BYD News

Zeekr is the first Chinese premium brand to launch in Australia, but by the end of 2025 it will be far from the only option.

The federal government will offer low-interest loans for Australian workers earning less than $100,000 to purchase an electric car.Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, this week announced the move, which will open up $150 million worth of funding through the Commonwealth Bank, cutting interest rates to 5.49 per cent per annum from between 6.49 per cent and 10.49 per cent.Essential workers – such as police officers, firefighters and nurses – will qualify for the loan regardless of income, which will only apply to new and used EVs worth up to $55,000.That covers EVs like the GWM Ora, MG4 and BYD Dolphin, as well as larger models such as the BYD Atto 3 and Leapmotor C10.The government claims the loans will help save Australians more than $8000 on a $40,000 loan with a seven-year term, on top of fuel savings.“Discounted loans help remove barriers to ownership, helping more Australians drive cars that can save them thousands of dollars a year,” said Chris Bowen.In addition to the loans, car buyers are already exempt from paying fringe benefits taxes (FBT) on EVs and plug-in hybrids purchased through a novated leasing agreement.FBT exemptions will end for plug-in hybrid cars on April 1 next year, though the deal will continue for EVs.The news comes as EV demand has softened in Australia as buyers increasingly look to hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles as an alternative.Using combined data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Electric Vehicle Council, Australians have purchased 178,785 hybrid or plug-in hybrid models to the end of November this year, compared to roughly 70,000 EVs.Interested buyers can access the loans from today.

Just weeks after snapping a BYD Sealion 7 in the wild, the Chinese EV giant has submitted its next local model in for homologation with the Australian government.It reveals the fully-electric SUV, poised to tangle with the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5, Leapmotor C10, Deepal S07 and Xpeng G6, will be offered in Australia with the choice of two powertrains.As expected, there will be a single-motor rear-wheel drive variant which produces 230kW.An all-wheel drive variant, which adds an additional 130kW electric motor to the front axle for a total output of 390kW.We expect torque outputs to be 380Nm on the rear-wheel drive variant and 690Nm on the all-wheel drive variant, as is the case in Europe, though nothing has been confirmed locally as of yet.The same goes for battery sizes, with the Sealion 7 carrying two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade’ batteries in Europe – an 82.5kWh unit or a larger 91.5kWh one.The former, which is available in both rear- and all-wheel drive guises, delivers between 456-482km WLTP driving range.A range-topping 502km of WLTP range is reserved for the Excellence grade in Europe, which incorporates the larger battery pack exclusively on the AWD variant.BYD claims a 0-100km/h sprint time on the rear-wheel drive variant of 6.7 seconds, while both all-wheel drive models can complete the sprint time in 4.5 seconds.According to the filings, the Sealion 7 measures 4830mm long, 1925mm wide, 1620mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2930mm.That makes it larger than a Tesla Model Y in all metrics bar height, where it is just 4mm shorter.The same goes for the Xpeng G6 and Leapmotor C10, both of which are 30mm and 60mm taller, respectively. It exceeds the Kia EV5 in all dimensions.Pricing is unclear at this stage, but we expect it to start competitively against the Tesla Model Y ($55,900), the Kia EV5 ($55,700) and the Xpeng G6 ($54,800, all at before on-road costs).The similarly-sized Seal sedan with equivalent battery capacity and motor power starts at $49,888, before on-road costs, in Dynamic trim.Getting any cheaper than $50,000, which is where the Leapmotor C10 ($45,888, before on-road costs) resides, will be difficult. That is the price point reserved for BYD's other family-focused SUV, the Atto 3 which starts at $44,499, before on-road costs.Full pricing and specifications for the Sealion 7 are expected closer to its arrival date in Australia in the first half of 2025.

