Latest news with #BYDSeagull
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Why Cheap Chinese EVs Aren't Invading the U.S. Market in 2025
Scroll through TikTok or auto forums, and you'll hear a common refrain: a flood of Chinese EVs is coming to undercut U.S. automakers. The numbers sound scary - hundreds of thousands of cars exported by China as "used" despite never being driven. But for some reality, almost none of them are reaching the U.S., and they're not going to anytime soon. China exported over 400,000 "zero-mileage" used vehicles in 2024, mostly EVs. But those went to Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. U.S. Customs data and direct reporting confirm that fewer than 50 Chinese passenger EVs have cleared legal hurdles to drive on American roads, and those were niche low-speed vehicles like the Wuling Macaron. "Zero-mileage used" is simply not a loophole you can scale. It's a stunt - and not a very effective one. Take the BYD Seagull. It's one of the most talked-about electric hatchbacks coming out of China. It uses a 38 or 44 kWh battery pack, delivers around 190–250 miles of range, and does 0–60 in about 7.9 seconds (source: BYD Global specs). The car weighs under 2,600 pounds, which is lean by EV standards. The catch? It's built to Chinese domestic specs. Steering calibration is ultra-light, chassis tuning is floaty, and NVH isolation isn't up to par with a Bolt EUV or Hyundai Kona Electric. The Seagull isn't tuned for interstate travel at 75 mph. It was designed for congested cities at 30–50 mph - and that shows in ride feedback and powertrain tuning. Let's say you find a used Chinese EV brought over the border from Mexico with 310 miles on the odometer. Legally, that qualifies as "used" under tariff law. But here's what stops it from being registered in the U.S.: It lacks FMVSS safety certification (no crash test compliance, no U.S. airbag standards).It lacks EPA certification, even for EVs, which still need emissions and onboard diagnostics likely contains banned connected components (GPS, camera modules, telematics systems) blocked under the 2025 federal rule targeting China-origin software and hardware. That's three federal violations before you even try to get plates on it. If you do manage to get one across the border, and are seen on US roads, expect instant vehicle seizure, registration fraud charges, and fines. The panic around a wave of sub-$25K Chinese EVs undercutting the U.S. market is misplaced. The loophole exists on paper. It doesn't work in practice. You can't flood a market when the door is bolted shut. So far, Chinese EVs remain boxed out by tariffs, tech bans, and a mountain of red tape. They're gaining ground globally - just not here. The idea of walking into a used lot in Texas or Florida and grabbing a zero-mile BYD Dolphin for $18K? Fiction. For now, anyway. If you want a cheap EV in America, your options are still coming from Detroit, Seoul, or Tokyo - not Shenzhen. If you want a Chinese EV drive now, head down to Cancun for the weekend. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Advertiser
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Cut-price electric Kia Picanto replacement coming to take on BYD Seagull
Kia has confirmed it's planning an affordable city-sized electric car – even smaller than the 2026 Kia EV2 already announced – and much would be a direct competitor to the BYD Seagull, Dacia Spring and Fiat 500e. Speaking to UK publication Autocar, Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song said a cheaper, smaller electric city car, which could be called the EV1, was "homework" for the company's product developers, confirming such a car was "one area we are studying and developing". Mr Song also said affordable, city-sized cars would remain an important part of the brand's lineup as European buyers move towards EVs. Kia technically already offers a city-sized EV – the Picanto-based Ray – but this tall, boxy model is exclusive to Korea. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The new city EV would take over from Kia's entry-level petrol-powered Picanto – currently Australia's cheapest new car – which was significantly updated in 2023 and still sells strongly in Europe. With a replacement still as far off as 2028-2029, the Picanto's successor could well ditch the current version's 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to become a battery-electric city hatch. It would face the BYD Seagull, set to go on sale in the United Kingdom later this year as the Dolphin Surf, at less than £20,000 ($41,874). The Seagull is under consideration for Australian showrooms and could become the cheapest EV offered here, given it would sit below the current price leader – the BYD Dolphin electric hatch at $29,990 drive-away. Even then, the current petrol Picanto could remain on sale alongside a newer, electric offering in Kia showrooms. Other brands have also planned this approach, such as Volkswagen, which intends to sell the petrol-powered Golf alongside battery-electric versions well into next decade. Kia has been prolific in rolling out new EVs. Its smallest, the funky EV2 five-door SUV, is due on sale overseas in 2026 but is unlikely to be offered here. The Kia EV4 electric sedan – a Tesla Model 3 rival – is scheduled to arrive in Australia in the last quarter (October-December) of 2025, joining the EV3, EV5, EV6 and EV9 electric Kias currently in Australian showrooms. The EV5 has been Kia Australia's most popular EV so far in 2025 and the fourth-most popular EV overall, with 2765 delivered to the end of June – putting it behind the third-place Model 3 with the MG 4 behind in fifth. Mr Song said Europe will "drive volume from a full EV lineup" because of a "strong trend" towards electric cars – yet internal combustion engines will remain important in emerging markets lacking electric-charging infrastructure. It will also enable Kia to maintain a flexible approach to respond to market trends when necessary. "The final destination in Europe is EVs, which is why I want to be a very strong EV player in Europe… but if we look at worldwide demand we should have alternative powertrains, like hybrids, plug-in [hybrids] and EREVs [extended-range electric vehicles]," he said. Sales of hybrids in Australia in the first six months of 2025 increased 14.9 per cent, following a 76 per cent jump in popularity in 2024, while key markets – including China and the United States – have also seen significant hybrid growth. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Kia has confirmed it's planning an affordable city-sized electric car – even smaller than the 2026 Kia EV2 already announced – and much would be a direct competitor to the BYD Seagull, Dacia Spring and Fiat 500e. Speaking to UK publication Autocar, Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song said a cheaper, smaller electric city car, which could be called the EV1, was "homework" for the company's product developers, confirming such a car was "one area we are studying and developing". Mr Song also said affordable, city-sized cars would remain an important part of the brand's lineup as European buyers move towards EVs. Kia technically already offers a city-sized EV – the Picanto-based Ray – but this tall, boxy model is exclusive to Korea. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The new city EV would take over from Kia's entry-level petrol-powered Picanto – currently Australia's cheapest new car – which was significantly updated in 2023 and still sells strongly in Europe. With a replacement still as far off as 2028-2029, the Picanto's successor could well ditch the current version's 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to become a battery-electric city hatch. It would face the BYD Seagull, set to go on sale in the United Kingdom later this year as the Dolphin Surf, at less than £20,000 ($41,874). The Seagull is under consideration for Australian showrooms and could become the cheapest EV offered here, given it would sit below the current price leader – the BYD Dolphin electric hatch at $29,990 drive-away. Even then, the current petrol Picanto could remain on sale alongside a newer, electric offering in Kia showrooms. Other brands have also planned this approach, such as Volkswagen, which intends to sell the petrol-powered Golf alongside battery-electric versions well into next decade. Kia has been prolific in rolling out new EVs. Its smallest, the funky EV2 five-door SUV, is due on sale overseas in 2026 but is unlikely to be offered here. The Kia EV4 electric sedan – a Tesla Model 3 rival – is scheduled to arrive in Australia in the last quarter (October-December) of 2025, joining the EV3, EV5, EV6 and EV9 electric Kias currently in Australian showrooms. The EV5 has been Kia Australia's most popular EV so far in 2025 and the fourth-most popular EV overall, with 2765 delivered to the end of June – putting it behind the third-place Model 3 with the MG 4 behind in fifth. Mr Song said Europe will "drive volume from a full EV lineup" because of a "strong trend" towards electric cars – yet internal combustion engines will remain important in emerging markets lacking electric-charging infrastructure. It will also enable Kia to maintain a flexible approach to respond to market trends when necessary. "The final destination in Europe is EVs, which is why I want to be a very strong EV player in Europe… but if we look at worldwide demand we should have alternative powertrains, like hybrids, plug-in [hybrids] and EREVs [extended-range electric vehicles]," he said. Sales of hybrids in Australia in the first six months of 2025 increased 14.9 per cent, following a 76 per cent jump in popularity in 2024, while key markets – including China and the United States – have also seen significant hybrid growth. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Kia has confirmed it's planning an affordable city-sized electric car – even smaller than the 2026 Kia EV2 already announced – and much would be a direct competitor to the BYD Seagull, Dacia Spring and Fiat 500e. Speaking to UK publication Autocar, Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song said a cheaper, smaller electric city car, which could be called the EV1, was "homework" for the company's product developers, confirming such a car was "one area we are studying and developing". Mr Song also said affordable, city-sized cars would remain an important part of the brand's lineup as European buyers move towards EVs. Kia technically already offers a city-sized EV – the Picanto-based Ray – but this tall, boxy model is exclusive to Korea. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The new city EV would take over from Kia's entry-level petrol-powered Picanto – currently Australia's cheapest new car – which was significantly updated in 2023 and still sells strongly in Europe. With a replacement still as far off as 2028-2029, the Picanto's successor could well ditch the current version's 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to become a battery-electric city hatch. It would face the BYD Seagull, set to go on sale in the United Kingdom later this year as the Dolphin Surf, at less than £20,000 ($41,874). The Seagull is under consideration for Australian showrooms and could become the cheapest EV offered here, given it would sit below the current price leader – the BYD Dolphin electric hatch at $29,990 drive-away. Even then, the current petrol Picanto could remain on sale alongside a newer, electric offering in Kia showrooms. Other brands have also planned this approach, such as Volkswagen, which intends to sell the petrol-powered Golf alongside battery-electric versions well into next decade. Kia has been prolific in rolling out new EVs. Its smallest, the funky EV2 five-door SUV, is due on sale overseas in 2026 but is unlikely to be offered here. The Kia EV4 electric sedan – a Tesla Model 3 rival – is scheduled to arrive in Australia in the last quarter (October-December) of 2025, joining the EV3, EV5, EV6 and EV9 electric Kias currently in Australian showrooms. The EV5 has been Kia Australia's most popular EV so far in 2025 and the fourth-most popular EV overall, with 2765 delivered to the end of June – putting it behind the third-place Model 3 with the MG 4 behind in fifth. Mr Song said Europe will "drive volume from a full EV lineup" because of a "strong trend" towards electric cars – yet internal combustion engines will remain important in emerging markets lacking electric-charging infrastructure. It will also enable Kia to maintain a flexible approach to respond to market trends when necessary. "The final destination in Europe is EVs, which is why I want to be a very strong EV player in Europe… but if we look at worldwide demand we should have alternative powertrains, like hybrids, plug-in [hybrids] and EREVs [extended-range electric vehicles]," he said. Sales of hybrids in Australia in the first six months of 2025 increased 14.9 per cent, following a 76 per cent jump in popularity in 2024, while key markets – including China and the United States – have also seen significant hybrid growth. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Kia has confirmed it's planning an affordable city-sized electric car – even smaller than the 2026 Kia EV2 already announced – and much would be a direct competitor to the BYD Seagull, Dacia Spring and Fiat 500e. Speaking to UK publication Autocar, Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song said a cheaper, smaller electric city car, which could be called the EV1, was "homework" for the company's product developers, confirming such a car was "one area we are studying and developing". Mr Song also said affordable, city-sized cars would remain an important part of the brand's lineup as European buyers move towards EVs. Kia technically already offers a city-sized EV – the Picanto-based Ray – but this tall, boxy model is exclusive to Korea. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The new city EV would take over from Kia's entry-level petrol-powered Picanto – currently Australia's cheapest new car – which was significantly updated in 2023 and still sells strongly in Europe. With a replacement still as far off as 2028-2029, the Picanto's successor could well ditch the current version's 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to become a battery-electric city hatch. It would face the BYD Seagull, set to go on sale in the United Kingdom later this year as the Dolphin Surf, at less than £20,000 ($41,874). The Seagull is under consideration for Australian showrooms and could become the cheapest EV offered here, given it would sit below the current price leader – the BYD Dolphin electric hatch at $29,990 drive-away. Even then, the current petrol Picanto could remain on sale alongside a newer, electric offering in Kia showrooms. Other brands have also planned this approach, such as Volkswagen, which intends to sell the petrol-powered Golf alongside battery-electric versions well into next decade. Kia has been prolific in rolling out new EVs. Its smallest, the funky EV2 five-door SUV, is due on sale overseas in 2026 but is unlikely to be offered here. The Kia EV4 electric sedan – a Tesla Model 3 rival – is scheduled to arrive in Australia in the last quarter (October-December) of 2025, joining the EV3, EV5, EV6 and EV9 electric Kias currently in Australian showrooms. The EV5 has been Kia Australia's most popular EV so far in 2025 and the fourth-most popular EV overall, with 2765 delivered to the end of June – putting it behind the third-place Model 3 with the MG 4 behind in fifth. Mr Song said Europe will "drive volume from a full EV lineup" because of a "strong trend" towards electric cars – yet internal combustion engines will remain important in emerging markets lacking electric-charging infrastructure. It will also enable Kia to maintain a flexible approach to respond to market trends when necessary. "The final destination in Europe is EVs, which is why I want to be a very strong EV player in Europe… but if we look at worldwide demand we should have alternative powertrains, like hybrids, plug-in [hybrids] and EREVs [extended-range electric vehicles]," he said. Sales of hybrids in Australia in the first six months of 2025 increased 14.9 per cent, following a 76 per cent jump in popularity in 2024, while key markets – including China and the United States – have also seen significant hybrid growth. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
BYD says 'nothing's off the table' as it takes over Australian distribution
