BYD News

Ford isn’t taking any prisoners when it comes to the introduction of its Ranger PHEV (plug-in hybrid), openly dismissing the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV as serious rivals.

BYD Shark 6 fever has well and truly swept over the country, but is it all as rosy as it appears?

BYD has upgraded its Dolphin EV hatchback in its home market of China, adding a suite of cosmetic upgrades and self-driving tech.For 2025, the BYD Dolphin will have sportier front and rear bumpers, larger headlights, trapeze-shaped air intakes and two new alloy wheel designs.At the rear, BYD has modified the Dolphin’s LED tail-light signatures and replaced the Build Your Dreams inscription for the generic BYD logo.In the cabin, BYD has updated the Dolphin’s three-spoke steering wheel to the same unit as its Seal sedan sibling. The gear shifter has been relocated to the steering column.There’s also a new 8.8-inch LCD digital instrument display, a 12.8-inch central touchscreen and a 50W wireless phone charging pad.In Chinese examples, BYD’s 'God’s Eye' autonomous driving system has joined the driver safety assistance systems. That includes a tri-camera unit mounted to the rear windscreen, which enables the vehicle to navigate itself on a highway. This system will reportedly be updated at a later date to enable city driving as well.Three powertrains have been listed in China, starting with a single-motor, front-wheel drive variant with a 45kWh lithium-ion 'Blade' battery and a 70kW electric motor. The same configuration is offered on the entry-level Essential grade in Australia, delivering 340km of WLTP-rated range.Additionally, there is a mid-spec 130kW variant available in China with the same battery pack.As is the case in Australia, the range is led by more powerful 150kW variant with a 60.5kWh battery pack. It delivers 427km of driving range under the WLTP cycle.BYD’s local distributor, EVDirect, launched the Dolphin Essential grade in Australia in January, a more stripped-back version of the previous entry-grade Dynamic. It became the first EV in Australia to be priced under $30,000 at $29,990, before on-road costs, undercutting key rivals such as the MG4, GWM Ora and Nissan Leaf.Its recent launch date suggests we will still carry the pre-facelift model in Australia for a little while longer.Nonetheless, CarsGuide has contacted BYD’s local operations to determine when we can expect the updated Dolphin in Australia and this article will be updated following a response.

Chinese electric car giant BYD has declared its interest in working with Tesla to combat the sale of petrol and diesel cars.“Our common enemy is the internal combustion engine (ICE) car. We need to work together… to make the industry change,” said BYD’s Vice President, Stella Li, in an interview with the Financial Times.Speaking at a BYD Showroom in London, Li said the brand was willing to share crucial EV autonomous technologies with foreign car brands, despite the US placing a blanket 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made EVs that effectively bars them from the market.The European Union also imposes a 17 per cent tariff on BYD vehicles on top of a 10 per cent levy on all imported vehicles.“ Chinese government is more open, so maybe there is a lot of wrong perception here,” Li said.Last month, BYD announced it would make its new ‘God’s-Eye’ autonomous driving technology available on most of its global models over the next couple of years for no additional cost via an over-the-air update. The technology is already active on some of its Chinese models.Tesla’s supervised full self-driving system, known as Autopilot, is available in the US for an upfront price of USD$8000 ($12,360) or on a subscription basis for USD$99 ($156) per month.Li's comments came as BYD continues to challenge Tesla’s long-held supremacy on the Global EV market.BYD emerged in 2023 as Tesla's fiercest competitor to the title of the world’s best-selling EV brand, after usurping Tesla's global EV sales in the fourth quarter of December 2023.Tesla regained the title in quarter one of 2024, rounding out the year with 1.78 million sales. BYD wasn’t far behind, though, at approximately 1.7 million EV sales.In Australia, Tesla sales have taken a major hit in the first couple of months of 2025. The controversial politics of CEO Elon Musk have appeared to have an impact, and customers are also awaiting the updated Model Y, the brand’s best-selling model, with deliveries set to commence in Australia in May.As of February 2025, Tesla sales have fallen 65.6 per cent this year to date, driven by a 71.9 per cent drop in sales last February compared to the previous year. Tesla sold 1592 vehicles last month compared to 5665 the year prior.Meanwhile, BYD’s sales grew by 38.4 per cent in Australia last month to 3946 units compared to 2859 the previous February.BYD, which operates tariff-free in the Australian market, saw strong early sales of its plug-in hybrid ute, the Shark 6, and its Tesla Model Y competitor, the Sealion 7. Deliveries of both models commenced earlier this year.