Just when you thought utes and SUVs were about to completely take over Australia’s automotive scene, small cars are making something of a comeback.And it’s not the usual suspects like the Toyota Corollas and Mazda3s of the world that are bumping up interest in small sedans and hatchbacks. It is also electric cars.According to official year-to-date sales data to the end of November this year, small-car sales are up by 12 per cent compared with the same period in 2023. While that doesn’t sound like a massive increase, it represents the biggest percentage increase out of any SUV or passenger car segment.So what is driving this interest in smaller models? A couple of factors it turns out.The biggest contributor to the rise in sales is the influx of electric cars to the segment. Previously, the only electric small car was the Nissan Leaf which, while it was a pioneering EV model, never sold in huge numbers.Now there are a trio of EVs boosting the segment. The biggest selling small EV in Australia, by some margin, is the MG4 hatch. With 6079 sales, an increase of 140.6 per cent to the end of November, the MG4 is also the fifth best-selling small car.Sharp retail deals on model year 2023 MG4s, including a limited $30,990 drive-away price on the entry-level 51 Excite, helped boost interest in the Chinese-built EV.Another couple of small Chinese electric hatchbacks that are selling well include the BYD Dolphin which has found 1885 homes so far this year, an increase of 174 per cent over 2023.The GWM Ora has also nabbed 1182 sales, up by 175.5 per cent year on year.Two small EVs have seen sales drops, like the Cupra Born which has dipped by 47 per cent to 439 units, as well as the Nissan Leaf, which is down by 30.5 per cent, but that model is in runout in Australia following the end of UK production earlier this year.While EVs are doing the heavy lifting in the resurgent small-car sector, traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) small models are doing their part too.After a serious sales blip due to stock issues, the Kia Cerato is having a bumper year, with sales up by 187.5 per cent to 14,807 units, making it the second best-selling small car behind the dominant Toyota Corolla.The Cerato result is interesting given this generation went on sale in mid-2018. It is also now in runout ahead of quarter one, 2025 launch of its replacement, now dubbed the K4.The Corolla is also having a good run this year with 22,526 sales (up by 24.5%), ensuring a likely top 10 placing in the overall make/model sales chart. The Mazda3 is also in positive territory, up 13 per cent to 9618.A couple of other famous nameplates have seen sales declines, like the Hyundai i30 (11,616, -40.7%) and Volkswagen Golf (2593, -22.6%).At one point in history small cars made up one of the largest sales categories, but now with a 7.7 per cent slice of the overall market, it trails medium SUVs, 4x4 pick-ups, small SUVs and large SUVs.From 2011 to 2015 small cars ruled the top spot of the sales charts in Australia, with the Mazda3, then the Toyota Corolla taking top spot, before the Toyota HiLux ute came along and changed the face of the new-car market in 2016.

BYD’s off-road sub-brand Fang Cheng Bao has revealed its second Toyota-rivalling electric family SUV. Dubbed the Titanium 3, the car will headline a new product series for the brand called “Tai” (literally translating to Titanium) after the ‘Bao’ lineup. Plans for outside the Chinese market are unclear at this stage, although we know the brand is officially under consideration for Australia after BYD trademarked the “Bao” moniker earlier this year.The larger Bao 5 plug-in hybrid is expected to launch in Australia next year, but will likely be called the BYD Leopard 5.A BYD representative has been approached for further comment on if and when we might expect an Australian release for the Bao 3 Titanium.For now, though, we know the Titanium 3 will launch in China in the first half of 2025 at 4605mm long, 1900mm wide, 1702mm tall and with a wheelbase of 2745mm.  That’s roughly the same size in all directions as popular family SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5, which all compete in Australia’s competitive medium SUV market. Unlike those models the Titanium 3 eschews hybrid power for a fully-electric all-wheel drive set-up, with power derived from BYD’s flagship Blade battery, as is utilised on the BYD Seal, Atto 3 and Dolphin models.Range and total power outputs are yet to be revealed, but for now we know that the dual-motor setup includes a front-axle rear motor with 110kW of power and a rear-axle motor that delivers an additional 200kW. According to Chinese homologation filings, approach/departure angles are listed at 25-degrees and 28-degrees, while two curb weights of 2170kg and 2265kg were listed. That means it will be considerably heavier than its rivals due to a larger battery pack, although departure angles are much stronger than a Toyota RAV4's, which is 17.5-degrees and 20-degrees for approach/departure. Interior details are yet to be revealed, though we do know what the Titanium 3’s exterior will look like, with boxy styling and hard-wearing off-road trims.Two key design standouts are the rooftop and tailgate cargo areas, the latter of which gives the impression of a classic 4WD rear tyre mount. Pricing in China will reportedly commence from 200,000 yuan ($43,198), according to CarNewsChina. 

A new BYD electric car has been revealed in China via filings with the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

BYD’s newest Tesla challenger has been spotted testing in Sydney ahead of its launch in early 2025.

