BYD's luxury SUV, the Yangwang U8, might be spotted in Australian showrooms soon, but a local launch is still some years away. While the U8 is being tested in Australia, BYD's local distributor, EVDirect, is prioritizing the launch of the Denza brand in 2025. The Denza brand will offer a range of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, potentially including models like the B5, which has already been spotted testing in Australia. Although the Fangchengbao brand won't be making its way to Australia, there's a possibility that Yangwang models could be rebranded as Denza for local markets.
With examples being shown off in Australia n showrooms and right-hand drive test cars on local roads, you might think a local launch for BYD ’s Yangwang U8 luxury SUV is imminent. That isn’t the case though, with a local launch some ways away according to the managing director and executive chairman of BYD ’s local distributor, EVDirect. “U8 is not on the agenda for the foreseeable future, but what is on the agenda is the launch of Denza ,” Luke Todd told CarExpert.
“The U8 that is being tested will be eventually coming to Australia but may be a few years away, but there are going to be some very strong products… in the Denza brand.” Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. When asked about the local Yangwang U8 sightings, BYD’s Asia-Pacific boss Liu Xueliang said through an interpreter only that vehicles are tested here prior to launch to confirm they are suitable for local conditions. “We’ll make a lot of preparations. Before Shark 6 launched in Australia, a long time ago we already started to test the Shark 6 in Australia,” said Mr Liu through an interpreter. “So for all the models that BYD wants to bring to Australia, we want to make sure that it meets the drive occasions in Australia… and also meet the needs of our customers in Australia.” While the local launch of the Yangwang U8 isn’t imminent, BYD will roll out its premium Denza brand here during 2025. BYD may not have as dizzying an array of brands as some Chinese carmakers, but it has been adding to its menagerie. Denza is the oldest nameplate, having debuted in 2012 as part of a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz which has subsequently withdrawn. Its range consists entirely of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, including the Z9 sedan, Z9 GT shooting brake, N7 crossover, and D9 people mover. This was followed in 2023 by Fangchengbao, which produces boxy off-roaders with electric or plug-in hybrid powertrains; and Yangwang, the most prestigious of the brands, which has the range-extender (EREV) U8 off-roader, U7 EV and PHEV sedan, and U9 electric supercar. The Fangchengbao Bao 5 is being exported to certain global markets as the Denza B5, suggesting BYD may want to stick to a traditional pairing of a single mainstream and luxury brand, à la Toyota and Lexus or Nissan and Infiniti. The B5 has been spied testing in Australia, suggesting it could feature as part of the local Denza lineup. While Mr Todd confirmed the Fangchengbao brand name won’t appear here, he stopped short of confirming what Denza’s local lineup will look like or whether Yangwang products could be sold under this brand in markets like ours. He conceded, however, that rolling out more than one extra brand would be troublesome in a cluttered market. “The Australian market has already got way too many brands,” he said. BYD’s Australian distributor, EVDirect, has previously expressed interest in bringing the U8 to Australia, though no Yangwang product has been locked in yet. Overseas reports have indicated Yangwang will begin right-hand drive sales of the U8 in other markets this year. Measuring 5319mm long, 2050mm wide and 1930mm tall on a 3050mm wheelbase, the U8 is about 300mm longer, 50mm wider and 20mm shorter than the largest Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series variants. It’s even larger than luxury SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Range Rover, however unlike its counterparts it doesn’t use a petrol engine to drive its wheels directly. As an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), it features four electric motors, fed by a 49.05kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery which can be charged externally or by an onboard 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The four electric motors produce up to 880kW of power and 1280Nm of torque and give the U8 a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.6 seconds, while delivering 180km of electric-only driving range or more than 1000km combined – both against China’s lenient CLTC test cycle. Despite tipping the scales at a whopping 3460kg, Yangwang claims it can float in deep water for up to 30 minutes. There is a price to pay however, with prices in China starting from RMB 1,089,000 – equivalent to almost $240,000 in Australian currency. BYD’s most expensive vehicle in local showrooms is the Seal Performance, which starts from $61,990 before on-road costs. MORE: Is BYD introducing boxy new luxury off-roaders to Australia?
BYD Yangwang U8 Denza Evdirect Australia Car Launch Luxury SUV Electric Vehicle
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
BYD Yangwang U8 Spotted Testing in AustraliaThe BYD Yangwang U8, a premium off-roader, has been spotted testing in Australia, suggesting its potential arrival in the country. This follows reports of right-hand drive models undergoing testing in China and previous expressions of interest from BYD's Australian distributor.
Read more »
BYD's Yangwang U8 Spotted Testing in Australia Ahead of Potential LaunchA right-hand drive prototype of the BYD Yangwang U8, a luxurious electric SUV, has been spotted testing in the Northern Territory of Australia. This sighting, following a previous one in Victoria, suggests that BYD is intensifying its testing efforts in preparation for a potential Australian launch. The Yangwang U8, a large electric vehicle with impressive power and range, could become BYD's flagship model in the Australian market.
Read more »
BYD's Flagship Luxury SUV, the Yangwang U8, Spotted Testing in AustraliaA right-hand drive prototype of the Yangwang U8 was recently spotted testing in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, suggesting BYD's plans to introduce this flagship electric SUV to the Australian market. This sighting follows an earlier one in Warragul, Victoria, and indicates the company is actively conducting hot-weather testing in Australia.
Read more »
BYD Sealion 6 Cracks Australia's Top 20 Best-Selling VehiclesThe BYD Sealion 6 SUV made its debut in Australia's top 20 best-selling vehicles in December 2024, achieving 18th position with 1122 sales. While it didn't break into the year-end top 20, its performance highlights its rapid growth as BYD's best-selling model in Australia. The Sealion 6 competes in the popular mid-sized SUV segment.
Read more »
BYD Sealion 6 Overtakes Mitsubishi Outlander as Australia's Best-Selling PHEV in 2024The BYD Sealion 6 dethroned the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to become the best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle in Australia for 2024. Despite being available for only part of the year, the Sealion 6's popularity led to a surge in PHEV sales, a trend fueled by government incentives and consumer preference for hybrid vehicles.
Read more »
BYD Sealion 7 Electric SUV Launches in AustraliaBYD Australia is launching its new Sealion 7 electric SUV in mid-February 2025 with a starting price of under $60,000. This performance SUV boasts a range of over 500 kilometers and advanced driver-assistance features.
Read more »