The BYD (EV) Thread

LOOK: BYD inaugurates new flagship dealer facility in Sandton

Following a year of exciting model introductions in the new energy vehicle space, BYD has inaugurated a new flagship dealer in the heart of Sandton, Gauteng.

BYD Sandton, officially known as The South Africa Harmony BYD Flagship Store, is the first BYD brand centre in South Africa that’s capable of displaying the full range of BYD new energy vehicle models.

The facility spans 5,000 square metres, and the first floor features a spacious exhibition hall capable of showcasing up to 15 vehicles at a time.

On the second floor, you’ll find a customer lounge and brand experience area, designed to “immerse visitors in BYD’s vision of sustainable innovation”.

The new facility is operated by Harmony Auto Group, which has already launched over 100 BYD sales and service outlets in over 20 countries around the world.

“The opening of the Sandton flagship store marks a new step toward bringing world-class new energy products and services to the African market and fostering a cleaner, smarter future for mobility,” BYD said.

At a glitzy launch event this week, which featured African cultural performances and traditional Chinese lion dance, local media and business community members were reminded of BYD’s long-term commitment to promoting sustainable mobility and technological innovation in South Africa.

BYD recently launched South Africa’s least expensive electric car, with the cheeky-looking Dolphin Surf hitting the scene at R339,900.


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Hopefully BYD (Burn Your Dreams) has improved the quality of their newest models in the showrooms... ;)

BYD makes largest recall of over 115,000 cars due to design, battery issues - Reuters​

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Chinese car maker BYD will make its largest recall yet of more than 115,000 Tang series and Yuan Pro vehicles produced between 2015 and 2022 due to design defects and battery-related safety risks, China's market regulator said on Friday.

BYD has filed a plan with the State Administration for Market Regulation to recall 44,535 Tang series vehicles produced between March 2015 and July 2017 in which certain component design flaws may cause abnormal function.

It also sought to recall 71,248 Yuan Pro electric vehicles made between February 2021 and August 2022 due to manufacturing issues affecting battery installation.

In January, the company made a recall of 6,843 Fangchengbao Bao 5 plug-in hybrid off-road SUVs citing fire risks.

Before that, the automaker had recalled nearly 97,000 Dolphin and Yuan Plus EVs due to a manufacturing fault involving a steering control unit that posed risks of fire in September 2024.

 
BYD Aims to Accelerate EV Adoption in SA with ‘Major’ Investment

In a bid to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in South Africa, Chinese automaker BYD has announced a ‘major’ investment into our market’s charging infrastructure.

Chinese automaker BYD (Build Your Dreams) has announced its plans to “rapidly” expand its footprint in South Africa with a series of “major” investments aimed at accelerating our country’s transition towards electric mobility. According to Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD, South Africa is a pivotal market for the Shenzhen-based brand and a “future springboard” for regional growth.

In a bid to “transform” South Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) landscape, the company said it plans on installing between 200 and 300 public EV charging stations across the country in 2026. In addition, the firm also announced the roll-out of 1MW ultra-fast charging facilities once models compatible with this rapid charging technology reach our market.

As a reminder, BYD’s current local portfolio comprises five EVs: the Dolphin Surf, Dolphin, Atto 3, Seal, and Sealion 7. Rounding out the carmaker’s range of new-energy vehicles (NEVs) is a duo of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), coming in the shape of the Sealion 6 SUV and Shark 6 double-cab bakkie.

Said Nomonde Kweyi, Marketing Director of BYD South Africa and MEA region, “BYD’s presence in South Africa represents our commitment to being more than an automotive brand — we are a technology company delivering comprehensive new energy solutions for this market. From our range of NEVs — including pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids — to batteries, renewable energy generation, and storage systems, we’re building the integrated ecosystem that South Africa needs for its sustainable future.

 
6m 59s: the Yangwang U9 Xtreme is now the fastest EV around the Nürburgring

At least, we think it is. For now. Until the Xiaomi SU7 wakes up again

Yangwang knows simply becoming the fastest car on the planet is not the ball game. No, mastering a tricky, terrifying bit of tarmac in the middle of a forest is the ultimate test, and it has done just that.

Welcome then – for at least the next five minutes until Xiaomi’s SU7 wakes up – to the fastest electric sports car around the Nürburgring. It’s your old friend the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, that 308mph rocketship, which recorded a time of 6m 59.157s back in August along the 20.8km circuit.

It’s been rocketing around the Nürburgring since July 2024, feeding data into Yangwang’s mighty electric brain in order to shave five seconds off the previous record holder, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra (7m 04.957s).

Now, Xiaomi has in fact gone much, much faster – 6m 22s – in a version of the SU7, but that version’s a prototype. So the U9 has taken the production-car record, because yes, it’s being sold in a limited run of no more than 30 cars.

 
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