BYD has launched the Yuan Up in Costa Rica, a compact SUV known locally as the BYD S1 Pro.

BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) recently launched the Yuan Up in Costa Rica, a compact SUV (sport utility vehicle) known locally as the BYD S1 Pro.

BYD has had a presence in the Costa Rican market for more than 10 years, and the Yuan family of compact SUVs is the best-selling new energy vehicle (NEV) model there, the company said in a statement yesterday.

During the week of the launch event, the model received more than 100 pre-sale orders, BYD said.

Built on BYD's e-Platform 3.0 and CTB (Cell to Body) technologies, the Yuan Up has an electric motor with a maximum power of 130 kW and a battery range of 401 kilometers at NEDC standards, it said.

Pedro Dobles, general manager of Cori Motors, BYD's Costa Rican dealership, said the company has been working with BYD for many years and now has five BYD stores in Costa Rica, with plans to expand to 11.

The introduction of the model further cements BYD's reputation for delivering high-performance and safe vehicles, providing even more electric vehicle options for our customers, said Dobles.

BYD launched the Yuan Up in China on March 26 this year, offering four variants with starting prices of RMB 96,800 ($13,800), RMB 99,800, RMB 109,800 and RMB 119,800 respectively.

It measures 4,310 mm in length, 1,830 mm in width and 1,675 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,620 mm.

As of now, the BYD Yuan Up is also available in markets including Chile, Ecuador and Brazil.

BYD sold 373,083 NEVs in August, up 35.97 percent year-on-year and up 8.97 percent from July, according to figures it announced on September 1.

That included 370,854 passenger NEVs as well as 2,229 commercial NEVs.

In August, BYD sold 31,451 NEVs in overseas markets, up 25.69 percent year-on-year and up 4.79 percent from July.

The BYD Yuan family sold 42,179 units in August, up 29.14 percent year-on-year and up 3 percent from July.

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($1 = RMB 7.0138)