With hybrid SUVs, such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and utes, such as the BYD Shark 6, already here, and with more petrol-electric-powered vehicles on the way, like the BYD Fang Cheng Bao 5 (aka Denza B5, recently spotted testing in Australia), are petrol-electric hybrids set to relegate traditional ICE 4WDs into the dusty annals of history?Read on.A plug-in hybrid 4WD — one in which the electric motor runs the show until its battery is depleted enough that the internal-combustion engine kicks in as back-up — offers an effective compromise between helping to reduce the volume of climate change-induced woes our planet is being forced to suffer and still being able to get to and from your favourite campsite.Sure, it’s an all-wheel drive and best suited to light-duty off-roading, but the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a great example of a well-executed hybrid that is already here and well worth a look.This mid-size SUV has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (producing 98kW at 5000rpm and 195Nm at 4300rpm), an electric motor on the front and rear axles, and a lithium-ion battery pack with a total capacity of 20kWh. Combined output (engine and electric motors) is 185kW and 450Nm and this PHEV’s electric-only driving range is listed as 84km on a full charge.It has a single-speed transmission and drive modes in this vehicle include Eco, Normal, Power, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow and Mud.This Outlander has three power-use modes: EV Mode (“perfect for low to medium speeds in urban areas”, according to Mitsubishi), Series Hybrid Mode (“when accelerating or climbing hills, the hybrid petrol engine can be used to generate additional power while the vehicle runs on motor power”), and Parallel Hybrid Mode (“for high-speed driving such as overtaking vehicles on the highway, the vehicle runs on engine power while being assisted by the electric motor”).The PHEV’s EV-only driving range is a listed 84km but my most recent test vehicle (a GSR-spec Outlander) used most of its battery power on a 110km highway trip. Regenerative braking regained very little of that used power and the Outlander switched to rely on petrol for the remaining 30km or so of that trip.It has a single-speed transmission and drive modes include Eco, Normal, Power, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow and Mud, which all tweak engine, electric motor, and transmission to suit the selected mode.This Outlander is pleasant on sealed surfaces And it’s comfortable and capable off-road as well — as long as you stick within the parameters of the kind of “off-road” terrain an AWD SUV is built to cope with: well-maintained gravel roads and dirt tracks with minor corrugations in dry conditions or, at worst, rain-puddled blacktop.The Outlander has off-road measures that are fine for a city-focussed vehicle: 18.3 (degrees approach angle), 22.2 degrees (departure), 18 degrees (ramp breakover), and 203mm of ground clearance (unladen).It’s nimble in the bush (because steering is sharp), visibility is satisfactory all-round, and it settles well on gravel and dirt tracks at speed, only skipping around on rougher sections, due to its firm suspension and road tyres.You can switch drives modes to Gravel, Snow or Mud to best suit the terrain, however, the Outlander’s lack of ground clearance, road-biased tyres and 20-inch wheels, impact its capability.But, this is still a handy dirt-road tourer, yielding comfortable and controlled ride and handling, as well as an overall refined driving experience, only ever becoming rattled when the road or track surface becomes very chopped up and bumpy.The Outlander’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system deserves a fair amount of credit. This electric-powered traction control system manages torque application so it is instantaneous, he system cuts power to the wheel that has little grip and sends drive to the wheel