Today Baojun launched its Yue Plus car which is the first car on the company’s new Tianyu architecture. At the launch event the company outlined more details about the architecture which provides 3 major platforms S, M and D and also gave the first details about two new SUVs set to launch later this year.
Baojun like parent company Wuling is probably best known for small and micro cars but the architecture provides platforms for everything from micro to large cars and integrates electrification and intelligence.
Covering the 2500-3500 mm range the S platform is for micro cars. Baojun claims it is a platform for vehicles designed to meet the needs of young people with personality with the core uses of commuting, and socializing. There is an emphasis on being easy to drive and fun.
Next up is the M platform for what Baojun classifies as mainstream medium-sized EVs however judging from the size range of 3500-4600 mm these would be small to compact cars using anyone else’s language. Target market for such cars are budget conscious young families who need enough space, range, storage and power for needs such as picking up and dropping off children, short trips from the city, and shopping. Based on the size of the Yep Plus we can assume that it uses the M platform.
Finally there is the D platform and it seems that Baojun had run out of stories before it got to this one just saying that it is for family cars with a wider range of car use scenarios! The platform covers the relatively narrow 4600-5000 mm range.
Two new models were announced and both use the D platform. Firstly there will be a five-seat intelligent SUV to be launched in the third quarter of 2024 and following on from this in the fourth quarter a large six-seat intelligent SUV.
Baojun started life as a new brand under Wuling in 2010 with sales beginning in 2011. Cars were initially cobbled together from the General Motors parts bin, Wuling is a joint venture with GM having 44% ownership, SAIC 50.1% and the remainder under the actual Wuling company. Baojun now only produces small EVs although it formerly also produced ICE cars up to about mid-size.
Sources: Fast Technology, PC auto
