Geely, the Chinese automobile giant that owns Volvo, has just introduced the Boyue EREV in China with a limited-time price of 107,900 yuan, or about $14,900. This price is worth noting when you consider that this is not a stripped-down city car, but a longer-range SUV. It also underscores that the values gap between China and the US appears even larger.
Again, this is not a tiny compromise. According to Geely, the Boyue EREV offers up to 375 km of CLTC electric range and up to 1,525 km of combined range, depending on the variant. It uses a 1.5-liter range extender, a 160 kW electric motor and either a 28.3 kWh or 50.4 kWh LFP battery. The larger battery also supports 3C fast charging, which is said to go from 30% to 80% charge in just about 15 minutes.
What else does it offer?
The Boyue EREV doesn’t compromise on price either and offers a 14.6-inch central display, an 8.8-inch instrument cluster, Flyme Auto and support for Carlink and Huawei HiCar. To keep pace with other high-tech Chinese electric vehicles, you also get 50W wireless charging, an optional 16-speaker audio system, an optional HUD and L2-level driver assistance. With a length of 4,680 mm and a wheelbase of 2,778 mm, it is also a real family SUV.
Why this is such a big deal
The bigger story here isn’t just about Geely’s new SUV. This is what a product like this says about the market division. Reuters reported earlier this week about Geely’s increased importance to Volvo as the Swedish brand navigates a difficult car market. It also underlines how central the Chinese parent company has become. And while U.S. buyers want to buy Chinese electric vehicles, they are largely denied that value.
