Chinese automaker BYD’s premium brand, Yangwang, has officially commenced production of its U8 model, with the first batch rolling off the assembly line. Deliveries are anticipated to start shortly, slightly delayed from the initially projected timeline, as conveyed in a recent Weibo post by Yangwang. The U8 was formally launched in China on September 20, featuring a starting price of 1.098 million yuan ($150,670), with deliveries initially expected to commence in October.
Produced at a BYD manufacturing facility in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, the Yangwang U8 has garnered significant attention, with a reported production order for over 30,000 units on October 20, according to a Shaanxi Daily report. However, details regarding the nature of these orders, whether refundable or non-refundable deposits, were not specified.
Yangwang, a brand introduced by BYD on January 5, adopted a direct sales model distinct from BYD’s dealer sales approach. The U8, available in two versions – Premium Edition and Off-road Master Edition – started pre-sales on April 18, with the Premium Edition officially launched in September. The Off-road Master Edition’s launch date remains pending.
In contrast to BYD’s traditional dealer sales strategy, Yangwang opened its first store in Shanghai’s prominent business district and tourist hub, the Bund, on September 28. The brand initiated trial operations for its first 22 stores on October 30, spanning 21 cities, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Qingdao.
Yangwang’s ambitious expansion plan aims to establish over 90 directly-managed stores across more than 40 cities in China by the year’s end, signaling the brand’s commitment to carving a notable presence in the competitive automotive market.
