BYD News

Sales of electric vehicles surpassed petrol-only sales in Europe for the first time ever in December 2025, according to Reuters.This equated to 22.6 per cent of total cars registered for December, edging past petrol-only at 22.5 per cent.However, petrol and electric trailed plug-less and plug-in hybrid cars, which held 44 per cent of total sales for the month.Petrol and diesel sales suffered the biggest sales losses in Europe in 2025.Electric vehicle popularity has persisted in Europe despite various external factors threatening to curb its progress.The European Union has rolled back its 2035 internal-combustion engine total ban, with no 100 per cent CO2 reduction in place.There are also 35 per cent tariffs still in place for Chinese-imported electric vehicles, on top of a 10 per cent foreign car tariff.While this change has forced many Chinese brands to prioritise hybrid and internal combustion vehicles in Europe, EV sales are still increasing.  Chinese brand BYD recently overtook Tesla for sales of electrical vehicles globally. This is the first time EVs have overtaken petrol in Europe, but it's expected it will still be at least five years before they are the leading source of sales overall. Other electrified set-ups including plug-less and plug-in hybrids are currently the most popular choice for buyers.Many previously petrol-only models are being replaced with hybrid options by brands ahead of electric-only."It will still take around ​half a decade before pure electric cars genuinely overtake combustion-engine models across the region, but this is nonetheless a start," independent automotive analyst Matthias Schmidt told Reuters.There has been a similar trend in Australia, with electrified vehicles outselling petrol cars for the first time in December. Plug-in and plug-less hybrids are leading the way in Australia, taking over from petrol and diesel alternatives. Many brands Down Under have begun a similar process to their counterparts in Europe, phasing out petrol-only models in favour of hybrid set-ups. Toyota now only sells many of its popular models as hybrid-only, including some of Australia's best sellers such as the RAV4 and Kluger SUVs.

Rumours are circling about BYD’s next-generation plug-in hybrid technology that could blow the competition out of the water.Chinese motoring media are reporting the set-up will be called DM-i 6.0, but there is no official word from BYD yet.This new plug-in hybrid set-up is believed to deliver an all-electric driving range of up to 300km, according to the more generous China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC).That is a jump of about 50 per cent on BYD’s longest legged plug-in hybrids that it claims can travel about 200km.That kind of range pushes plug-in hybrids closer to full EV capability. Most other plug-in hybrids struggle to hit the 100km mark for full EV driving.A new version of BYD’s Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery is the key to this huge boost.This new battery is rumoured to be a new version of a “semi-solid state” battery, which is nothing like a solid state battery.It differs from regular batteries, which have a gel or liquid electrolyte, by adding a few floating chunks into the mix.The result is slightly improved energy density, but still a long way off what is promised for solid-state batteries.Hyper fast charging is expected thanks to the addition of 900-Volt electrical architecture, which could result in charging speeds exceeding 400kW.A more powerful electric motor is expected  and improvements to the petrol engine are believed to make it more fuel efficient and reduce emissions.BYD is rapidly expanding its range of plug-in hybrids in Australia.In the past 12 months the company has launched the Shark 6 ute to complement its Sealion 6 mid-size SUV.These two will be joined by the Sealion 8 large SUV, Sealion 5 compact SUV and a new Seal 6 sedan and wagon that have been approved for sale in Australia.BYD’s premium sub-brand Denza is adding the off-road focused B5 and B8 plug-in hybrids to take on the Toyota Prado and LandCruiser this year, too.