with the most grip, and delivers that drive with impressive levels of throttle control and an even-handed management of power.Payload is listed as 605kg, towing capacity is 750kg (unbraked) and 1600kg (braked). GVM is 2750kg and GCM is 4350kg.My most recently tested example, the Mitsubishi Outlander GSR PHEV, has a listed fuel consumption of 1.5L/100km on a combined cycle but, as with all official fuel figures from any carmaker, you can take it with a grain of salt.On my most recent test, dash-indicated fuel consumption was 5.8L/100km; actual fuel consumption, as measured from pump to pump, was 7.7L/100km.Dash-indicated power usage was 20.8kWh/100km. This PHEV gobbled through most of its 20kWh battery capacity quite swiftly on the drive from the vehicle pick-up point in Sydney to our test start-point just over 100km away. It recouped 10km electric driving range via regenerative braking on a series of long downhills when set to ‘Charge’ driving mode (with the combustion engine generating power to the battery), but I had to cycle through regen modes to optimise that power regain.The dash-indicated combined driving range (battery and engine) was 748km on a full charge and a full 56-litre tank.Note: off-roading places a heavier burden on any vehicle – combustion, hybrid, EV – so battery capacity in a PHEV will be depleted faster and more fuel will be used than on sealed surfaces.Another intriguing hybrid already here is the BYD Shark 6 ute. This first for Australia – a plug-in hybrid ute – presents a strong case, in terms of performance and potential.It has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with dual electric motors: a 170kW/310Nm front motor and a 150kw/340Nm rear motor (total: 320kW and 650Nm).This BYD ute has a claimed driving range of 100km (electric only), and approximately 850km (hybrid).That’s a decent stretch of driving and worth noting because a plug-in hybrid doesn’t burden its driver with the crippling range anxiety that troubles some EV drivers.The Shark has a listed payload of 850kg and braked towing capacity of 2500kg. It doesn’t have the 1000kg payload or 3500kg market-standard towing capacity of non-hybrid utes, but it can still take on a considerable burden and clock up big distances before it needs to be refuelled/recharged, which is more than anyone can reasonably expect from any current EV.The good news is there are more hybrid 4WDs to come that, on paper at least, also have the potential to be decent off-roaders.Most noteworthy for now is the Shark 6’s stablemate, the Denza B5. As a a plug-in hybrid 4WD with a ladder-frame chassis and BYD’s Dual-Motor Intelligence technology onboard, the Denza B5 has a similar powertrain and platform set-up to the Shark 6.The B5 has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with twin electric motors (one at each axle) producing a very impressive 500kW and 760Nm.Bolstering its expected capability off-road, the B5 has that aforementioned ladder-frame chassis, three diff locks, 18-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres and the brand's Intelligent Hydraulic Body Control System. Similar in principle to other existing systems in other vehicles – for example, onboard the Nissan Patrol – this set-up is claimed to tighten on-road for more dynamic on-road driving and loosen off-road for more wheel articulation – but it is also claimed to be able to independently raise wheel heights by up to 200mm.In other good news for those who want plenty of driving range out of their touring 4WD, the B5 has a 31.4kWh battery – bigger than that of a standard hybrid – and that’s tipped to yield a 120km electric driving range. All up though – with a full fuel tank and fully charged battery – this Chinese-made 4WD should offer a total driving range of more than 1000km.So, it’s obvious the 4WD realm is rapidly changing and the future is a world in which there are more well-engineered and off-road-capable PHEVs on the road and on bush tracks.

