BAIC's premium Arcfox sees sales soar in 2022

Arcfox saw its sales in 2022 surge 144 percent year-on-year, faster than the average NEV growth rate in the world's largest vehicle market, said the premium electric marque under State-owned BAIC Group on Monday.

Vehicle makers in China sold 6.89 million electric cars and plug-in hybrids in 2022, up 93 percent year-on-year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. They accounted for a quarter of total vehicle sales for the year, said the CAAM.

The Beijing-based EV marker said that its market share in its specific segment moved to 1.3 percent last year from 0.9 percent in 2021, with sales up in 16 out of 19 major cities in the country.

Analysts said its growth was primarily driven by the competitive edge of its models. In July, it started to deliver the Alpha S HI, which was co-developed with Chinese technology giant Huawei.

The sedan was the first mass-produced model with three lidar sensors across the world.

Arcfox said more models will come this year to further enrich its lineup, including the Kaola designed for families with newborns. The model was unveiled earlier this month.

Electric vehicles are already a common choice for car buyers, and they are increasingly deciding on models based on the scenarios, said experts.

The CAAM estimates that NEV sales may total 9 million units this year, as carmakers are vying to launch new models and customers grow fond of them.

Arcfox is expanding its sales network to get prepared for the boom. It had 186 dealerships by the end of 2022 and the number is expected to reach 279 in 2023.

The network will grow further to over 380 by 2025, available in at least 100 cities in the country, said Arcfox.