BYD News

BYD has broken the hearts of anyone hoping a "Baby Shark" will join the fleet to sit below the Shark 6 in Australia, with one of the company's top executives pouring cold water on reports the new model was incoming.

These days it seems like a new car brand arrives in Australia each week, so it can be easy to become ambivalent about each new name.But you should be paying attention to the latest arrival, because it has the potential to really shake things up, even if you’ve never heard of it before.Denza is the brand in question, revealing plans for a pair of new ‘premium’ off-roaders — the B5 and B8 — to hit showrooms by the end of 2025. So why should you care about Denza?Because it isn’t an ‘all-new’ brand here, it’s actually a spin-off from BYD, which is already well-established in Australia and rapidly rising up the sales charts with its mix of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, including the popular Shark 6 ute.In fact, it’s the success of the Shark 6, a plug-in hybrid dual-cab, that bodes so well for Denza. The Shark 6 is already amongst the best-selling 4x4 utes on the market, sure it may be nowhere near the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux in sheer volume, but it has already cemented a place amongst the top five utes each month.Based on the sales data available to us, it’s comfortably out-selling Ford’s plug-in hybrid Ranger, showing that a new audience is embracing new technology from new brands in the traditional ute market.Denza will be hoping to do the same in the off-road space, with the B5 and B8 clearly aimed at Toyota’s beloved LandCruiser and Prado. Like the Shark, they will offer something different, with a potent (425kW and 450kW) plug-in hybrid set-up and plenty of other technologies and luxuries.We don’t know how much they’ll cost yet, but despite all the talk of Denza being a ‘premium’ offering, history suggests this Chinese brand will be aggressive on price to undercut its more established competition.The recent strong sales performances of BYD, GWM, Chery and MG underline how important value is to the current generation of brand-agnostic buyers. In this post-Holden/Ford locally-made cars world we now find ourselves, brand loyalty is a thing of the past.Value is what Australian new car buyers are looking for and it’s the Chinese brands that are looking to provide it. Whether it is sustainable or not is an entirely different debate, and one that’s irrelevant for people looking to purchase a new car in the here and now.BYD is already up nearly 150 per cent in sales volume in the first three quarters of 2025, led by the Shark 6 but ably backed up by the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV SUVs. BYD will look to gain even more of the new car market by appealing to both first time car buyers and EV bargain hunters, when the new $25k Atto 1 hatch goes on sale and undercuts not only every other electric car but also most cars full stop.It is clear that, now run in-house, BYD is looking to make sure it remains headed up the sales charts. So if you only remember a few names from this current influx of new brands, make sure it’s BYD and Denza, because they are the ones most likely to make a lasting impact.

BYD Australia has confirmed pricing and specifications for two of its smallest electric cars (EVs), and the entry prices are a shock.The 2026 BYD Atto 1 will start from a staggeringly low $23,990 before on-road costs, putting it amongst the likes of the Chery Tiggo 4, Hyundai Venue and Suzuki Swift in terms of pricing.It’s to be joined by the larger Atto 2, which will start from $31,990 before on-roads, still putting it on the competitive side of electric car pricing.BYD says both have undergone Australia-specific testing for suspension tuning and driver assist systems (ADAS).Built on the brand’s e-Platform 3.0 the two models feature different battery sizes and drivetrains, with two variants each consisting of different features and ranges.Both will arrive in showrooms for sale over the Australian summer, starting in December.2026 BYD Atto 1 standard features10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen7.0-inch driver displayDigital radioFour-speaker sound systemApple CarPlay and Android Auto (wireless and USB)4G connectivity and Over-The-Air (OTA) software updatesUSB ports (Type A and Type C)Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming12V socketKeyless entry and startSplit folding rear seats (50:50)Tyre repair kitPremium adds:Wireless phone chargingAuto LED headlightsPower adjustable heated front seatFour-way steering adjustTinted privacy glassRetractable mirrorsSurround-view parking camera2026 BYD Atto 2 standard features10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen8.8-inch driver displayDigital radioFour-speaker sound systemApple CarPlay and Android Auto (wireless and USB)4G connectivity and Over-The-Air (OTA) software updatesUSB ports (Type A and Type C)Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming12V socketKeyless entry and startSplit folding rear seats (50:50)Tyre repair kitPremium adds:12.8-inch multimedia touchscreenWireless phone chargingEight-speaker sound systemAuto LED headlightsPanoramic sunroofRoof racksPower adjustable heated front seatFour-way steering adjustTinted privacy glassRetractable mirrorsSurround-view parking cameraParking sensors

BYD expects its hybrid seven-seat Sealion 8 will be its next segment-dominating offering.

