The metaverse refers to an immersive digital world, which is expected to have applications in remote work, education, entertainment and e-commerce.
BYD World will provide customers with a “future-forward immersive car-buying experience” as they interact with the BYD brand and its products, the statement said.
BYD, which sells most of its cars on the Chinese mainland, has yet to launch a similar virtual showroom in its home market.
“The company appears to be very aggressive in tapping the overseas markets,” said Chen Jinzhu, chief executive of Shanghai Mingliang Auto Service, a consultancy. “It is obviously honing its image as a premium EV maker worldwide.”
The N7, featuring a self-parking system and Lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors, could go as far as 702km on a single charge.
In late June, BYD said it would begin delivering its Yangwang U8, a luxury car priced at 1.1 million yuan (US$152,940), in September. The SUV’s appearance evokes comparisons to vehicles from Range Rover.
Under the Made in China 2025 industrial strategy, Beijing wants the country’s top two EV makers to generate 10 per cent of their sales from overseas markets by 2025. Though authorities have not named the two companies, analysts believe BYD is one of the two due to its large production and sales volume.
It is also building a plant in Thailand, which will have an annual capacity of 150,000 cars when completed next year.
The company is also constructing an assembly plant in Uzbekistan.
