The BYD (EV) Thread

Denza Z Supercar Ready For Production With 1,000HP

Denza has offered a first look at its upcoming flagship performance car, releasing an early image ahead of its planned debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this year.

Developed in collaboration with Daniel Craig, the new coupé appears to stay very close to the Z concept revealed at the Shanghai motor show, with the production version retaining much of the original design intent.

Positioned as the brand’s halo model, it is set to sit above the Z9 GT shooting brake, D9 MPV and B5 SUV when it reaches markets, marking a clear push into more performance-focused territory for the Chinese premium manufacturer.

While detailed specifications have yet to be confirmed, Denza has already highlighted some of the key technologies expected to feature, including steer-by-wire, magnetorheological suspension and a cockpit built heavily around advanced digital systems with a clear driver-centric focus.

There is also a strong chance the car will inherit several standout features from the Z9 GT, such as crab-walking capability and the ability to perform a tank turn. Power could come from a tri-motor electric setup similar to that car, which produces 952 horsepower (710 kW), although an increase in output for this flagship model would not be surprising.

 
BYD South Africa Joins Forces with the Two Oceans Marathon

BYD South Africa will drive the 2026 Two Oceans Marathon, including NEV integration and race support.

BYD South Africa has announced its vehicle sponsorship of the 2026 Two Oceans Marathon, taking place in Cape Town 11-12 April. The sponsorship comes as the integration of New energy Vehicles (NEV) becomes more prevalent in the lives of South African motorists. The aim of this partnership is to showcase how well NEVs integrate and ultimately offer a superior value proposition for the South African consumer.

BYD is taking careful consideration to integrate the brand into the South African mindset and culture, including its rich sporting legacy and a large active base. People who value physical activity and may look towards a more sustainable future are the focus of this integration.

As part of the vehicle sponsorship for the 2026 edition of the iconic annual Tow Oceans marathon, BYD will provide support for race operations through its modern line of NEVs, including the Sealion 5. This aims to create close interactions between the runners and the technology itself, highlighting the value that NEVs can provide at large scale events.


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Useless bloody company - they said the Denza would be here by now, cant even get 1 bloody answer from the local agent, China or anyone else.
These Chinese brands have not figured out anything about communication.
 
Useless bloody company - they said the Denza would be here by now, cant even get 1 bloody answer from the local agent, China or anyone else.
These Chinese brands have not figured out anything about communication.
You really have your heart set on that Denza?
 
BYD launches the new Song Ultra EV with fast charging and low prices

BYD released a new electric SUV that is making other car companies nervous. The new model is the Song Ultra EV and it belongs to the Dynasty family of cars from BYD. The car brings new technology to the table that makes driving and owning electric cars much easier. One of the biggest surprises is the price. The Song Ultra EV starts at RMB 151,900 - that is just under €18,800 at current exchange rates. This price is lower than what the company first said it would be, and people are clearly excited about the new EV - nearly 22,000 orders were placed in less than three weeks.

The new Song Ultra gets the second-generation Blade Battery, and drivers can choose between two different options. The smaller capacity battery delivers 605 km of driving range before it needs to be topped up. The larger version can go as far as 710 km. For most people, this means they can drive for several days without worrying about the battery running out of power.

Charging is usually the part people dread most about EVs - nobody wants to sit at a public charger for an hour waiting for a battery to fill up. BYD fixed this with "flash charging" technology - the Song Ultra EV can charge from 10% to 70% in only five minutes. If you want to get the battery almost full, it takes nine minutes to reach a 97% charge - about the same amount of time it takes to fill up a regular car with gasoline.

Most batteries do not like the cold. Usually, when it gets freezing outside, EVs take a very long time to charge and their range drops as well. BYD says its new system handles the cold much better. Even when it is minus 30 degrees Celsius outside, the charging time only goes up by three minutes. Drivers no longer need to worry about being stuck at a charger just because winter is harsh.