BYD’s Sealion 6 will undergo a behind the scenes change in Australia, which could alter the future direction of BYD products for our market.Following the news of the end of production for the top-selling BYD Sealion 6 in China, the brand’s local division has confirmed to CarsGuide not only will the model live on, but it will swap production to the brand’s Thai factory.The “eventual” change will be seamless and imperceptible to Aussie buyers, and ongoing supply of the popular plug-in hybrid will not be affected, according to a BYD Australia representative.“BYD vehicles are built to the same exacting quality standards irrespective of the production location, so it doesn’t matter if the vehicles originate from China or Thailand,” the representative said. “Nor would we anticipate any impact to shipping and logistics costs.”While the shift may be imperceptible to buyers, it represents an interesting move for the Chinese brand in opening the door to potentially more Thai-built cars in the future.BYD opened its new Thai factory in 2024, which has been building the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal and now the Sealion 6, with a capacity of 150,000 units a year. While the factory serves as a strategic facility for right-hand drive markets in the region, it also started exporting left-hand drive vehicles to Europe in 2025.This is because vehicles built in Thailand can dodge some tariffs placed on Chinese-built vehicles in Europe.The massive export boon, plus a big push in Thailand to electrify its vehicle fleet, has attracted multiple Chinese manufacturers to its shores.BYD joins GWM, which took over the Holden plant in the same province, as well as familiar giants SAIC Motor, Changan and GAC.GWM has also begun to source cars for the Australian market from its Thai facility, kicking off with the updated Ora electric hatchback.Thailand continues to be the country of origin for the majority of utes sold in Australia, including the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton. It was once a strong export location for passenger cars from brands such as Honda, it has since fallen to the wayside as Australia’s safety and emissions standards further diverge from our South East Asian neighbours.More demand for electric vehicles and a higher specification level offered in Chinese cars has again made Thailand relevant as a point of origin for cars sold in our country.The majority of BYDs will continue to be sourced from China for the time being, but it will be interesting to see whether the shift to Thai production for one of its best-selling products will influence its local line-up in the future.BYD has an ambitious goal to be a top-three automaker in Australia by the end of 2026, and to achieve that goal it will aggressively expand on its line-up over the next 12 months.The brand has just launched its Atto 1 city hatch and Atto 2 small SUV both as fully electrics, and will soon offer the Sealion 5 as a price-leading plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV to sit below the Sealion 6. It will also top-out its local range with the Sealion 8 three-row plug-in hybrid SUV. The brand has also flagged an expansion of its smash-hit Shark 6 plug-in ute range, which currently only has a single variant. It has earmarked well-received upgrades from the related Denza B5 — such as differential locks, which are currently a glaring omission from the Shark 6’s equipment list.Other officially unannounced models in the works include the Seal 6 sedan and wagon pair, both will serve as plug-in hybrid alternatives to the fully electric Seal sedan, which has been on sale for some time. The pair appeared in regulatory approval documents earlier in January. These approval documents usually precede a launch by a few months.All form part of BYD’s plan to attack as many market segments as possible to challenge some of the most popular automakers in Australia. To achieve a podium finish, the brand will need to nearly double its sales tally from 2025, and unseat popular brands Hyundai, Kia and Mazda.

BYD has updated its tough looking SUV, the all-electric Fang Cheng Bao Titanium 3.The Titanium 3 is the more road-focused little brother to the capable Denza B5 and B8 4WDs, which have just launched in Australia.There is no word on if the Titanium 3 will come to Australia, but BYD and Denza — which draws in models from a range of BYD sub brands such as Fang Cheng Bao in Australia — have made clear they want to aggressively expand their line-ups and grow sales.The Titanium 3 is fully electric, where the B5 and B8 are plug-in hybrids.Despite only being revealed last year the Titanium 3 has been given a big power boost, with single motor versions making 240kW, a rise of 80kW.Dual motor, all-wheel drive examples now make 375kW and 510Nm, a jump of 65kW.Battery size is not yet known, but the outgoing versions used a circa-65kWh in single motor versions and a roughly 72kWh or 79kWh pack for all-wheel drive variants.Fang Cheng Bao claims every model had a driving range of about 500km, but this was calculated by the generous China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC) rather than the benchmark WLTP test cycle.One of the other big upgrades in China is the addition of Lidar technology. This tech is crucial for semi-autonomous driving, which is a must-have feature in China.The Titanium 3 is a mid-size SUV, with about the same proportions as a Toyota RAV4.It has tough exterior styling that gives it strong off-road appeal, but it isn’t nearly as capable as the B5 and B8 sold in Australia. Think of it more as an SUV with the ability to handle a dirt road.BYD has had huge success with its Fang Cheng Bao range in China. The larger Titanium 7 sold 50,000 units in just 80 days. BYD has debuted the Titanium 7 in Thailand at the Bangkok motor show, which bodes well for an Aussie arrival in the future as Thailand is also right-hand drive.BYD also builds some Aussie-bound vehicles in Thailand, which could expand to the Titanium 7.The Titanium 7 is much bigger than the 3 at almost five metres long.It also ditches full electric power for plug-in hybrid grunt. It uses a familiar set-up with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors. A 35.6 kWh battery pack provides up to 200km of electric driving range.

