BYD has refreshed two plug-in hybrid models in its Qin series, extending their battery-only driving range as the Chinese automaker moves to keep the vehicles eligible for the country’s revised new energy vehicle (NEV) tax incentives.
The company launched the 2026 Qin Plus DM-i on Thursday and added new variants to the Qin L DM-i, with both models now offering up to 210 km of electric-only range under China’s CLTC testing standard. The upgrades come as China this year introduced a 5% purchase tax on NEVs, half the standard vehicle tax rate, while tightening qualification rules.
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Under the revised policy, “models qualifying for this tax reduction must now offer at least 100 kilometers of battery range,” according to the original announcement cited by industry sources.
The Qin Plus DM-i previously offered battery ranges of 55 km and 128 km, while the Qin L DM-i was limited to a 128 km option. BYD said the updated Qin Plus DM-i will be sold in three variants priced at 79,800 yuan ($11,430), 89,800 yuan and 99,800 yuan. The entry-level version retains a 128 km range, while the higher-priced variants deliver the extended 210 km range.
BYD also added two new 210 km variants to the Qin L DM-i, which was originally launched in October 2025. The newly introduced versions are priced at 112,800 yuan and 122,800 yuan after discounts, compared with the earlier 128 km models that started at 92,800 yuan and 102,800 yuan.
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The exterior design of both models remains unchanged. The Qin Plus DM-i measures 4,780 mm in length with a 2,718 mm wheelbase, while the larger Qin L DM-i stretches to 4,830 mm with a 2,790 mm wheelbase.
The updates highlight BYD’s efforts to adapt its hybrid lineup to evolving policy requirements while keeping prices competitive in China’s mass-market sedan segment. Beyond the Qin series, the company said it will also introduce extended-range versions of the Seal 05 DM-i and Seal 06 DM-i models. The Seal series recorded sales of 44,602 units in December.