BYD has taken a step towards releasing what could be yet another affordable smash-hit electric model, as the brand trademarked the ‘Atto 3 Up’ name in Australia.This name could sit on locally-delivered versions of the Chinese-market Yuan Up, with Volkswagen likely to challenge use of the Up! name it used (and still holds the trademark for) on its city-sized hatchback, which was discontinued in Australia in 2014.The BYD Yuan Up is also known as the Yuan Pro in other markets outside China, but it seems the brand will stick with relatability should the model launch in Australia.It is offered with a 130kW/290Nm front-mounted electric motor and up to 380km of NEDC-rated range from a relatively small 45kWh battery. A charging capacity of up to 65kW on DC means a charge time from a quoted 30 - 80 per cent in 20 minutes.As with other BYD models, the Yuan Up features a high standard specification, including 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and up to a 12.8-inch central multimedia touchscreen on higher spec cars, as well as a synthetic leather interior. It relies on the same software and technology platform as the existing Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal already sold in Australia.It could be competitively priced, with higher-grade versions in China sitting at around the equivalent of AU$25,000 (likely closer to the mid-$30,000 mark if it follows the same pattern as other BYD models), leaving room for it to sit at a similar price to the Dolphin hatch (from $36,990) as an SUV alternative, but below the $44,499 starting price of the Atto 3.So far, the Yuan Pro (aka Atto 3 Up) has only been offered in left-hand drive. It is worth noting that BYD also holds many other as-yet-unused trademarks, including nameplates for other models from its Chinese range, like the Han luxury sedan, Song mid-size SUV, and even two options for the name of its sub-Dolphin city hatch, either Dolphin Mini (its name in South America) or Seagull (its name in China).Additionally, BYD holds multiple trademarks for its Denza premium arm, Fang Cheng Bao (Formula Leopard) off-road sub-brand, and its YangWang ultra-luxury marque, complete with separate trademarks for logos, symbols, and individual model names. It even holds a series of trademarks related to its SkyRail mass transit company, which already runs trains in South America and Singapore.BYD will no doubt seek to double down on its strong momentum in Australia with an expanded range to follow-up its plug-in hybrid Shark 6 ute, which has created quite some fanfare.When asked if this would include smaller models, the CEO of BYD’s local importer, David Smitherman told CarsGuide earlier this year the Seagull hatch was definitely a potential candidate, but the brand’s immediate focus would be on SUVs, strengthening the case for the Atto 3 Up being a smaller and cost-effective option in its line-up.He additionally indicated the brand was also strongly considering the Euro-focused E-Vali van as an option for its increasing base of fleet customers who had expressed interest in it.On top of this, the brand has said on multiple occasions it is very interested in the plug-in hybrid off-road focused Fang Cheng Bao Leopard 5 (essentially an SUV take on the Shark 6 platform), although hasn’t yet been able to confirm timing.Expanding its range is more important now than ever, with multiple rivals also from China eyeing the success of BYD, MG, and GWM, announcing their own debut models in 2025.These rivals include Xpeng, Geely, GAC, and Leapmotor, all of which have largely electric SUV-led ambitions in the next year.

A mid-week press release from Ford citing in-house research that showed "sixty percent of Australian drivers would be more likely to buy an electrified vehicle if it offered greater towing capability" – before highlighting the Ranger PHEV's 3.5-tonne towing capacity – didn't go unnoticed at BYD's Australian offices, with one executive suggesting the move proved the Shark 6 has the Blue Oval rattle

Denza, a luxury subsidiary of Chinese EV giant BYD, has revealed details of its first flagship plug-in hybrid luxury SUV, the N9.Built for the global market, the Denza N9 will debut in China in 2025 before being sent to Europe and potentially Australia.It is designed to be a cut-price competitor to the long-wheelbase Range Rover PHEV P460e HSE and the GMC Yukon Denali as a luxury three-row SUV.It is 206mm longer than the Range Rover, coming in at 5258mm long, though it's still 80mm shorter than the Yukon Denali, which measures up at 5338mm.It is 2030mm wide, 1830mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 3125mm. The latter is 54mm longer than the Yukon Denali's.Power is sourced from three electric motors that generate a staggering 680kW. They are paired to a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that generates a further 152kW.There is a 47kWh battery pack that delivers up to 165km of CLTC-certified electric range, according to CarNewsChina.It’s also poised for a fully-electric three-motor variant, though there are no further details at this stage.Inside, the N9 carries a three-row 2:2:2 seating configuration, with two independent captain’s chairs in the second row.These seats can fully recline, while there is a 17.1-inch ceiling mounted screen in the second row for entertainment, as well as seat-mounted tray tables and personal fold out mirrors.Up front, there is a three-monitor setup, with a large 17.3-inch central touchscreen, a 13.2-inch LCD digital driver’s display and a 13.2-inch passenger’s display.In the floating centre console, there is a 11.5-litre heating and cooling box, which reportedly works from six to 50 degrees. Additionally, there are two wireless charging pads, a block of physical buttons –presumably for climate controls – and a hidden under-carriage storage area.The Denza N9 will enter the Chinese market next year at a starting price of 500,000 yuan ($106,105), according to CarNewsChina.It is also poised to launch in Europe shortly after following leaked spy shots of a prototype model testing in London last month.Australia could potentially be in the brand’s sights for later in 2025, with a BYD spokesperson telling CarsGuide earlier this year that nothing was off the cards for the brand.“BYD is committed to extending its new energy range in Australia, offering its customers more choice across all key segments,” the spokesperson said.“While there is no definitive timeline for the Denza Z9 or Z9 GT in Australia, BYD will continue to explore bringing more vehicles to disrupt the Australian automotive industry.”If it does arrive in Australia, it will no doubt undercut key rivals such as the GMC Yukon Denali and the Range Rover PHEV P460e HSE in price, which start at $169,990 and $270,888, respectively, before on-road costs.Denza was founded in 2011 as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and BYD before the Chinese EV giant assumed full control over the brand in September this year.