Dongfeng’s upmarket brand VOYAH sees first production model go into trial production

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Dongfeng Motor on Jan. 28 kicked off the trial production of the FREE, the first production model under its premium electric vehicle (EV) brand “VOYAH”, the automaker announced via its WeChat account.

The trial production came only six months after Dongfeng launched the brand “VOYAH” and unveiled the first VOYAH-branded concept “iLand”. In last September, Dongfeng showcased at the Auto China 2020 the concept of the first production model under VOYAH. In December, the automaker announced the formal name “FREE” for VOYAH's first mass-produced model, whose world's premiere was made in the same month.

FREE; photo credit: Dongfeng Motor

Positioned as an anxiety-free full-sized smart electric SUV, the FREE came with two powertrain solutions— full electric and REEV (range-extended electric vehicle) and four smart cockpit models. Notably, the combined range of the REEV version reaches 860km. The intelligent advanced driver assistance system is also a standard feature across the entire lineup of the FREE.

The new vehicle is now available for preorder and is expected for delivery in the third quarter of 2021, according to Dongfeng Motor.

As to sales network, VOYAH plans to open 40 direct-sale stores this year to ensure punctual delivery and high-quality service.

The launch of VOYAH embodies Dongfeng's ambition to go upscale for its self-owned brand. The HK-listed Dongfeng Motor Group announced in last July its plan of returning to A shares and being listed on the ChiNext Market of Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

The proceeds from the financing would be deployed to research and develop the premium new energy PVs under an all-new brand (namely, “VOYAH”), the next-generation automobiles and forward-looking technologies, and supplement working capital, according to the announcement.

Of those, 11 billion yuan ($1.703 billion) was set to be plowed in the “VOYAH” project and 8.8 billion yuan ($1.362 billion) would be mainly used to develop an all-new NEV architecture, autonomous cars and hydrogen fuel cells.