BYD’s exotic cars firm for Oz

Chinese car giant BYD is expanding rapidly with several mainstream EVs and hybrid vehicles that sell in large numbers, but it also builds exotic (and very expensive) cars that beggar belief.

And they’re almost certain to roll into Aussie showrooms in the not-too-distant future.

As previously reported, BYD’s luxury brand Denza is set to arrive in Australia in the second half of 2025 but an even more extreme hero brand that’s dropping jaws in China – Yangwang – is firming up for a local incursion.

The Yangwang U8 ultra-luxury large SUV is a circa-$250,000 Range Rover rival that is currently touring Australia as part of a static roadshow at BYD dealerships, which now number 45 and are set to double to 90 outlets by year’s end.

Right-hand-drive versions of the Yangwang U8 were recently spotted testing in the Northern Territory and South Australia, suggesting they could be on sale in Australia sooner rather than later.

The U8 is bigger than a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series at just over 5.3 metres in length and it’s more powerful too. Four e-motors combine to produce 880kW/1280Nm – enough sizzle to propel the 3.5-tonne behemoth from 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds.

The e-motor quartet is backed up by a mid-size lithium-ion battery that delivers an EV range of around 120km, while the petrol generator extends that range to almost 800km.

The Yangwang U8 will almost certainly be rebadged in Australia and has several spectacular functions, such as a 360-degree stationary tank turn and amphibious capabilities, being able to float on water and cruise at slow speeds.

The other vehicle of interest is the Yangwang U9, a cheek-rippling road missile to rival the exotica from McLaren, Ferrari and Lamborghini.

The U9 has the same powertrain as the U8 SUV but it’s significantly lighter and more aerodynamic. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in around 2.0 seconds flat and has a top speed of 375km/h.

It also has an incredible ‘jumping’ feature that beggars belief, which can engage while stationary or moving thanks to its advanced suspension system.

EV Direct, the importer of BYD vehicles in Australia, previously said the U9 was unlikely to be sold in Australia. However, BYD’s Asia Pacific boss, Liu Xueliang, has all but confirmed the Yangwang brand’s arrival here.

“We haven’t decided whether we’re going to bring Yangwang to the Australian market [but] whenever the market demands something, then we will bring the product here,” said Liu Xueliang via an interpreter.

He left the door wide open for the U8 in particular, suggesting that if customer demand was there it would tailor the vehicle for Australia.

“In that case, we will consider it.

“We really want to see what’s the reaction from our Australian customers. They are on display in some dealerships around Australia,” he added, referring to the Yangwang U8’s static tour around the country.

“For the traditional OEM, there’s not a lot of new models coming to the market every year. And for BYD, in the past three years, we’ve introduced six models to this market. It’s very rare in the industry,” he declared, underscoring the brand’s aggressive new model strategy.

As one of BYD’s most senior global executives, Mr Liu suggested that all incoming new vehicles – including the upcoming Sealion 7 EV launching within weeks – may benefit from local tweaks and features.

“Especially for Shark 6, we listened a lot about our customers’ opinion and our partners’ opinion, what is the best fit?”

Whether this translates to unique locally made accessories being developed for the U8 when it arrives in Australia – much like the Ironman 4x4 addons for the Shark 6 – remains to be seen.

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