Another Chinese EV manufacturer opens its doors in Europe
Norway is a heaven for electric vehicles, thanks to its wide range of attractive incentives, which, among others, include the exemption from purchase/import taxes, road tax and 25% VAT. On top of that, EV owners will not be charged more than 50% of the total amount on ferry fares and tolls.
In its bid to cut emissions, the Norwegian government has previously decided that by 2025, all new cars sold in the country should be zero emissions. Last year a total of 176,276 cars were sold there, of which 65% were fully electric, up 11% from the previous year.
This encouraging EV uptake has attracted a growing number of EV automakers not only from Europe but from China as well. Following in the footsteps of its compatriots Nio, BYD and Xpeng, Dongfeng’s very own EV sub-brand called Voyah has officially announced that it will open its first overseas store in Oslo, the capital of Norway.
Unlike those more established brands however, Voyah currently has only one product called the Free, a rather handsome looking SUV measuring 4,905 mm in length, 1,950 mm in width, 1,660 mm in height and 2,960 mm in wheelbase. As of January, Voyah has reportedly delivered 10,000 Frees in its home country.
Set to enter the Norwegian market in Q4 this year, the Free will be offered in three versions – two with fully electric powertrains and one with a range extender hybrid. The first version of the EV has an output of 347 hp/520 Nm and rear-wheel drive, while the second version sets itself apart with 510 hp/1,040 Nm and all-wheel drive. Both are equipped with 88 kWh batteries which offer a range of up to 505 km (NEDC).
Meanwhile, the range-extender features a 1.5-litre internal combustion engine that is tasked to charge a 33-kWh battery. This version is said to be able to cover a distance of up to 140 km on electric power alone.
Though for the time being it is the only EV offering in the lineup, the Free will be followed by an electric MPV called Dreamer sometime in the middle of this year. It measures 5,315 mm in length, 1,985 mm in width, 1,820 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 3,200 mm. What’s more, an electric liftback called HS3 is also in the pipeline and set to be launched in 2023.
