electric SUV at the 2024 Chengdu auto show. [Photo by Cao Yingying/chinadaily.com.cn]

Within 48 hours in late August, Dongfeng Motor's Voyah started presales of two models, as a sign of the premium brand's efforts to stay agile and competitive in China's fast-evolving NEV sector.

"This quick move was driven by rapid market changes and high, diverse user demand," said Lu Fang, CEO of Voyah.

He added that with strong capabilities in R&D, production and sales, along with support from parent Dongfeng Motor, Voyah can swiftly adapt and launch its products.

On Wednesday, two days ahead of the Chengdu auto show, Voyah started presales of the new Dream MPV, which provides models equipped with the self-developed Kunpeng system and Huawei's Qiankun intelligent driving ADS 3.0 and HarmonyOS cockpit.

"We aim to make the Dream the best MPV in China, or even globally, and we believe we can," Lu said.

The MPV comes with top-tier features, including three rows of seating, a fridge, multiple screens, a smart cabin and Huawei's industry-leading driver-assistance system.

The new Dream received more than 14,000 orders by Saturday. "The growth in orders has far exceeded our expectations," said Shao Mingfeng, general manager of Voyah sales company.

On the first day of the Chengdu auto show, Voyah started the presales of the Courage. The electric SUV is available in four versions, with presales prices starting from 209,900 yuan ($29,470).

The model's advanced features include 900 kilometers of range, an 800-volt silicon carbide platform, super-fast charging, as well as a smart cabin and Kunpeng intelligent driving technology.

The Courage will debut internationally at the Turin auto show in Italy later this month. According to Lu, when the Courage first rolled off the production line on August 26, models were simultaneously shipped to Chengdu and Italy.

"Market analysis shows strong demand for electrification abroad due to its environmental benefits. With China slightly ahead in this area, we're leveraging our first-mover advantage to swiftly launch the Voyah Courage in Europe," Lu said.

Voyah had received over 10,000 orders for the Courage by the end of August.

The automaker delivered 6,156 vehicles in August, up 54 percent year-on-year. Its sales from January to August totaled 42,547 units, soaring 90 percent year-on-year.

According to Shao, Voyah aims to have 350 to 400 offline stores nationwide by year's end, enhancing its market presence and service network.