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On April 23, Arcfox, a BAIC Group sub-brand, started accepting pre-orders for the new Alpha S5 midsize battery electric sedan, which is available in two variants priced at CNY 219,800 and CNY 199,800, respectively.

The Alpha S5 delivers an ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.1925Cd and measures 4,820mm long, 1,930mm wide, and 1,480mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,900mm.

Based on an 800V silicon carbide super charging platform, the Alpha S5 employs a 2.6C super charging battery pack and offers 708km and 650km ranges. The 708km-range variant is powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor (200kW/360Nm), with a 2WD layout and a 0 to 100km/h acceleration time of 6.8 seconds. The 650km-range variant is powered by a front permanent magnet synchronous motor and a rear AC asynchronous motor (390kW/690Nm in total), with a 4WD layout and a 0 to 100km/h acceleration time of 3.7 seconds. The top speed is 180km/h for both variants.

The Alpha S5 comes with configurations such as a 15.6-inch center console HD touch screen, a 68-inch augmented reality head-up display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, a Level 2+ intelligent driver assistance system, 50W mobile phone wireless charging panels, and a keyless entry system.

From a BAIC Group press release and information on the Arcfox website

On April 20, the BAIC Tech event was held in Beijing, where BAIC Group announced that its R&D investment will exceed CNY 100 billion by 2030. According to the plan, the group will complete a technology iteration and upgrade by 2025, make breakthroughs in key areas by 2028, and have its core technology levels rank among the top in the world by 2030. It will focus on tackling key technologies in seven areas: intelligent driving, intelligent cockpits, electronic controllers, electric drives, hybrid powertrains, batteries, and off-road vehicles.

At the Auto China 2024 in Beijing, BAIC Group will be present with 19 new products from its Arcfox and BAIC Motor sub-brands, including star models such as the BJ30 Electrically-driven Edition, the next-generation BJ40, the BJ60 Electrically-driven Edition, and the Alpha S5. The group will also set up a booth to demonstrate some of the core technologies exhibited at the BAIC Tech, such as the Polaris premium full-digital electric platform, the Mohe super electric drive platform, an embodied AI, and a high-computing-power intelligent cockpit.

From a BAIC Group press release

On April 15, 2024, EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary PEPS-JV (Melaka) Sdn Bhd (PJVM) has entered into a Vehicle Assembly Co-operation Agreement with Baic International Development Co. Ltd (BAIC) to cooperate on the assembly and manufacture of BAIC’s authorized model vehicles in Malaysia.

Under the agreement, which will be effective from April 8, 2024, to April 7, 2034, PJVM, as a vehicle assembler, will also ensure that the assembly plant has an assembly and manufacturing capacity of no less than 5,000 per year before September 1, 2024, and no less than 10,000 units per year before March 1, 2025. 

Meanwhile, BAIC will provide relevant technical support and training as well as guidance and supervision on the assembly and manufacturing process. The Chinese company will also be responsible for the sales and marketing of vehicles in the ASEAN region.

The first BAIC models planned for production were said to be the BJ40 Plus and X55II SUVs.

(From Bursa Malaysia announcement dated April 15, 2024 and an article of Paul Tan on April 16, 2024)