Utes are seemingly not going anywhere as they once again featured heavily at the top of the sales charts in 2025.This is despite many models experiencing sales drop-offs year-on-year as the ute market continues to increase in competitiveness.Here are the top five best-selling utes heading into 2026. The Ford Ranger was not just the best-selling ute, but the best-selling car in Australia in 2025. It managed 56,555 sales last year, as it topped the charts, starting from $37,130 (before on-road costs) for the base single-cab chassis.The Ranger is mainly available with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, producing 125kW and 405Nm or 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with 184kW and 600Nm.However, the once-popular 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel will be cut from the lineup soon.The range-topping and ever-popular Raptor meanwhile has a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, producing 292kW and 583Nm, with a starting price more than $90,000.At the other end of the spectrum, the brand now offers a plug-in hybrid, with 207kW and 697Nm, starting at $71,990 - whether it will go on to be a hit with buyers like one of its rivals on the list remains to be seen.The Toyota HiLux is second on this list and came second overall in the car sales standings for last year, with 51,297 units registered.The base manual single-cab chassis HiLux starts from $33,990, before on-road costs and the range goes all the way up to $71,990 for the range-topping dual-cab variant. All HiLux models are powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 150kW and 420Nm or 500Nm, depending on whether has a manual or automatic transmission. Toyota will also be expanding on its range, launching an all-electric version of the HiLux in the first quarter of 2026.Isuzu’s D-Max is the next best-selling ute in Australia, with 26,839 sales in 2025.Its price ranges from $36,200 to $80,900, before on-road costs, and it comes with two engine choices which are both turbo diesels. There is a 2.2-litre four-cylinder option, producing 120kW and 400Nm, and a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, producing 140kW and 450Nm. The 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine was introduced last year to replace the less efficient and smaller 1.9-litre option.Despite being one of only two products offered by Isuzu Ute, the D-Max and its related MU-X SUV are enough to propel the brand into a top-10 position in the Australian market.Mitsubishi’s ute offering, the Triton, earned its spot in the top five with 18,900 sales. The Triton was the only ute on this list that experienced a sales bump in 2025 compared to 2024, up for 4.6 per cent year-on-year. It starts at $34,740 and goes up to $66,140, before on-road costs. All Triton utes get a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine, which produces 150kW and 470Nm. Rounding out the list is the only plug-in hybrid exclusive ute in the top five. The Shark 6 burst onto the scene in 2025, and achieved a flurry of early sales, guiding it to 18,074 units throughout the year - a decisive success story. It only comes as a dual-cab in a single trim level, which is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with electric motors, combining for a total output of 321kW and 650Nm. The plug-in ute starts at $57,900, before on-road costs, and is set to be joined by cheaper cab-chassis variants later this year. 