BYD Australia says it's looking into every product across the automaker's global product portfolio – from city hatches to Ferrari-chasing supercars – as it builds its local lineup to boost sales. Former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins was appointed BYD Australia chief operating officer last month, ahead of the company taking over Australian distribution from EVDirect on July 1, 2025. Speaking to CarExpert in China, BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan – who spent decades working with market-leading Toyota and Lexus – has said the local branch is evaluating the full, extensive catalogue of BYD models offered overseas. "Nothing's off the table – there's a wide gamut of products for us to choose from," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Yangwang U9 electric hypercar This includes vehicles from its premium Denza arm – set to officially launch here late in 2025 – as well as the Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands, even if they may not wear the same badge in Australia as they do in China. BYD Australia chief marketing officer Kate Hornstein said the brand's sales success here – having sold almost 60,000 vehicles in its first 30 months on sale – has been driven simply by adding more products in larger segments. "I think it's come from the fact that we've now plugged into more segments, and those segments are larger pieces of the pie," Ms Hornstein told CarExpert. "Our sales are largely driven by Shark and SUV, and those are our DM [plug-in hybrid] technologies, so I think it's no secret Shark has been an enormous success for the brand. "Australia was a critical market for that launch, and it's great to see that because the other thing I would say is that our EV sales have also grown, and that's really driven by Sealion 7." ABOVE: The BYD Seagull, sold in Europe as the Dolphin Surf The Sealion 7 electric SUV, launched earlier this year, is now the brand's third-best seller in Australia behind the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Shark 6 ute and Sealion 6 SUV. "What I've seen from my perspective is that the customers really embrace the new entrants, and the three models we've launched in the last 12 months have really driven the bulk of our growth," said Ms Hornstein. Following the same 'plug into segments' philosophy will see BYD Australia dealers – and Denza showrooms – stocked with more from the company's broad global catalogue. Across the four brands, the Chinese car giant makes everything from the compact BYD Seagull city car – declared a renewed candidate for local showrooms after an early 2025 tech upgrade – and family SUVs, through to the tank-turning, crab-walking 300+km/h Yangwang U9 supercar. ABOVE: Denza D9 More immediately, the Australian arm has confirmed the BYD Atto 2 small electric SUV will arrive in late 2025 as a competitor to the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona electric SUVs. BYD also announced its first seven-seat SUV – the Sealion 8 PHEV – for local showrooms in early 2026. While these fill some obvious gaps in BYD's lineup, there are other vehicles that could be slotted in. BYD has a mid-size SUV, the Sealion 5, which aligns more closely in size with the Toyota RAV4 – the best-selling SUV here 2024 and into 2025 – than the existing Sealion 6. ABOVE: Denza Z9 GT There's also the Fangchengbao B5, a body-on-frame off-roader to take on the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest, which could be sold here under the less tongue-twisting Denza name. The Denza brand is expected to launch around October 2025 with a suite of vehicles, including the already-confirmed D9 people-mover – a rival to the Zeekr 009 – which could be joined by the Lincoln-esque, broad-shouldered N9 full-size SUV. Australian media have been shown the Denza Z9 GT, a large five-door liftback with a silhouette reminiscent of a Porsche Panamera and offered in electric and – more likely for Australia – plug-in hybrid powertrains. While BYD vehicles like the T3 van had been offered previously, it was the launch of the Atto 3 electric SUV in 2022 that kickstarted the brand's rapid ascent in the Australian market. ABOVE: Fangchengbao B5, likely to be renamed if it goes on sale in Australia It subsequently added the mid-size Seal electric sedan and small Dolphin electric hatch, and more recently the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV SUVs. The company made history in June 2025 by becoming the first Chinese brand to crack the top five best-selling auto brands in Australia. Its most popular model year-to-date is the Shark 6 – a dual-cab PHEV ute taking buyers off the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. To the end of June, BYD is among the top 10 best-selling brands in Australia, sitting at eighth with 23,355 deliveries – up 144.6 per cent compared with the first half of 2024. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: BYD Australia says it's looking into every product across the automaker's global product portfolio – from city hatches to Ferrari-chasing supercars – as it builds its local lineup to boost sales. Former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins was appointed BYD Australia chief operating officer last month, ahead of the company taking over Australian distribution from EVDirect on July 1, 2025. Speaking to CarExpert in China, BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan – who spent decades working with market-leading Toyota and Lexus – has said the local branch is evaluating the full, extensive catalogue of BYD models offered overseas. "Nothing's off the table – there's a wide gamut of products for us to choose from," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Yangwang U9 electric hypercar This includes vehicles from its premium Denza arm – set to officially launch here late in 2025 – as well as the Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands, even if they may not wear the same badge in Australia as they do in China. BYD Australia chief marketing officer Kate Hornstein said the brand's sales success here – having sold almost 60,000 vehicles in its first 30 months on sale – has been driven simply by adding more products in larger segments. "I think it's come from the fact that we've now plugged into more segments, and those segments are larger pieces of the pie," Ms Hornstein told CarExpert. "Our sales are largely driven by Shark and SUV, and those are our DM [plug-in hybrid] technologies, so I think it's no secret Shark has been an enormous success for the brand. "Australia was a critical market for that launch, and it's great to see that because the other thing I would say is that our EV sales have also grown, and that's really driven by Sealion 7." ABOVE: The BYD Seagull, sold in Europe as the Dolphin Surf The Sealion 7 electric SUV, launched earlier this year, is now the brand's third-best seller in Australia behind the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Shark 6 ute and Sealion 6 SUV. "What I've seen from my perspective is that the customers really embrace the new entrants, and the three models we've launched in the last 12 months have really driven the bulk of our growth," said Ms Hornstein. Following the same 'plug into segments' philosophy will see BYD Australia dealers – and Denza showrooms – stocked with more from the company's broad global catalogue. Across the four brands, the Chinese car giant makes everything from the compact BYD Seagull city car – declared a renewed candidate for local showrooms after an early 2025 tech upgrade – and family SUVs, through to the tank-turning, crab-walking 300+km/h Yangwang U9 supercar. ABOVE: Denza D9 More immediately, the Australian arm has confirmed the BYD Atto 2 small electric SUV will arrive in late 2025 as a competitor to the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona electric SUVs. BYD also announced its first seven-seat SUV – the Sealion 8 PHEV – for local showrooms in early 2026. While these fill some obvious gaps in BYD's lineup, there are other vehicles that could be slotted in. BYD has a mid-size SUV, the Sealion 5, which aligns more closely in size with the Toyota RAV4 – the best-selling SUV here 2024 and into 2025 – than the existing Sealion 6. ABOVE: Denza Z9 GT There's also the Fangchengbao B5, a body-on-frame off-roader to take on the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest, which could be sold here under the less tongue-twisting Denza name. The Denza brand is expected to launch around October 2025 with a suite of vehicles, including the already-confirmed D9 people-mover – a rival to the Zeekr 009 – which could be joined by the Lincoln-esque, broad-shouldered N9 full-size SUV. Australian media have been shown the Denza Z9 GT, a large five-door liftback with a silhouette reminiscent of a Porsche Panamera and offered in electric and – more likely for Australia – plug-in hybrid powertrains. While BYD vehicles like the T3 van had been offered previously, it was the launch of the Atto 3 electric SUV in 2022 that kickstarted the brand's rapid ascent in the Australian market. ABOVE: Fangchengbao B5, likely to be renamed if it goes on sale in Australia It subsequently added the mid-size Seal electric sedan and small Dolphin electric hatch, and more recently the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV SUVs. The company made history in June 2025 by becoming the first Chinese brand to crack the top five best-selling auto brands in Australia. Its most popular model year-to-date is the Shark 6 – a dual-cab PHEV ute taking buyers off the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. To the end of June, BYD is among the top 10 best-selling brands in Australia, sitting at eighth with 23,355 deliveries – up 144.6 per cent compared with the first half of 2024. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: BYD Australia says it's looking into every product across the automaker's global product portfolio – from city hatches to Ferrari-chasing supercars – as it builds its local lineup to boost sales. Former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins was appointed BYD Australia chief operating officer last month, ahead of the company taking over Australian distribution from EVDirect on July 1, 2025. Speaking to CarExpert in China, BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan – who spent decades working with market-leading Toyota and Lexus – has said the local branch is evaluating the full, extensive catalogue of BYD models offered overseas. "Nothing's off the table – there's a wide gamut of products for us to choose from," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Yangwang U9 electric hypercar This includes vehicles from its premium Denza arm – set to officially launch here late in 2025 – as well as the Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands, even if they may not wear the same badge in Australia as they do in China. BYD Australia chief marketing officer Kate Hornstein said the brand's sales success here – having sold almost 60,000 vehicles in its first 30 months on sale – has been driven simply by adding more products in larger segments. "I think it's come from the fact that we've now plugged into more segments, and those segments are larger pieces of the pie," Ms Hornstein told CarExpert. "Our sales are largely driven by Shark and SUV, and those are our DM [plug-in hybrid] technologies, so I think it's no secret Shark has been an enormous success for the brand. "Australia was a critical market for that launch, and it's great to see that because the other thing I would say is that our EV sales have also grown, and that's really driven by Sealion 7." ABOVE: The BYD Seagull, sold in Europe as the Dolphin Surf The Sealion 7 electric SUV, launched earlier this year, is now the brand's third-best seller in Australia