In a milestone market share breakthrough vehicles manufactured in China accounted for one in five new cars sold in Australia in October this year.

One brand has set its sights on making a serious dent in the Aussie car market.China's BYD is aiming to sell 1.6 million vehicles outside its domestic market in 2026, according to Reuters, and Australia will be integral to achieving this. The news comes from a report in global banking outlet Citi. BYD already sells an extensive and diverse range of vehicles in Australia, with more still in the works.Its all-electric Dolphin small hatchback is the currently the brand’s cheapest offering, starting from $29,990, before on-road costs, however this will likely soon change with the introduction of the smaller Atto 1.Beyond its sprawling electric vehicle (EV) line-up, the company also has a strong selection of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, including the Sealion 6 SUV, and the increasingly popular Shark 6 ute, which alone boasts more than 15,000 sales so far in 2025. Reuters claims that BYD has built at least eight mega factories in China in the last five years, but has been expanding this to overseas locations such as Hungary, Turkey and Brazil. By the end of 2025, the brand plans to begin production of some of its Dolphin hatchbacks in Hungary.All BYD models currently offered in Australia are produced in China, for reference.With the Chinese car market becoming increasingly segmented thanks to brands like Geely and Leapmotor, BYD faces a tough sell domestically.It is looking to overseas markets to tap into potential new sales, pursuing a top-three place in the Australian new car market by the end of 2026. BYD’s desired sales increase would represent a substantial shift from its sales figures outside of China in 2025, which are expected to sit at around one million. Its sales in Europe, North America and South East Asia account for one-third of the company's total sales.BYD is not immune from the fierce competition of its domestic market in Australia, with other Chinese manufacturers targeting the segment as well. Brands such as Chery and GWM have plenty of options for buyers particularly in the sought-after family SUV category, and MG has a similarly affordable and enticing vehicle line-up.

BYD has launched the 2026 update for its M9 people-mover, called the Xia in its home nation.The plug-in hybrid van is a relatively new addition to BYD’s line-up, and is closely related to the Denza D9, a similarly sized, more upmarket people-mover.The BYD M9 is already scoring new batteries, updated tech and even better fuel efficiency, less than a year after its initial launch in China.With a range of up to 1163km (tested under lenient CLTC methods) in its longest-range variant, the BYD M9 costs between the equivalent of A$45,000 and $58,000 in China.Four variants with either 100km or 218km of EV-only range are available, with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine helping charge and power the battery and wheels respectively.While the M9 itself hasn’t been confirmed for Australia, nor its Denza D9 sibling, the brand hasn’t ruled either out in the past.Denza in particular is currently focused on launching its B5 and B8 SUVs, while BYD’s line-up has already been significantly bolstered in recent years. A people-mover wouldn’t look out of place in either brand’s model line-ups.Denza boss Mark Harland told CarsGuide the brand wouldn’t look at smaller segment models, such as people-movers, until it had established itself in volume segments like large SUVs.“It’s real simple: Volume - the large segment in particular - this is what Australians buy, this is where volume is for us,” he told CarsGuide recently.“I want to establish the brand with B5 and B8 - get some wins under the belt, get those sales and establish the network.“Then we can look at the smaller segments - the Z9 GT, the D9 later - but we want to fish where the fish are first.”Stay tuned.

China’s BYD has just given the Atto 3 small electric SUV a major update for the domestic market.

The BYD Shark 6 is one of the best-selling plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) in Australia and it has caught the attention of many automotive engineers who are looking into why it is so popular.

Australian new car market continues to shift in October 2024.