Honda launched the Ye brand in China on April 16, saying it would launch the Ye S7 and Ye P7 at the end of this year and mass-produce the Ye GT in 2025.
Japanese auto giant Honda has started warming up China for the Ye S7, the first model of its new electric vehicle (EV) brand Ye, after launching the new brand in April.
Dongfeng Honda, Honda's joint venture in China, shared several official images of the Ye S7 on Weibo on July 14, showing details of the model's exterior.
The Dongfeng Honda Ye S7 is the first model of Honda's new EV brand for the Chinese market, Honda wrote on Weibo.
The Ye S7 is an SUV (sport utility vehicle) model, and the images shared by Dongfeng Honda show that it will feature a panoramic sunroof, similar to the current mainstream EV models.
Honda launched the Ye brand in China on April 16, its third brand in the country targeting the world's largest EV market after e:N and Lingxi.
The Ye brand would target the needs of Chinese customers and will build cars based on the all-electric Architecture W architecture, Honda said at a launch event at the time.
Honda planned to launch six models under the new brand in China by 2027, with a 100 percent electrification transition in the country by 2035, it said at the time.
The Japanese carmaker announced three new models at the time, the Ye GT, which will be mass-produced in 2025, the Ye S7 and Ye P7, which will both be launched at the end of this year.
The Ye P7 will be built by GAC Honda, a joint venture between Honda and GAC Group, while the Ye S7 will be built by Dongfeng Honda, a joint venture between it and Dongfeng Motor.
On July 12, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released its latest catalog of models that will soon be allowed to be sold for public comment, and the Ye S7 was included, bringing to light information about its key specifications.
The public can submit their feedback between July 13-19. Entry into the catalog is the last major regulatory process by which a model can be allowed to be sold in China.
The Ye S7 measures 4,750 mm in length, 1,930 mm in width and 1,625 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,930 mm, according to its filing information.
There is only one version of the Ye S7 in the catalog, powered by dual electric motors supplied by United Automotive Electronic Systems, with maximum power of 150 kW and 200 kW respectively.
The model weighs 2,305 kilograms and has a top speed of 180 kilometers per hour.
The Ye S7 uses lithium ternary batteries supplied by CATL, with the batteries produced in Yichun, Jiangxi Province, according to its filing page.
On September 7, 2022, Honda China signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with CATL to build a long-term stable power battery supply relationship.
On December 9, 2022, the companies said that between 2024 and 2030, Honda would expect to purchase 123 GWh of power batteries for pure-play EVs from CATL in China.
Honda unveils new EV brand in China to regain relevance