Ford and BYD could be working together, and people are not happy.The Wall Street Journal reported Ford is considering using BYD batteries in its hybrid vehicles built in overseas factories.These vehicles would be shipped all over the world, including the US.Ford is already using BYD’s Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) batteries in some of its Chinese built vehicles such as the Bronco New Energy electric SUV and range extender hybrid.CarsGuide understands the Bronco New Energy range extender hybrid is coming to Australia this year.Now the recent report shows Ford might be deepening its ties with China just as the US is trying to separate itself from the global powerhouse.US Treasury Secretary Peter Navarro expressed outrage on X.“So @ford wants to simultaneously prop up a Chinese competitor's supply chain and make it more vulnerable to that same supply chain extortion?  What could go wrong here?,” he posted.“Did @ford forget the rare earth extortion already?  BYD is the latest predatory pricing kid on the block.  Aim is to control global EV production--@tesla will be a footnote if this keeps up.”The move by Ford is likely an attempt to shield itself from the waning demand of electric cars. Ford and many other carmakers have axed plans to build several electric models as customers — and governments — turn their back on the technology.Ford has invested heavily in new battery factories in recent years. This includes a new factory to build LFP batteries in the US.This factory will still go ahead and will create cells to power its new range of affordable electric cars.Ford’s global boss Jim Farley has previously confirmed the first model off its new Universal EV Platform would be a pick-up, which he said would be unlike anything we’ve seen before.“I would say it’s a new silhouette. What I mean by that is that it has more room than a RAV4, the bestselling passenger car in the US. That doesn’t include its frunk and pickup truck bed. It is very fast, it’s rear-wheel drive, it’s super fun to drive, and it has a digital experience that no one’s seen—even in China,” Farley told  The Verge’s Decoder podcast last year.

We just got a closer look at BYD’s latest products.

Blame Jurassic Park.Ever since Steven Spielberg’s iconic dinosaur movie hit the big screen, everyone has been afraid of Raptors. And not just the dinosaurs, because despite it being more than seven years since Ford launched the Ranger Raptor, nobody has been brave enough to take it on.But there is an obvious brand that should. BYD needs to build its own apex predator — the BYD ‘Great White’ Shark 6.As we continue our summer series looking at the missing pieces from several big name brands, today we’re talking a look at BYD, because the Chinese brand has enjoyed significant growth in recent years and is looking for an even bigger 2026 with the arrival of the Atto 1, Atto 2, Sealion 5 and Sealion 8.There has also been a lot of talk about expanding the Shark 6 line-up, but so far only a ‘more premium’ version and some stripped out variants to appeal to fleet buyers. The brand has, like every other brand that makes utes, deliberately avoided specifically mentioning any direct rival to the Ranger Raptor.With good reason, the Raptor has become a new benchmark in the ute market - not only in terms of performance, both on and off-road, but also the money buyers are willing to spend on a ute.It is both a great concept and a well-executed one, with the second-generation Raptor a leap forward from the already-impressive original.So why should BYD be the first to truly take it on head-to-head? Because it already has the foundations for a proper performance ute. The plug-in hybrid powertrain already makes 321kW of power and 650Nm of torque, which is more than the 291kW/583Nm offered up by the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine in the Ranger Raptor.Of course, engine performance is only a part of the Raptor’s success, with the real difference maker being the incredibly effective suspension set-up. Ford has decades of off-road desert racing experience to draw on, but BYD clearly has plenty of resources. The fact the company created the Shark 6, and hit the mark so accurately it is already regularly amongst the best-selling utes each month, is proof of that.Make no mistake, I’m not suggesting this would be easy, but it would give BYD a true hero model that would have an impact on the overall brand perception and that will trickle down the entire range, all the way down to the Atto 1.Plus, Great White Shark is such a perfect name it would be a shame to waste it.