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ICE vs EV: Total 5-year cost of ownership in SA

April’s record-breaking fuel hike, projected at over R4/litre, has turned ICE vehicle ownership into a budget crisis. But can an EV actually bridge the upfront price gap through running costs alone? We crunch the 5-year numbers on SA’s favourite petrol-powered B-segment hatch against its closest electric challenger. It’s ICE vs EV…

Although Cars.co.za is a car site, right now we wouldn’t blame you for shopping for a bicycle or hiking shoes, or considering public transport. With next week’s fuel price increase set to vaporise wallets and antagonise motorists, it’s only logical to ask whether a ICE vs EV would be cheaper to operate in the long run.

And with good reason… In 2021, using inland fuel prices, you’d have paid an average of R17.40 for a litre of petrol. Thanks to the Middle East conflict, today it’s closer to R25/litre.

Now, there’s much to dislike about Nersa’s repeated inability to keep Eskom’s tentacles out of the SA public’s piggybanks, but in truth electricity price increases have been far steadier than fuel, if still way above consumer inflation. Five years ago, residential rates averaged about R2.10/kWh, compared to roughly R3.40/kWh in 2026.

With that in mind, if you’d bought a Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 5 years ago and your neighbour an electric BYD Dolphin Standard Range (theoretically assuming the BYD was offered back then) – which owner would have the most change left by each month-end in 2026?

As the Polo’s closest-sized electric competitor, as mentioned the BYD was not yet available for sale in 2021. To enable a real-world 5-year comparison, combining current and historical data, we’ve had to simulate its price against the prevailing market of that period.


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ICE vs EV: Total 5-year cost of ownership in SA

April’s record-breaking fuel hike, projected at over R4/litre, has turned ICE vehicle ownership into a budget crisis. But can an EV actually bridge the upfront price gap through running costs alone? We crunch the 5-year numbers on SA’s favourite petrol-powered B-segment hatch against its closest electric challenger. It’s ICE vs EV…

Although Cars.co.za is a car site, right now we wouldn’t blame you for shopping for a bicycle or hiking shoes, or considering public transport. With next week’s fuel price increase set to vaporise wallets and antagonise motorists, it’s only logical to ask whether a ICE vs EV would be cheaper to operate in the long run.

And with good reason… In 2021, using inland fuel prices, you’d have paid an average of R17.40 for a litre of petrol. Thanks to the Middle East conflict, today it’s closer to R25/litre.

Now, there’s much to dislike about Nersa’s repeated inability to keep Eskom’s tentacles out of the SA public’s piggybanks, but in truth electricity price increases have been far steadier than fuel, if still way above consumer inflation. Five years ago, residential rates averaged about R2.10/kWh, compared to roughly R3.40/kWh in 2026.

With that in mind, if you’d bought a Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 5 years ago and your neighbour an electric BYD Dolphin Standard Range (theoretically assuming the BYD was offered back then) – which owner would have the most change left by each month-end in 2026?

As the Polo’s closest-sized electric competitor, as mentioned the BYD was not yet available for sale in 2021. To enable a real-world 5-year comparison, combining current and historical data, we’ve had to simulate its price against the prevailing market of that period.


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Depreciation?
 
BYD ups its overseas sales target for 2026 even further

BYD announced its 1.3 million international shipments target for 2026 a couple of months ago. Still, during an analyst call, the Chinese car manufacturer adjusted its plans and is aiming for 1.5 million overseas sales.

To be frank, even the 1.3 million target sounds ambitious as it represents a solid 24% year-on-year growth. On the other hand, the company managed to ship 1,046,083 NEV (New Energy Vehicle) units in 2025, which in turn was more than a 150% increase in global sales compared to 2024.

According to people familiar with the matter, BYD is looking for a hedge against potentially declining domestic sales. The Chinese market is starting to cool off, while competition continues to rise. So, increasing international shipments will definitely help the company maintain a favorable market position.

Other Chinese manufacturers are also making the push. XPeng recently announced its plans to focus more on its international sales, Xiaomi is getting ready to ship its SU7 sedan overseas, and Geely is eyeing the US market.

