BYD’s First Made In Brazil Car – Flex Fuel PHEV SUV Can Run On Petrol, Ethanol, Pure Electric

After operating a SKD strategy for Brazil, one of world’s largest EV juggernauts, BYD (Build Your Dream), has just come up with a locally manufactured vehicle for the first time. However, what is more impressive is the fact that BYD’s first locally manufactured vehicle for Brazil features a powertrain that can run on Petrol, Ethanol and pure Electric.

Called BYD Song Pro Super-Hibrido Flex Fuel, this vehicle is tailor made for the Brazilian market, developed by BYD’s R&D team in China and Brazil and is built in BYD’s new Camacari plant in Brazil on which the company has invested BRL 5.5 billion (around Rs 10,180 Crores). This Brazil-specific vehicle may launch in India too, as confirmed by the company’s Senior VP.

BYD Song Pro Super-Hibrido Flex Fuel

For Brazil, BYD has been overhauling its operation strategies as the company has just come up with a specific model tailor-made for Brazilian market. This model is called BYD Song Pro Super-Hibrido Flex Fuel or Song Pro DM-i Flex and it will be locally manufactured at the company’s new Camacari plant, aimed at positioning Brazil as a regional export hub.

This new PHEV Flex vehicle will be made in BYD’s Camacari plant which boasts to produce 1,80,000 vehicles this year. Around 1,50,000 units of the 2,00,000 vehicles BYD aims to sell in Brazil this year, will be manufactured at the Camacari plant, which has seen a huge capital investment of BRL 5.5 billion (around Rs 10,180 Crores).

Runs on Petrol, Ethanol, Electric

As the name suggests, this new BYD Song Pro Super-Hibrido Flex Fuel is based on the Song Pro and is equipped with a unique powertrain that can run on Petrol or Ethanol or pure Electric. The powertrain is PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and has up to 120 km of pure electric range in the higher-spec GS variant.

The engine is optimised to run on flex fuels which Brazil has adopted for some time now. So, the powertrain accepts both Petrol or Ethanol, making it versatile for Brazilian market, but also an opportunity for BYD to crack other markets transitioning to Ethanol Flex Fuels, like India, where E20 blend has become the new standard with scope to increase Ethanol content further.

The brand’s Senior Vice President Alexandre Baldy, also mentioned the same, reaffirming that BYD Song Pro i-DM Flex is made exclusively for Brazil, but could eventually target other markets like India. Currently, BYD India only offers pure electric vehicles to enjoy the lower taxes and duties, which helps them price their vehicles competitively.