UzAuto Motors has announced the start of sales for its first hybrid vehicle — the Chevrolet Equinox PHEV crossover. This marks a significant step in the local automotive industry's shift towards electrification.

The new model is available in two configurations: Activ 80 KM and Activ 120 KM, where the numbers indicate the all-electric range. The Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) system allows charging from an external power source, enabling short trips to be made entirely on electric power.

Technically, the Chevrolet Equinox PHEV is equipped with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a capacity of 17 kWh or 24 kWh, depending on the configuration. With a fully charged battery and a full fuel tank, the total range can exceed 1000 kilometers, making it suitable for long journeys.

The powertrain combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, an electric motor producing 188 horsepower, and a two-speed DHT hybrid transmission. This combination aims to deliver fuel efficiency and dynamic performance.

Safety and driver assistance features include adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera, six airbags, and traffic sign recognition. These features meet modern standards for vehicles in this class.

The recommended retail price is 463.5 million soums for the Activ 80 KM configuration and 478.5 million soums for the Activ 120 KM. These prices are competitive in the premium segment of the Uzbek market.

For reference, BYD is the largest manufacturer of hybrid models in the Uzbek market. In the first half of the year, 175,374 passenger cars were officially sold in the country. By brand, Chevrolet (UzAuto Motors) accounted for 136,072 vehicles, BYD for 17,010, and KIA (ADM Jizzakh) for 12,286. These figures show that Chevrolet maintains a leading position in the market, but competition with BYD in the hybrid segment may intensify.

Source: www.gazeta.uz