BYD plans to introduce its ultra-luxury sub-brand Yangwang to Europe following its upcoming launch of the Denza brand on the continent early next year, Autocar reported on Sunday, citing a senior company executive.
Stella Li, BYD’s executive vice president, told the outlet that both the Yangwang U8 off-road SUV and U9 electric supercar would be made available in Europe. Additional models, including the U7 electric sedan, are also expected to follow, according to the report.
Launched in China in January 2023, Yangwang targets the high-end market segment with vehicles priced above RMB 1 million ($139,370). The brand’s debut model, the U8, went on sale in China in September 2023, starting at RMB 1.098 million. This was followed by the U9 supercar in February 2024, priced from RMB 1.68 million, and the U7 luxury sedan in March 2024, starting at RMB 628,000.
Autocar noted that Yangwang is positioned to compete with high-end European brands such as Bentley, potentially making BYD the first Chinese automaker to enter the region’s premium luxury car segment. However, factors such as right-hand drive conversions and a 17% import tariff on Chinese electric vehicles may lead to significantly higher prices in Europe compared with China.
Yangwang vehicles are based on BYD’s proprietary e4 platform, utilizing four electric motors delivering over 1,000 horsepower. The brand also introduced a longer version of its flagship U8, the U8L, at the Shanghai auto show in April.