BYD creates brand aimed at taxi drivers with ‘reheated’ cars; get to know Linghui

Chinese manufacturer BYD has officially announced the launch of Linghui, its new brand focused exclusively on the corporate market, covering ride-hailing, taxis and executive fleets. The presentation, held in China at the beginning of the month, consolidates the automaker’s strategy of segregating work vehicles from its traditional passenger line.

With the novelty, the conglomerate now has four main sub-brands — joining Denza, Fang Cheng Bao and Yangwang — in addition to BYD’s own main division. To meet the specific demands of fleet owners and professional drivers, Linghui will operate with a fully independent sales channel network. The focus of the operation will be the cost-benefit ratio, delivering with high energy efficiency and lower prices.

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Structure and positioning for the B2B market

The subsidiary’s initial strategy focuses on the readjustment of platforms established in the group’s global catalog, adapting them for severe daily use. Linghui’s debut portfolio consists of four models developed for different passenger transport niches:

• Linghui e5: positioned as the entry-level option, the sedan is based on the popular BYD Qin Plus and delivers 134 hp of power
  
• Linghui e7 EV: 100% electric intermediate option, available in the Chinese market with engine configurations of 134 hp or 174 hp.
  
• Linghui e9: the brand’s top of the line uses the refined base of the BYD Han EV executive sedan. With engines that reach 201 hp, the model targets high-end transport and VIP transfer.
  
• Linghui M9: the only plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) in the entry-level range. The minivan is built on the architecture of the BYD Xia model, combining a 1.5-liter combustion engine with a 200 kW electric powertrain, focused on transporting groups on longer journeys.