BYD's Most Expensive Electric Sedan Will Launch in UAE Before China
The 5,500 mm luxury vehicle is expected to cost approximately $300,000 and will debut in the United Arab Emirates this month.
By Thomas Obasi ·
BYD is preparing to release its most expensive electric sedan in the United Arab Emirates, a move that bypasses the company's home market in China. Hu Xiaoqing, general manager of the Yangwang brand, confirmed this week that the vehicle will make its global debut in the UAE. No specific launch date has been announced, though the official unveiling is expected to take place this month.
The new model is designed to compete directly with ultra-luxury brands including Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Mercedes-Maybach. Local reports place the vehicle's length at 5,500 mm, or 216 inches. Its exterior shape resembles the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Maybach S-Class. This launch represents a major shift for BYD, a manufacturer best known for affordable vehicles such as the Seagull, which sells for under $10,000 in China.
Pricing for the new sedan is rumored to start in the 2 million yuan range, equivalent to about $300,000. This price point is significantly higher than the current Yangwang lineup. The U7 electric sedan begins at 658,000 yuan, or $98,000. The brand's most expensive mass-produced vehicle currently is the U8L plug-in hybrid SUV, which starts at 1.45 million yuan, or $217,000.
The vehicle appears to incorporate several firsts for the company. Test images released last month showed the car with rear-hinged coach doors, a design feature not previously used by BYD. The sedan was also spotted at a BYD Flash Charging station, suggesting it supports megawatt charging technology. Reports indicate it will be the first BYD model to utilize solid-state batteries. Stella Li, executive vice president, told Carwow.es last month that BYD's first solid-state battery vehicle would debut in 2027.
Yangwang serves as the top tier of BYD's brand hierarchy, sitting above Denza and FangChengBao. The brand is intended to showcase the company's newest engineering capabilities. Previous Yangwang models utilized the quad-motor e4 platform, which produces 1,300 horsepower, and the DiSus-X intelligent body control system. Zheng Yu, executive general manager of Yangwang, stated that the new sedan will feature disruptive technology, though he did not provide specific details during the announcement.
BYD has expanded its product range in recent years to include entry-level electric vehicles, three-row SUVs, pickup trucks, and supercars. The new sedan will join the Dynasty and Ocean families under the main BYD name. The company has not yet released official specifications or a confirmed production timeline beyond the planned UAE debut this month.