behind the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Shark 6 ute and Sealion 6 SUV. "What I've seen from my perspective is that the customers really embrace the new entrants, and the three models we've launched in the last 12 months have really driven the bulk of our growth," said Ms Hornstein. Following the same 'plug into segments' philosophy will see BYD Australia dealers – and Denza showrooms – stocked with more from the company's broad global catalogue. Across the four brands, the Chinese car giant makes everything from the compact BYD Seagull city car – declared a renewed candidate for local showrooms after an early 2025 tech upgrade – and family SUVs, through to the tank-turning, crab-walking 300+km/h Yangwang U9 supercar. ABOVE: Denza D9 More immediately, the Australian arm has confirmed the BYD Atto 2 small electric SUV will arrive in late 2025 as a competitor to the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona electric SUVs. BYD also announced its first seven-seat SUV – the Sealion 8 PHEV – for local showrooms in early 2026. While these fill some obvious gaps in BYD's lineup, there are other vehicles that could be slotted in. BYD has a mid-size SUV, the Sealion 5, which aligns more closely in size with the Toyota RAV4 – the best-selling SUV here 2024 and into 2025 – than the existing Sealion 6. ABOVE: Denza Z9 GT There's also the Fangchengbao B5, a body-on-frame off-roader to take on the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest, which could be sold here under the less tongue-twisting Denza name. The Denza brand is expected to launch around October 2025 with a suite of vehicles, including the already-confirmed D9 people-mover – a rival to the Zeekr 009 – which could be joined by the Lincoln-esque, broad-shouldered N9 full-size SUV. Australian media have been shown the Denza Z9 GT, a large five-door liftback with a silhouette reminiscent of a Porsche Panamera and offered in electric and – more likely for Australia – plug-in hybrid powertrains. While BYD vehicles like the T3 van had been offered previously, it was the launch of the Atto 3 electric SUV in 2022 that kickstarted the brand's rapid ascent in the Australian market. ABOVE: Fangchengbao B5, likely to be renamed if it goes on sale in Australia It subsequently added the mid-size Seal electric sedan and small Dolphin electric hatch, and more recently the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV SUVs. The company made history in June 2025 by becoming the first Chinese brand to crack the top five best-selling auto brands in Australia. Its most popular model year-to-date is the Shark 6 – a dual-cab PHEV ute taking buyers off the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. To the end of June, BYD is among the top 10 best-selling brands in Australia, sitting at eighth with 23,355 deliveries – up 144.6 per cent compared with the first half of 2024. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: BYD Australia says it's looking into every product across the automaker's global product portfolio – from city hatches to Ferrari-chasing supercars – as it builds its local lineup to boost sales. Former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins was appointed BYD Australia chief operating officer last month, ahead of the company taking over Australian distribution from EVDirect on July 1, 2025. Speaking to CarExpert in China, BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan – who spent decades working with market-leading Toyota and Lexus – has said the local branch is evaluating the full, extensive catalogue of BYD models offered overseas. "Nothing's off the table – there's a wide gamut of products for us to choose from," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Yangwang U9 electric hypercar This includes vehicles from its premium Denza arm – set to officially launch here late in 2025 – as well as the Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands, even if they may not wear the same badge in Australia as they do in China. BYD Australia chief marketing officer Kate Hornstein said the brand's sales success here – having sold almost 60,000 vehicles in its first 30 months on sale – has been driven simply by adding more products in larger segments. "I think it's come from the fact that we've now plugged into more segments, and those segments are larger pieces of the pie," Ms Hornstein told CarExpert. "Our sales are largely driven by Shark and SUV, and those are our DM [plug-in hybrid] technologies, so I think it's no secret Shark has been an enormous success for the brand. "Australia was a critical market for that launch, and it's great to see that because the other thing I would say is that our EV sales have also grown, and that's really driven by Sealion 7." ABOVE: The BYD Seagull, sold in Europe as the Dolphin Surf The Sealion 7 electric SUV, launched earlier this year, is now the brand's third-best seller in Australia behind the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Shark 6 ute and Sealion 6 SUV. "What I've seen from my perspective is that the customers really embrace the new entrants, and the three models we've launched in the last 12 months have really driven the bulk of our growth," said Ms Hornstein. Following the same 'plug into segments' philosophy will see BYD Australia dealers – and Denza showrooms – stocked with more from the company's broad global catalogue. Across the four brands, the Chinese car giant makes everything from the compact BYD Seagull city car – declared a renewed candidate for local showrooms after an early 2025 tech upgrade – and family SUVs, through to the tank-turning, crab-walking 300+km/h Yangwang U9 supercar. ABOVE: