Haval, a brand of Great Wall Motors, launched its plug-in hybrid Dargo on Monday to explore opportunities in the burgeoning NEV sector.

The second-generation Dargo, also known as Big Dog, is the first NEV model of Haval's Dog series, said the brand.

The vehicle is available in two variants, the model sports a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and a two-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. Its maximum output can reach 240 kW and its top torque can hit 530 Nm.

The model's fuel consumption per 100 km stands at 5.92 liters and its overall range can reach over 1,000 km.

The Dargo has a muscular look as an off-roader. It measures 4,705 mm in length, 1,908 mm in width and 1,780 mm in height, with a segment-leading wheelbase of 2,810 mm.

Plug-in hybrids are seeing their popularity rise in the Chinese market thanks to their long driving range compared with electric vehicles.

Statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers show that 121,000 plug-in hybrids were sold in January, up 42.5 percent year-on-year.

In the same month, sales of electric vehicles stood at 287,000 units, down 18.2 percent year-on-year.