BYD’s latest and most expensive model is here.The brand has announced pricing and specifications for its new Sealion 8 three-row plug-in hybrid SUV. It starts from $56,990, before on-road costs, for the entry-level front-wheel drive variant, with all-wheel drive pricing starting at $63,990 and $70,990, depending on trim level.This sees the Sealion 8 come in as a cheaper alternative to rivals such as the Kia Sorento and Mitsubishi Outlander three-row plug-in variants. The Chery Tiggo 8 remains the budget option of the segment, starting from $45,990, drive-away.The Sealion 8 comes with two engine choices.The FWD variant is powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine paired with a single electric motor, producing 205kW and 315Nm.It has a 19kWh LFP battery, which offers an all-electric driving range of 103km, according to the NEDC testing cycle (generally more optimistic than the WLTP scale). AWD variants of the Sealion 8 feature a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors, producing a combined 359kW and 675Nm. This dual-motor set-up means the car can sprint from 0-100km in 4.9 seconds.There is a 35.6kWh battery with a driving range of 152km (NEDC). Fuel consumption when the battery is drained is 5.3L/100km for the FWD and 6.3L for the AWD.Standard equipment includes a 10.25-inch digital driver display and 15.6-inch central touchscreen as well as 10-speaker audio.The Premium grade adds a 26-inch head-up display, a 21-speaker high-quality audio system and more. BYD has already unveiled an updated version of the Sealion 8 in China, but Australia will have to wait a while for it.The Sealion 8 is available for pre-order now. 2026 BYD Sealion 8 pricing Australia2026 BYD Sealion 8 engine and efficiency  2026 BYD Sealion 8 standard featuresWireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay15.6-inch central touchscreen10-speaker audio system50W wireless phone chargerHeated and ventilated front seatsSynthetic leather upholsteryElectrically operated trunk doorRain-sensing wipersPanoramic sunroofKeyless entry and start10.25-inch digital driver display21-inch alloy wheelsPremium grade adds:Massage and memory front seatsElectrically operated front leg restsPremium leather upholsteryMassaging second-row seatsHeated and ventilated second-row seats21-speaker premium soundFront footwell atmosphere lightingWelcome light sequence26-inch head-up display 2026 BYD Sealion 8 safetyThe BYD Sealion 8 has not been crash tested. Nine airbags360-degree camera viewFront and rear parking sensorsAdaptive cruise controlTraffic sign recognitionAuto emergency brakingLane keep assistBlind spot monitoringLane departure assistForward collision warningRear collision warning 2026 BYD Sealion 8 dimensions 2026 BYD Sealion 8 warrantyThe BYD Sealion 8 comes with a six-year/150,000km warranty and an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the high-voltage battery. 

Is there a more important vehicle category in dual-cab-devoted Australia than utes? I’m not sure there is. And I’m also sure that, in a segment that has sat stagnant for years, there has never been a more exciting time to be picking the best and brightest in the country.Where do we start? Maybe with China’s full-throttle assault on the segment? Or with the rise of plug-in hybrid petrol in a diesel-dominated market? Or Kia turning its hand to a ute for the very first time? Or BYD, for that matter?See what I mean? It’s an exciting time to be picking the best ute in Australia as part of the ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year (COTY) awards, and the days of it being a two-way battle between the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger are well behind us.But to pick a winner, we first need to choose the best of the best that will be battling for the top prize. So without further adieu, this is the CarsGuide Car of The Year top-10 shortlist for sub-$85K Utes.This category's winner and two runners-up will be announced on February 6, 2026.Perhaps no other ute has been quite as surprising as the barnstorming BYD Shark 6, which has not only taken the fight to the established giants of the ute segment, it has done it without a diesel engine in sight.Instead, a plug-in hybrid powertrain does the heavy lifting here, with BYD arguably doing more to electrify the ute segment than any model to come before it. Our reviewers love the on-road refinement and the value-packed feature list, but concede its towing capacity lags its major rivals.It’s also on our shortlist because of its segment-altering drivetrain, which has forced several mainstream ute makers to follow its lead.A classic and the best-selling ute in the country for