Denza D9 More immediately, the Australian arm has confirmed the BYD Atto 2 small electric SUV will arrive in late 2025 as a competitor to the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona electric SUVs. BYD also announced its first seven-seat SUV – the Sealion 8 PHEV – for local showrooms in early 2026. While these fill some obvious gaps in BYD's lineup, there are other vehicles that could be slotted in. BYD has a mid-size SUV, the Sealion 5, which aligns more closely in size with the Toyota RAV4 – the best-selling SUV here 2024 and into 2025 – than the existing Sealion 6. ABOVE: Denza Z9 GT There's also the Fangchengbao B5, a body-on-frame off-roader to take on the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest, which could be sold here under the less tongue-twisting Denza name. The Denza brand is expected to launch around October 2025 with a suite of vehicles, including the already-confirmed D9 people-mover – a rival to the Zeekr 009 – which could be joined by the Lincoln-esque, broad-shouldered N9 full-size SUV. Australian media have been shown the Denza Z9 GT, a large five-door liftback with a silhouette reminiscent of a Porsche Panamera and offered in electric and – more likely for Australia – plug-in hybrid powertrains. While BYD vehicles like the T3 van had been offered previously, it was the launch of the Atto 3 electric SUV in 2022 that kickstarted the brand's rapid ascent in the Australian market. ABOVE: Fangchengbao B5, likely to be renamed if it goes on sale in Australia It subsequently added the mid-size Seal electric sedan and small Dolphin electric hatch, and more recently the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV SUVs. The company made history in June 2025 by becoming the first Chinese brand to crack the top five best-selling auto brands in Australia. Its most popular model year-to-date is the Shark 6 – a dual-cab PHEV ute taking buyers off the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. To the end of June, BYD is among the top 10 best-selling brands in Australia, sitting at eighth with 23,355 deliveries – up 144.6 per cent compared with the first half of 2024. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
Business Insider
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Insider
Ford's CEO sounded the alarm again on China. Here are 3 ways Chinese EVs drastically differ from their US rivals.
China's EV revolution has got US auto executives running scared. Asked about the rapid growth of Chinese electric car companies like BYD at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Ford CEO Jim Farley called it "the most humbling thing I have ever seen." The boss of the Detroit automaker described the cost and quality of the electric vehicles coming out of China as "far superior" to those in the West, adding that they posed an existential threat to Ford and the US auto industry. "We are in a global competition with China, and it's not just EVs. And if we lose this, we do not have a future Ford," Farley said. It's not the first time the Ford CEO — who was so impressed by Xiaomi's SU7 sedan he flew one over to the US — has sung the praises of China's affordable, high-tech electric cars. Unlike Farley, US drivers have little chance of getting behind the wheel of a BYD or Xiaomi, thanks to high tariffs on Chinese EVs. Here's what they're missing out on: Affordability and variety EV sales in China have far outpaced those in the US. Almost half of new car sales in the country last year were electric, compared just 10% in the US, according to the International Energy Agency. As Farley noted, consumers in China have a far greater range of high-quality electric models to choose from than those in the US, and they often don't need to break the bank either. The average price of an EV in the US in May was around $57,000, according to Cox Automotive, with the $32,000 Nissan Leaf the cheapest model on the market. By contrast, the average price of an electric car in China was around $31,500 as of December, with best-selling models like the BYD Seagull selling for under $10,000. "Chinese and US EVs are currently in a very different place," said Will Roberts, head of automotive research for battery and EV consultancy Rho Motion. "China has an incredibly broad range of EVs catering to the needs of the entire market, while the development of EVs for many popular manufacturers in the US is still at a comparatively early stage," Roberts said, adding that Western markets often underestimate the quality of vehicle products and manufacturing in China. Software superiority Many of China's biggest car companies have their roots in the tech world. Tesla rival BYD started out manufacturing cell phone batteries, and EV startup Xpeng dabbles in flying cars and humanoid robots. As a result, China's EVs are packed with futuristic tech, with features such as autonomous driving, voice recognition, and in-car AI assistants often coming as standard. While , its Chinese rivals, Huawei and Xiaomi, have entered the EV industry. Xiaomi's second car, the YU7 SUV, amassed over 200,000 orders in three minutes when it launched last week, and Farley specifically praised the two companies for leveraging their smartphone and consumer tech ecosystem to build a unique software experience. "They have far superior in-vehicle technology. Huawei and Xiaomi are in every car," Farley added. "You get in, you don't have to pair your phone. Automatically, your whole digital life is mirrored in the car." "Legacy auto is going from analog to digital, and EV companies in China have started in digital, live in digital, so this is second nature to them," Tu Le, managing director of Sino Auto