BYD Yangwang U8 takes another step towards Australia
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The ultra-luxury SUV from BYD sub-brand Yangwang is on tour in Australia for a second time as its local importer eyes off potential opportunities.
Three Yangwang U8 ultra-luxury off-road SUVs will be on display at three BYD dealerships in Australia as what may be another toe-in-the-water for a potential local release of the Mercedes G-Class and Range Rover rival.
Yangwang is the luxury arm of BYD – functioning in a similar way Lexus does to Toyota – with local importer EVDirectdisplaying the U8 publicly in Australia for a second time, having done so in mid 2024.
One U8 will be on show at each of the three BYD east coast locations chosen: the Alexandria showroom in Sydney; Melbourne's Cremorne outlet and the Fortitude Valley dealer in Brisbane.
MORE: BYD Yangwang U8 SUV closer to Australia
While not confirmed for Australia, the decision to showcase the U8 publicly – and for a second occasion – suggests BYD is more closely developing a business case for a local launch of the U8.
While currently made only in left-hand drive, a heavily disguised right-hand drive version was spotted testing in China in October 2024, meaning a potential path to Australian showrooms.
On sale in China since September 2023 – with a list price of CN¥1,089,000 ($AU240,000) – the Yangwang U8 is a full-size, ultra luxury plug-in hybrid off-road SUV.
As an EREV (Energy Range Extending Vehicle), the U8 uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged internal combustion engine as a generator – never driving the wheels – to charge the battery, which feeds four electric motors driving the wheels.
The powertrain delivers a potent 880kW/1280Nm output with all-wheel drive and supercar-like 3.6-second 0-100km/h acceleration claim.
A 49.08kWh lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) battery is rated for up to 120km of electric-only driving, with a combined range of 780km.
Officially, the U8's ongoing public display is designed purely to showcase BYD's technology capability here, yet EVDirect CEO David Smitherman confirmed BYD intends to bring more brands to Australia.
"Some of the other brands will definitely come to market," Smitherman told Drive.
In addition to Yangwang, BYD also operates Denza – a partnership formed with Mercedes-Benz in 2010 now 100 per cent owned by BYD – as well as Fangchengbao.
"A lot of Australians don’t really realize BYD sells 500,000 vehicles per month in China – five times the Australian market in one single month – and that means, they’ve got so much product," Smitherman said.
"We've just got to manage the variety of products to say, well, what’s best for us from a BYD perspective.
"In my role, I'm super focused on BYD, super focused on, on growing the basics of the business, which we are well and truly on track with … but you can rest assured that, because of the size of BYD, we will definitely see a huge amount of product coming."
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