a reason. The Ford Ranger is on our shortlist for its driving dynamics (it’s among the most car-like utes on our list), which takes nothing away from its ability to get down and dirty in terms of towing or off-road capability.What really drew praise from our judges, though, is the breadth of the Ranger’s offering, with worksite-ready versions, family friendly versions, hardcore off-road versions, and a choice between several diesel engines or plug-in hybrid powertrains.That said, some pointed to the PHEV solution offering little in the way of real-world range.The unsung hero of Australia’s automotive world (it is, after all, often one of our top five best-selling vehicles), the Isuzu underwent a fairly major update that ironed out some of its more agricultural qualities with some design, cabin and technology updates.The D-Max was praised by our judges for doing exactly what it says on the tin, and delivering exactly what many ute buyers are looking for, with little fuss or fanfare. But some wonder whether it feels new and fresh enough.The entry-level cars also get a bigger smaller engine, if that makes sense. With the old 1.9-litre diesel swapped out for a 2.2-litre unit that’s both more powerful and more efficient. Tick and tick.Kia burst onto the ute scene with the boldly designed Tasman, a ute that really does look like few others on the road.Our judges were unanimous in praising the Tasman’s delightful and tech-filled cabin experience and its road manners, and reports of its off-road prowess are impressive, too.Its looks seemingly remain controversial, at least among the buying public, but there’s little doubting Kia’s first ute has plenty of substance, no matter what you think of its style.Sure, the BYD Shark 6 has been getting a ton of attention, but the LDV Terron 9 has been quietly plugs away as one of the biggest, and thus most practical in terms of tray, utes in the segment.And with 520Nm of torque at its diesel-powered disposal, it’s pretty punchy, too (as a vehicle this size probably needs to be).Our reviewers praised the space on offer in its tray, the strong value-for-money argument and its imposing street look, but were less sold on the lack of a power outlet in its tray and a sometimes lumpy power delivery.The BT-50 tends to stick out a little bit, both in the ute segment (where rough and tough is the design order of the day), and in Mazda’s own lineup, where the dual-cab ute rubs shoulders with mostly premium and polished SUVs.Early last year, Mazda addressed both those issues, deploying an Australia-led design overhaul intended to make the BT-50 “sportier and tougher”, clearly separating it from the rest of the brand’s lineup, and appealing more to traditional ute buyers.Our reviewers loved the look, the diversity of the range and the lux feel of the top-spec models, but didn’t love the too-firm suspension and the lack of a true hero model.The Chinese brand’s first-ever ute isn’t strictly its own, or at least not entirely. The MG U9 is a sibling to LDV Terron 9, which also appears on our shortlist.Our reviewers loved the U9’s interior space, especially in the impressive backseat, the ute’s sharp pricing against the established competition, and the nifty automatic step that deploys beneath the tailgate — described as “the nicest and definitely the easiest” way to climb into the tray.The active safety tech, however, impressed us less.The Mitsubishi Triton is a household name, albeit one that’s been left behind by the HiLux, Ranger and D-Max in recent years. A new generation arrived in 2024 that aimed to fix that, delivering more space, more power, more practicality and more space in the cabin.We loved the smoother drive experience, its warranty coverage (provided you service with Mitsubishi), its more modern-feeling cabin and its workhorse credentials.The less-positive notes included a clunky stop-start system and over-active safety tech.A new HiLux is big news in Australia, and while Toyota has opted to carry over a lot of key ingredients from the outgoing HiLux, they've also moved to address key complaints, like ride comfort and cabin technology, and to introduce a new look.And while our reviewers praised the updates, they also wondered whether Toyota had gone far enough in the face of new and stiff competition.The Volkswagen Amarok hasn't made quite the sales splash in Australia that its Ford Ranger relative has, but the German brand's ute has attracted plenty of praise from our reviewers, who love its style, its interior packaging and materials, and its on-road manners.Less positive is the sticker price of the high-end variants, and the sparse backseat amenities in the more affordable models.