FiestaST
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CarsGuide first drive of the BYD Denza B8
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The BYD (EV) Thread
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FiestaST
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carsales.com.au first drive of the BYD Denza B8
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BYD Dolphin Surf/Seagull vs Renault 5 vs Citroen e-C3 review – What Car?
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AutoEV review of the Dolphin Surf/Seagull
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The Right Car? first drive of the Denza D9
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Greg Dennis Reviews review of the Shark 6
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The Right Car? first drive of the Sealion 5
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BYD M9 design registered in SA but ‘no plans’ for now
The exterior design of the new BYD M9 has been registered in South Africa, but the Chinese brand says it currently has “no plans” to bring this plug-in hybrid MPV to local roads…
Chinese new-energy vehicle giant BYD has officially registered the exterior design of the BYD M9 in South Africa, though the firm’s local division says it currently has “no plans” to bring this plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to Mzansi.
Known as the Xia in its domestic market of China, the 3-row M9 measures 5 145 mm from front to back (with a wheelbase of 3 045 mm), making it 5 mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and 10 mm shorter than the Kia Carnival. In the world’s 2nd most populous country, BYD’s flagship MPV is available with up to 7 seats, arranged in a 2+2+3 configuration.
Cars.co.za can confirm that BYD’s head office in Shenzhen submitted drawings (depicting the M9) to South Africa’s Register of Designs in November 2024. In the 2nd week of June 2025, the M9’s design was officially registered in SA. This came after the Chinese automaker applied to trademark the “BYD M9” name (along with “BYD M6”, a smaller MPV) in Mzansi in November 2024.
However, when we asked BYD Auto SA for comment, the company told us: “Currently, we don’t have plans for BYD M9 to enter South Africa”. Still, the inclusion of the word “currently” (and indeed the local registration of the vehicle’s exterior design and the application to trademark its badge) suggests the door has not been entirely closed.
The exterior design of the new BYD M9 has been registered in South Africa, but the Chinese brand says it currently has “no plans” to bring this plug-in hybrid MPV to local roads…
Chinese new-energy vehicle giant BYD has officially registered the exterior design of the BYD M9 in South Africa, though the firm’s local division says it currently has “no plans” to bring this plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to Mzansi.
Known as the Xia in its domestic market of China, the 3-row M9 measures 5 145 mm from front to back (with a wheelbase of 3 045 mm), making it 5 mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and 10 mm shorter than the Kia Carnival. In the world’s 2nd most populous country, BYD’s flagship MPV is available with up to 7 seats, arranged in a 2+2+3 configuration.
Cars.co.za can confirm that BYD’s head office in Shenzhen submitted drawings (depicting the M9) to South Africa’s Register of Designs in November 2024. In the 2nd week of June 2025, the M9’s design was officially registered in SA. This came after the Chinese automaker applied to trademark the “BYD M9” name (along with “BYD M6”, a smaller MPV) in Mzansi in November 2024.
However, when we asked BYD Auto SA for comment, the company told us: “Currently, we don’t have plans for BYD M9 to enter South Africa”. Still, the inclusion of the word “currently” (and indeed the local registration of the vehicle’s exterior design and the application to trademark its badge) suggests the door has not been entirely closed.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Justin On Cars review of the Sealion 7
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Justin On Cars review of the Shark 6
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Justin On Cars review of the Sealion 6
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Road Test Figures: BYD Shark 6
The BYD Shark 6 has beached itself in Mzansi with no shortage of hype, and the comparisons to heavy hitters like the Ford Ranger Raptor were almost immediate. On paper, it makes a strong case, especially with its electrified performance figures, but as with any bakkie, real-world use will ultimately determine its standing.
Weighing in at 2 710 kg, the Shark is substantial. The near 50/50 weight distribution sounds impressive, especially in a brochure, but it’s worth questioning how that balance holds up when the load bin is full or when tackling tough off-road terrain. The interior space is adequate. Headroom ranges from 800 mm to 875 mm up front and 830 mm in the rear, with 630 mm of knee room. Functional, but not game-changing. The 865 mm loading height is practical, and the 3.4 turns lock-to-lock steering suggests decent low-speed manoeuvrability.