Electric car (EV) giant BYD will launch 1000-volt architecture on its new EV models as soon as next month, which could see its cars add 300km of range in as little as five minutes of charging, according to CarNewsChina.

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the BYD Sealion 7 has debuted in China featuring the brand’s latest self-driving system and a vehicle-mounted drone hangar.Showcased alongside Denza and Fang Cheng Bao SUVs as part of a collaboration with Chinese drone-maker DJI, it’s the first time we’ve seen a PHEV version of the Sealion 7, which arrived in Australia this month in electric-only guise.CarNewsChina reported that the PHEV variant carries a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors. Maximum power on the petrol motor is 115kW, while it is 200kW on the front electric motor and 150kW at the rear.Each electric motor is powered by a 26.6kWh Blade battery pack, which delivers a claimed 120km of electric range under the more lenient CLTC cycle, while fuel consumption is claimed at between 5.5- and 6.6-litres per 100km once the battery is fully drained.Its slightly smaller Sealion 6 sibling, which is already on sale in Australia, boasts a similar configuration, albeit with less power. That includes an 18.3kWh battery pack, two electric motors on the front and rear axle that deliver 150kW and 120kW, respectively, and a 96kW 1.5-litre turbo-petrol motor.Electric driving range is rated at 81km on the Sealion 6 under the WLTP cycle.Seeing how closely related both five-seat SUV models are, it seems unlikely that BYD would release the Sealion 7 PHEV in Australia. That said, after David Smitherman, CEO of the brand’s local distributor, EVDirect, told CarsGuide nothing was off the table earlier this year, it remains a possibility.“Everything is on the agenda ,” Smitherman told CarsGuide.“There’s a substantial amount of product to come, in both EV and PHEV.”CarsGuide has contacted BYD’s local operations to determine if the Sealion 7 PHEV is under consideration for Australia. An update to the article will follow with a response.In addition to the new powertrain, the Sealion 7 features some unique design updates, including a LED light strip that spans the full width of the bonnet and a modified front fascia with larger air intakes to accommodate its petrol motor.There’s also a modified rear apron, LED taillight bar and different alloy wheel designs. Not to mention the huge rooftop-mounted Lidar sensor that pairs itself with the car's safety cameras to inform the brand's new ‘God’s Eye’ self-driving technology.Compared to a standard level two system, which can only operate on highways, the God’s Eye system can reportedly navigate traffic lights, obstacles and overtake in urban settings. It remains offline in Australia, though.Curiously, the Sealion 7 has also been fitted with a rooftop-mounted drone, an accessory which will only be made available to customers in China for now.According to CarNewsChina, the mobile drone hangar allows 4K recording vision to be transmitted back to the car. The drone can follow the vehicle at a maximum speed of 54km/h.Pricing in China is expected to be between CNY200,000 to CNY250,000 ($44,000 to $55,230) with the drone attachment and autonomous driving capabilities fitted.

The BYD Shark 6 dual-cab ute is a five-star car, according to the Australasian New Car Assessment program (ANCAP).

Chinese automotive company BYD says it's "Australia's brand" now, as it plots a mass model rollout that will see a BYD product competing in every vehicle segment.

A new ultra-efficient BYD model has been exposed by China’s vehicle regulator.Dubbed the Seal 08, the all-new electric model will arrive as a sibling to the Qin L EV in China, a cut-price sedan offered with internal combustion engine (ICE), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric powertrains.This model, however, will only be available with an electric powertrain. Specifically, a small 46.1kWh lithium iron phosphate Blade battery pack, paired with a 110kW electric motor.Despite its small size, the Sealion 08's 10kWh/100km efficiency means the sedan has an impressive 461km of driving range, albeit in the more lenient CLTC protocol. It also puts it comfortably ahead of the updated Tesla Model 3 (on paper), which achieves a peak rating of 13.2kWh/100km under the more stringent WLTP cycle. A top-spec variant will carry a larger 56.6kWh unit that will provide 545km, while it also gets a more powerful electric motor that delivers 160kW.In terms of design, the Seal 08 mirrors the Seal with its 'Ocean Series' silhouette, which includes the same front end, roofline and tailgate as the Seal.That said, it gets different LED headlight clusters, no fancy LED running lights on the lower bumper, physical door handles, less sophisticated wheel designs and different LED tail-lights.According to CarNewsChina, this is because it will fit under the Dynasty series in China, a more budget-friendly offering that the publication said is targeted at younger, cash-strapped buyers.The Ocean Series, which makes up most of the offerings on the Australian market, such as the Seal, Dolphin and Sealion 7, is alternatively targeted at a more upmarket clientele.As such, the Seal 08 is being floated with a price tag of around 150,000 yuan ($32,422) in China, although it would certainly carry a premium should it land in Australia.CarsGuide has contacted BYD’s local operations to determine whether the Seal 08 is a chance for the Australian market as a cut-price follow up to the brand’s more premium Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 competitor, the BYD Seal.It comes after CEO of BYD’s local distributor David Smitherman told CarsGuide he was pushing for more models in Australia."BYD has got a huge appetite for Australia and is very keen to bring product to the market," said Smitherman"In my role, I’m saying let's get lots of products to Australia to meet every segment."