Forget the Toyota Camry Hybrid, is this electric car the future of taxi and ride share? 2025 BYD e7 EV lands in China as cut-price rival to Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2

In Australia, the Toyota Camry Hybrid is generally considered the taxi and ride-share car of choice. In China, BYD wants it to be the electric e7.

The model recently joined the brand's domestic BYD line-up as an affordable option for both ride-share drivers and first-time EV buyers, boasting a lengthy wheelbase and fewer premium features.

It lines up 4870mm long (30mm longer than a Tesla Model 3), 1900mm wide, 1515mm tall and with a wheelbase of 2820mm – just 5mm shy of its Camry rival.

There’s no hybrid powertrain under the hood, though, with the e7 – in true BYD fashion – adopting a single 100kW electric motor and a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade’ battery.

Full specifications and range figures remain unconfirmed now, despite the e7 being in dealers across the country, according to CarNewsChina.

In terms of design, the e7 is a more utilitarian interpretation of the electric BYD models we’ve come to know in Australia, particularly with the feature-teeming Seal and Sealion 7.

From some external angles, it still does give a relatively premium impression with its sporty front bumper, sleek LED headlights and full-length LED tail-light bar.

Move down to the wheels, though, and things start to look a lot less fancy. The small alloy wheels are a far cry from the larger multi-dimensional rims that underpin other models in BYD’s stable.

The basic theme continues on the inside with cheaper materials favoured over premium ones, such as synthetic leather seats and what appears to be a plastic steering wheel.

Cabin controls have been kept relatively minimal, although a central 15.6-inch multimedia display, which underpins most BYD models, and a smaller screen for the digital driver’s display remains.

CarNewsChina foreshadows a starting price of just 100,000 yuan (A$21,727) for the e7 in China, making it one of the cheaper models in the brand’s domestic catalogue.

We’re unlikely to ever see it here though, with BYD more interested in bringing its more premium – but still reasonably priced – models to Australia. That said, as the brand cements itself locally we could see it cater more to fleet buyers and cost-conscious consumers.