Performance is where things get interesting. The 0–100 km/h sprint takes just 5.66 seconds, with the quarter mile done in 13.99 seconds and a kilometre in 26.00 seconds. That’s seriously quick for a bakkie and points to the punch of its hybrid system. The Shark is rated for 2.5 tonnes of braked towing and an 850 kg payload, which puts it behind more utilitarian rivals in both departments.
www.carmag.co.za
The BYD Shark 6 has beached itself in Mzansi with no shortage of hype, and the comparisons to heavy hitters like the Ford Ranger Raptor were almost immediate. On paper, it makes a strong case, especially with its electrified performance figures, but as with any bakkie, real-world use will ultimately determine its standing.
Weighing in at 2 710 kg, the Shark is substantial. The near 50/50 weight distribution sounds impressive, especially in a brochure, but it’s worth questioning how that balance holds up when the load bin is full or when tackling tough off-road terrain. The interior space is adequate. Headroom ranges from 800 mm to 875 mm up front and 830 mm in the rear, with 630 mm of knee room. Functional, but not game-changing. The 865 mm loading height is practical, and the 3.4 turns lock-to-lock steering suggests decent low-speed manoeuvrability.
Performance is where things get interesting. The 0–100 km/h sprint takes just 5.66 seconds, with the quarter mile done in 13.99 seconds and a kilometre in 26.00 seconds. That’s seriously quick for a bakkie and points to the punch of its hybrid system. The Shark is rated for 2.5 tonnes of braked towing and an 850 kg payload, which puts it behind more utilitarian rivals in both departments.
Road Test Figures: BYD Shark 6
Now beached in South Africa, we put the highly-anticipated BYD Shark 6 though its paces! Here are the figures from its road test.
www.carmag.co.za
FiestaST
Honorary Master
How BYD's Blade battery technology slices EV charging times
BYD’s innovative Blade battery gets its name from the long, slim layout of the cells
EV drivetrains and particularly batteries are developing at a remarkable pace compared with the combustion engine.
As a result, range has increased but probably even more marked is the desire to bring charging times in line with ICE refuelling.
BYD recently announced its Super e-Platform along with the latest ‘flash-charge’ version of its lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) Blade battery, which is promised to get close to ICE refuelling times by recharging in six minutes.
The new platform is claimed to support charging at up to 1000kW, which seems incredible given the typical rapid-charge rate was 50kW just a few years ago.
The name Blade describes the unusual design of the battery, where long, slim cells almost a metre in length make up the pack, rather than modules packed full of smaller pouch, cylindrical or prism cells.
In that sense it’s unusual, but its LFP chemistry isn’t. The advantage of LFP lies in being economical, cobalt- and nickel-free and, above all, safer. LFP battery chemistry is often used in stationary battery systems (including domestic solar systems) and releases heat slowly and doesn’t release oxygen if damaged.
www.autocar.co.uk
BYD’s innovative Blade battery gets its name from the long, slim layout of the cells
EV drivetrains and particularly batteries are developing at a remarkable pace compared with the combustion engine.
As a result, range has increased but probably even more marked is the desire to bring charging times in line with ICE refuelling.
BYD recently announced its Super e-Platform along with the latest ‘flash-charge’ version of its lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) Blade battery, which is promised to get close to ICE refuelling times by recharging in six minutes.
The new platform is claimed to support charging at up to 1000kW, which seems incredible given the typical rapid-charge rate was 50kW just a few years ago.
The name Blade describes the unusual design of the battery, where long, slim cells almost a metre in length make up the pack, rather than modules packed full of smaller pouch, cylindrical or prism cells.
In that sense it’s unusual, but its LFP chemistry isn’t. The advantage of LFP lies in being economical, cobalt- and nickel-free and, above all, safer. LFP battery chemistry is often used in stationary battery systems (including domestic solar systems) and releases heat slowly and doesn’t release oxygen if damaged.
How BYD's Blade battery technology slices EV charging times | Autocar
BYD’s innovative Blade battery gets its name from the long, slim layout of the cells
www.autocar.co.uk
FiestaST
Honorary Master
JayEmm on Cars just dropped a vid of BYD shady behavior:
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FiestaST
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The Right Car? first drive of the Yangwang U8
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Off-Roading the Cheapest/Smallest Car in SA (Bajaj Qute vs BYD Shark 6 vs Samurai)
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BYD Shark dethrones Ford Ranger Raptor as fastest bakkie in SA | The Citizen
Plug-in hybrid double cab reaches 100km/h from a standstill in a mere 5.66 seconds.
www.citizen.co.za
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Honorary Master
We Drove Half Price Chinese Cars - Do They Suck? - Car Throttle (Leapmotor T03, Jaecoo J7, BYD Seal)