 
Test figures: BYD Sealion 5

We strapped our test equipment to the BYD Sealion 5 to find out how the most affordable plug-in hybrid in South Africa fares on our test strip.

The BYD Sealion 5 made its South African debut in December 2025, with the two-strong model range priced from R499 900; making it the most affordable plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) currently available in SA. Recently, a Sealion 5 test unit, specified in flagship, Dynamic trim, arrived at the CAR garage. So, we strapped our equipment to the newcomer to find out how it fares in our stringent test regimen.

The Sealion 5 employs BYD’s DM-i (Dual Mode intelligent) powertrain, which received the nod as the CAR team’s favourite drivetrain at our 2026 Top 12 Best Buys awards. The Sealion 5’s single electric motor, fed by a 12.96 kWh lithium-ion battery, is paired with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine. The combined system output is 156 kW and 300 N.m of torque.

BYD Sealion 5 acceleration

On our test strip, the Sealion 5 completed the 0-100 km/h dash in 8.47 seconds; 0.17 seconds slower than BYD’s 8.3-second claim. In the overtaking acceleration stakes, the BYD sprinted between the 80-100, 100-120, and 80-120 km/h increments in 2.52, 3.40, and 5.92 seconds, respectively.


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How well is BYD selling in SA? Sales figures revealed

Chinese new-energy vehicle brand BYD has finally started reporting its SA sales figures. Here’s how the automaker and each of its models fared in March 2026…

- BYD reports sales figures to Naamsa for first time
- Ranks 21st on list of SA’s top-selling automakers
- Dolphin Surf serves as BYD’s most popular model

After nearly 3 years in South Africa, Chinese new-energy vehicle brand BYD Auto has finally started reporting sales figures to industry representative body Naamsa. So, how did the Shenzhen-based automaker perform in March 2026?

Well, according to figures submitted to Naamsa, BYD Auto – which officially launched in Mzansi in mid-2023 – registered a total of 589 units in South Africa in March 2026. All local sales for the month came via the dealer channel.

That was enough to see it rank 21st on the list of South Africa’s best-selling automakers, just behind Mercedes-Benz SA (with a Naamsa-estimated 595 units) but well ahead of several so-called legacy automakers, such as Honda Motor Southern Africa (348 units), Mitsubishi Motors SA (241 units) and Mazda Southern Africa (209 units).

The Dolphin Surf hatchback – which holds the title of SA’s most affordable fully electric vehicle (EV), currently starting at R341 900 – was comfortably BYD’s best-selling product in March, with 239 units registered. That translates to 40.6% of the Chinese brand’s total for the month.

 
BYD's Denza Z9 GT to star in the new James Bond movie

We all know the James Bond movie franchise, which is often defined by the cool tech he uses in the movies to fight villains. One of his trusty sidekicks is his car. Throughout the years, James Bond sat behind the wheel of a Bentley, Aston Martin, BMW and even Lotus.

With the upcoming James Bond movie, however, the franchise is trying something new - BYD's Denza Z9 GT. This will be the first time a China-made car will make it to James Bond's big-screen franchise.

That's quite fitting, as the Denza Z9 GT is about to make a debut in Europe, so an appearance in the new James Bond movie will surely make Europeans take BYD's cars more seriously. The vehicle was upgraded in September last year with more power and range, and this is the version Europe is getting.

It features three motors producing 960 hp output and helps the vehicle sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3 seconds. BYD claims the maximum range is 800 km thanks to the huge 122 kWh Blade Battery 2.0. The company's Flash Charging tech gets the battery from 10% to 70% in just 5 minutes, while a full charge takes only 9 minutes more.

As you can see, the Denza Z9 GT is an absolute beast and is perfect for the futuristic James Bond movie vibe, which also strives for some relatable realism. The Z9 GT's design is nothing short of impressive, too, and we can definitely see Agent 007 driving one of those in the next movie.



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