Byton M-Byte Electric Crossover Begins Testing

Chinese startup Byton showed off its first concept at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, but work is humming along for the production car. The electric crossover SUV, called the M-Byte, has begun real-world testing, the company announced on Tuesday.

Prototype vehicles will hit public roads in Nanjing, China, (where Byton will build its cars) and begin logging test miles on private tracks. Later this year, Byton will begin cold-weather testing the electric car, too.

The M-Byte concept car garnered headlights at CES this past year for its packaging and targeted price point. The Chinese company stands by its goal to launch the electric car at a $45,000 starting price. Included in the price will be a rear-wheel-drive layout and a 71 kWh battery pack good for an estimated range of 249 miles. Power is estimated at 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

The company plans for a more powerful M-Byte variant with a 95-kWh battery pack that will return an estimated 323-mile; performance also increases with the larger battery pack with 470 hp and 524 lb-ft of torque. Byton hasn’t said how much the larger battery pack will cost, however.

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If the production car mirrors the futuristic concept, drivers will find a 49-inch-long digital screen that wraps the dashboard. The screen also serves as the main point of contact for drivers and passengers and includes a myriad of functions. The electric-car concept boasted Amazon Alexa voice control, artificial intelligence, and facial recognition that foregoes the need for a physical key.

If all goes according to plan, Byton will begin selling the M-Byte in China in fall 2019. Then, the company hopes to launch the electric car in Europe in and the United States in 2020. A small sedan, previewed via the K-Byte concept, will launch in 2021 and a larger seven-seat SUV will follow in 2022, according to the company.

A version of this story originally appeared on Hybrid Cars.