BYD has made a filing for the Xia MPV in preparation for its launch within the year. The model began accepting pre-orders on September 27.

BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) has made a filing for the Xia MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), after it began accepting pre-orders late last month.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released its latest catalog of models that will be allowed to be sold for public comment yesterday, and the BYD Xia is included.

The public can submit their feedback between October 16 and 22. Entry into the catalog is the last major regulatory process by which a model can be allowed to be sold in China.

The BYD Xia MPV has two pages in the catalog, with product models BYD6510MT6HEV1 and BYD6510MT6HEV, both plug-in hybrids.

The model's length, width and height are 5,145 mm, 1,970 mm and 1,805 mm respectively, with a wheelbase of 3,045 mm, according to its filing.

The dimensions are a smaller than the Denza D9, which has a length, width and height of 5,250 mm, 1,960 mm, 1,920 mm and a wheelbase of 3,110 mm.

The two versions of the BYD Xia MPV weigh 2,470 kg and 2,650 kg and support a top speed of 190 kilometers per hour.

Both versions that made it into the catalog are powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries, supplied by BYD's battery manufacturing unit FinDreams Battery.

The Xia is powered by an engine with a displacement of 1,498 ml and a maximum power of 115 kW. Its electric motor has a maximum power of 200 kW.

BYD gave the Xia its debut on the first day of the Chengdu auto show on August 30, saying at the time that the MPV would be priced in the RMB 300,000 yuan ($42,140) class and would go on sale within this year.

The model is part of BYD's Dynasty lineup, and the Xia is the first Dynasty in recorded Chinese civilization. BYD's other major array is the Ocean series.

BYD's Dynasty series previously included the Han, Tang, Qin, Song and Yuan families, all of which were named after Chinese historical dynasties.

The Xia will be powered by BYD's fifth-generation DM hybrid technology, which was unveiled on May 28 and brings lower fuel consumption.

On September 27, BYD began accepting pre-orders for the Xia, but no further pricing information has been released.

($1 = RMB 7.1196)

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