BYD electric cars due in Australia early 2021
Chinese brand plans to ‘revolutionise EVs in Australia’, selling direct to customers – at prices up to $100KChinese BYD electric cars could be on sale in Australia early in 2021 and be sold direct to consumers rather than via a dealer network.
The BYD model range will be priced between $59,000 and $99,000 according to a plan outlined by the Chinese electric vehicle giant’s Australian partner Nexport.
As reported earlier today, Nexport has revealed a plan to construct a new production facility at Moss Vale in NSW to build electrified BYD cars, trucks and buses.
But based on statements made by Nexport managing director Luke Todd in promotional videos on the company’s new website, it may take up to five years for local production to be fully up and running.
So while he says the Moss Vale site is already under construction, the completion date is some time away.
The BYD models Nexport is looking to import are expected to include the new BYD Han luxury sedan. Others that could be under consideration are the BYD Tang and BYD Song Plus SUVs.
However, only two BYD electric buses and the elderly EY6 passenger car have Australian Design Rule approval.
Nexport runs a fleet of BYD E6 electric taxis in Sydney under the business name Etaxico.
Another Nexport business, Gemilang, builds bus bodies and Todd says it has received an order to deliver 109 electric buses to the NSW government.
Yet another business featured on the website, Electric Trucks Australia, says it will be importing BYD electric trucks into Australia from 2021.
On car importing, sale and manufacturing, Todd said: “We will be bringing production back to Australia. We have a five-year roadmap to bring full production back to Australia.
“We will be starting with importing vehicles and doing an engineering upgrade for the Australian market and then over five years we will be producing cars in full in Australia.
“Not only are we bringing new vehicles to Australia but we are launching a new platform called EVdirect which will bring EV cars direct from the manufacturer to the customer.
“We are looking at a complete, holistic electric vehicle industry change.
“With Nexport and the work we have done so far and the partners we have we are going to completely revolutionise electric vehicles in Australia.
“We are not talking about future technology, we have the opportunity to make a real impact now.”
The Nexport website describes the company as “Australia’s leading electric vehicle producer and supplier”.
“With a multi-model platform for EV transport we are leading Australia to a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future,” it says.
Other companies included on the website include Nexport E-Tech, which is focused on driver assist systems such as autonomy and 5G connection, and EVE Machina, which is described as a “creative design centre”.
Listed separately on the website is Truegreen Impact Group, a venture capitalist focused on green investments that is backing Nexport.
On LinkedIn, Todd is also listed as becoming CEO of Truegreen Mobility since October. According to the same website he has been MD of Nexport since October 2018.
The address of the two companies in the Sydney CBD is identical.
Todd is listed on LinkedIn as principal adviser to BYD Asia Pacific since January 2019.
Before starting Nexport he worked at airport bus specialist Airbridge for 15 years. According to his LinkedIn page he was CEO from 2014 to 2018.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
