Voyah's first medium and large high-end smart electric SUV body-in-white rolls off the assembly line on Nov 6. [Photo/whkfq.gov.cn]
Automaker Dongfeng Motor Co -- based in the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, in Wuhan city in Central China's Hubei province -- recently turned a corner in its moves towards the high-end electric vehicle, or EV, segment of the industry.
Its new Voyah brand, which embodies the group's ambitions, made new progress with its first body-in-white for its medium and large high-end smart electric SUV rolling off the assembly line on Nov 6.
The body-in-white -- or BIW -- is the stage in production where a car body's frame has been joined together, before painting and the engine, chassis sub-assemblies, or trim have been integrated into the structure.
Officials said it only took 100 days from Voyahs brand strategy release on July 29 until the first BIW came off the assembly line, marking the fastest turnaround to date in China's auto industry.
Voyah's first model will be launched in the third quarter of 2021.
According to Voyah's company officials, the model has made continuous breakthroughs in R&D and manufacturing technologies and it released two world-firsts in terms of cutting-edge body technologies at the China Car Body 2020 event.
They said that based on an advanced and efficient R&D and production system -- and a flat and efficient innovation management mechanism -- Voyah went into production in a brisk and orderly fashion following the release of its brand strategy.
The BIW reportedly uses 31 percent of hot-formed steel and up to 75 percent of high-strength steel.
Voyah's medium and large high-end intelligent electric SUV is based on its concept car iFree and is positioned as a "zero anxiety medium and large high-end intelligent electric SUV".
