A regulatory filing image of Arcfox’s battery-swap version of the Beta T1.
- The new variant will support vehicle-battery separation sales, potentially lowering the entry barrier.
- The Beta T1 went on sale in China in June with a limited-time subsidized starting price of 62,800 yuan ($9,250).
Arcfox, the electric vehicle (EV) brand under Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), has filed a battery-swap version of the Beta T1 small (EV), further expanding its lineup in the entry-level EV market.
The model appeared in the latest batch of new vehicle filings released by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Friday, the last major regulatory step before a model is allowed to go on sale in China.
The filing shows that the vehicle supports a vehicle-battery separation sales model, with an optional CATL (HKEX: 3750) Choco-SEB swap badge available on the side of the body.
That means the Beta T1 will also join CATL’s battery swap system, as Arcfox deepens its cooperation with the battery giant in the field.
Vehicle-battery separation allows consumers to buy the car alone and lease the battery, lowering the threshold for purchase.
The battery-swap Beta T1 looks largely identical to the version currently on sale. It measures 4,375 mm long, 1,860 mm wide and 1,572 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,770 mm, making it a five-seat small electric sedan.
Its drive motor has a peak power of 95 kW, and the vehicle has a top speed of 150 km/h and a curb weight of 1,555 kg.
The model uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, with the pack produced by CATL.
Two sets of assisted driving hardware are offered, with three-radar and six-radar layouts corresponding to different levels of functionality.
The Beta T1 went on sale in China in June with a limited-time subsidized starting price of 62,800 yuan ($9,250), offering ranges of 350 km and 450 km. Arcfox said at the time that a 550-km version would arrive two months later.
Arcfox has already adopted CATL’s Choco-SEB swap solution on the Beta S3. That model was launched on May 22, with the swap version starting at 59,800 yuan under the battery leasing scheme, below the 79,800 yuan starting price of the charging version.
CATL is accelerating the expansion of its swap network. As of the end of June, the company had built a cumulative 2,000 Choco swap stations, covering 180 cities across 31 provinces in China.
Models at the filing stage typically go on sale within a few months. Arcfox has yet to announce the official name, trim lineup or launch timing for the battery-swap Beta T1.
The RT Super starts at 88,800 yuan ($13,000) under a battery rental scheme, offering a range of 505 kilometers.
($1 = 6.7904 yuan)