Insights, told BI. He said that many EV startups in China have prioritized developing their own tech stacks rather than relying on third-party software and technology. "Companies like Nio and Xpeng, they want to create the stack and develop and code the software themselves. So, it's a much more seamless experience," Tu Le added. At Aspen, Farley said that US automakers were limited in their ability to offer features such as phone mirroring because tech giants such as Google and Apple "decided not to go into the car business." But Tu Le said competing with China's high-tech upstarts on software would require the Detroit automakers to undertake a cultural overhaul. "They would need to disrupt themselves, on a department-by-department level," he said. Supply chain stranglehold At the heart of China's cost advantage lies its effective stranglehold over crucial EV components such as batteries. The Asian superpower produces nearly all of the world's Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) electric vehicle batteries, and Ford, Tesla, and Toyota have all sourced their EV power packs from Chinese battery giants CATL and BYD. Other crucial automotive supply chains, such as rare earth magnets, are overwhelmingly centred on China, allowing local EV giants to build the vast majority of parts in-house and drive down costs. Attempts by Western automakers to catch up have been mixed. Ford and Tesla are building new battery plants in Michigan and Nevada to lower costs, but Ford is planning to license designs for the batteries being built there from CATL. Tu Le said the West had a long way to go before it could even come close to competing with China in manufacturing key EV components such as batteries. "We want to be competitive, we want to be in the same room. We're not even in the same building right now," he said.
Perth Now
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
World's largest EV maker BYD slows production
BYD has reportedly reduced production at its Chinese factories after significant price cuts have seen slower growth than planned in the company's home market. According to Automotive News, BYD – which overtook Tesla to become the world's largest electric vehicle (EV) maker in 2024 – has made the unprecedented move of cancelling night shifts at some of its plants. The report suggests the automaker has reduced capacity by as much as one third at some of its plants, suspending plans for new product assembly lines as part of the move. One source told Automotive News BYD has missed targets to grow sales from the 4.27 million it sold globally in 2024 – including 20,458 in Australia – to 5.5 million in 2025. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert By the end of May 2025 BYD had sold 1.76 million cars globally, the rate working out to be 4.23 million for the full calendar year. BYD would not confirm the slowdown or comment when approached by Automotive News. Making BYD's performance less obvious has been a dramatic global sales slide for Tesla including falls in Europe, China and Australia, with the Toyota RAV4 knocking off the Tesla Model Y as the world's best-selling vehicle. In the first three months of 2025, Tesla production fell to 362,615 units compared to 433,371 over the same period the previous year, with revenue falling 66 per cent. Yet China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) production figures for BYD revealed growth of only 0.2 per cent in May 2025, the lowest growth figures since February 2024, which had fewer production days as the month was disrupted by national holidays. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Data from the China Automotive Dealer Association (CADA) showed BYD held 3.21 months' worth of stock at its China dealers compared to the 1.38 industry average, again confirming slower than expected sales. The automaker exclusively builds electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (EVs and PHEVs), having ended production of pure combustion-powered vehicles in 2022. In a move seen previously in the automotive industry in the United States and Australia, the China Auto Dealers Chamber of Commerce has called for car manufacturers to stop loading up dealers with excess stock. The news also comes as Chinese automakers have been accused of recording sales of new cars in China to obtain new-car financial subsidies, but then shipping those cars overseas as 'used', inflating Chinese sales figures and sales growth. According to Reuters, the issue came to light when Great Wall Motor (GWM) chairman Wei Jianjun was critical of the practice – known as selling 'zero mileage cars' – in May. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The practice has also put downward pressure on new vehicle prices, sparking a price war to reduce the margin on each vehicle, ironically making sales of zero-mileage cars more enticing. The BYD Seagull – a city-sized EV hatch which could also get a start in Australian showrooms – was overtaken in May 2025 by the Geely Geome Xingyuan, offered with both EV and hybrid versions, as China's best-selling vehicle. After launching here exclusively with EVs, BYD introduced its first PHEVs to the Australian market last year. BYD will take over the local distribution from EVDirect on July 1, 2025, with ex-Honda Australia director Stephen Collins announced as chief operating officer earlier this month. The company's Australian sales are up 94.7 per cent to the end of May 2025, led by the Ford Ranger-rivalling Shark 6 pickup with a raft of new models – including the Atto 2 small SUV and the Sealion 8 seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV – confirmed for local showrooms. MORE: Everything BYD
