Tesla's Chinese rival Byton unveils its M-Byte electric SUV

Conquering Europe

Byton chose the Frankfurt Motor Show to finally unveil the final version of its electric SUV. With this car, the young Chinese manufacturer (with a large office in Munich) wants to make a lasting impression. Above all, Byton wants to take advantage of the increase in electric cars sales to finally make a Chinese car manufacturer popular in Europe. China is indeed ahead of the field here, technologically. This is, therefore, a great opportunity to challenge traditional car manufacturers.

Like Tesla, Byton also works more like a digital giant than a traditional car manufacturer. The teams, therefore, focused most of their efforts on the user interface and the experience offered inside the vehicle, with semi-autonomous driving being an obvious part of the process.

Technically, the M-Byte will come in two versions: a 272hp version powered by a 72kWh battery with a 360km range and a 408hp version (two electric motors and four-wheel drive) powered by a 95kWh battery with 435km range. The fast charging will be able to recharge 80 percent of the battery in 35 minutes in the best case.

• How Tesla's Chinese rival Byton impressed at the CES

A giant screen inside

If the SUV's range (between 430 or 550 km depending on the battery chosen) will be enough for daily use and performance looks good, although the M-Byte does not want to enter into a speed race. The brand aims more to attract tech fans and people looking for a comfortable vehicle and a space that acts as an extension of their home.

That's why it has a 48-inch screen as a dashboard. It is simply amazing. This panel creates an impression of total modernity and stands out from the competition, with the Audi e-tron and Tesla Model X currently in the lead. It is divided into three content areas that you can define and change as you wish. Byton also offers another 8-inch touch screen in the center of the console, a 7-inch tablet for driving on the steering wheel and two rear screens for passengers. The demonstration I was able to experience on the stand showed that the interface was already well developed and the speed was flawless.

Anyway, it will take another two years before we can really try this M-Byte on the road. Byton plans to work with partners to provide test areas for cars, with purchase and configuration taking place online.