Can anything stop this car brand taking over? BYD takes control of import and distribution in Australia, making it a huge problem for Toyota, Tesla and Kia

BYD will take full control of the import and distribution of its cars in Australia, cutting wait times and improving stock availability as the brand looks to extend its retail partnership with car retail giant Eagers Automotive.

The move ends a near three-year distributorship with third-party operator EVDirect, which has moved some 50,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles for the Chinese EV brand in Australia since it arrived locally in 2022.

It comes as BYD cracked the ranks of Australia’s top-ten selling car brands in March and April and ascended to the crown of Australia’s best-selling EV in the latter month with its Sealion 7, besting the long-dominant Tesla Model Y and the new Kia EV5.

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“Now is the time to further unlock BYD’s immense potential for Australian drivers,” said EVDirect Founder, Luke Todd.

“Phase one proved the BYD brand would thrive here; phase two will make new-energy vehicle ownership easier and more accessible than ever.”

Todd was named as incoming Executive Chairman of EVDealer Group, a pre-existing joint venture between EVDirect and Eagers Automotive to retail BYD cars in Australia.

Eagers confirmed that it and BYD had entered a term sheet to extend the EVDealer Group’s retail partnership for a further five years, with a further five-year option period.

Subject to BYD’s approval, the renewed terms will allow Eagers to increase BYD's dealer footprint, which currently stands at 53 Experience Centres nationwide.

In addition to BYD, Eagers currently retails for Toyota, Ford, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia, Honda, BMW and Volkswagen across over 300 dealerships nationwide.

Eagers will no longer hold exclusive retail rights for BYD, granting the Chinese EV-maker the ability to work alongside other select dealers across Australia.

The new distribution and retail arrangements are expected to commence from July.