Dongfeng’s premium brand VOYAH names first production model ‘FREE’

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- VOYAH, the premium electric vehicle (EV) brand Dongfeng Motor launched in July, announced its first mass-produced model is named “FREE”. The full-sized SUV, carrying a wheelbase of 2.9 meters, is set to make its world's debut on Dec. 18 in Shenzhen.

VOYAH FREE; photo credit: VOYAH

According to VOYAH, the FREE came with two powertrain solutions—full electric and REEV (range-extended electric vehicle)—to satisfy consumers with different needs. Under the hood, the REEV carries a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine and an electric motor with rated power of 60kW, befitting the long-distance travelling scenarios and serving as a proper option for users who are not easy to get charging facilities. The BEV version mainly targets the users living near charging equipment and urban commuters.

VOYAH FREE; photo credit: VOYAH

VOYAH is vigorously pushing ahead with its vehicle volume production. At the Auto China 2020, the automaker offered the first glimpse of its first production model's concept, the iFree. In November, the first body in white and pre-production model rolled off the production line. The company said the FREE will hit the market in the third quarter of 2021.

The launch of VOYAH embodies Dongfeng's ambition to go upscale for its self-owned brand. The HK-listed Dongfeng Motor Group announced in July its plan of returning to A shares and being listed on the ChiNext Market of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. It noted that the domestic IPO is carried out to further improve its management structure and complete a financing platform at home and abroad.

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 ($1.673 billion) was set to be plowed in the “VOYAH” project and 8.8 billion yuan ($1.338 billion) would be mainly used to develop an all-new NEV architecture, autonomous cars and hydrogen fuel cells.