Latest news with #SajidHasan
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
BYD Seal 06 mid-size PHEV sedan, wagon could battle Toyota Camry in Australia
The BYD Seal 06 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan will be joined by a PHEV wagon in China late this month, and BYD Australia says the model line is an ideal candidate for local showrooms. Priced identically to the BYD Dolphin electric hatch in China – which starts at $29,990 drive-away in Australia – the Seal 06 DM-I could potentially usurp the Hyundai i30 to become Australia's cheapest sedan. "The Seal 06 being a DM [hybrid] product, there's a very strong appetite for hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia, so yes, something like that in our lineup would be fantastic," BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon – the first PHEV wagon that BYD has produced – was shown at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It's scheduled to join the Seal 06 sedan in Chinese showrooms in the coming weeks after the sedan was launched in 2024. While the Seal 06 is also offered with an electric powertrain, it's the plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon BYD Australia has a keen eye on. "Positioning of that model in the lineup would be on the more affordable end of things like in China, so you imagine that that would have a nice role in Australia as well," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 has already been confirmed for right-hand drive production. It would join BYD's growing lineup of PHEVs in Australia, which includes the mid-size Sealion 6 SUV that was Australia's best-selling PHEV in 2024. Confusingly, despite the name the Seal 06 is not a replacement for the existing Seal electric sedan sold in Australia, but is a different vehicle adding 30mm in length and 35mm more height. The Seal 06 sedan has a 2790m wheelbase – compared to a Toyota Camry at 2825mm – and is 4830mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm high. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon is around 20mm longer, 15mm higher and 10mm wider, but full specifications have not yet been made public. The Seal 06 DM-I sedan is priced from ¥99,800 in China ($21,300) – the same starting price as the BYD Dolphin, which is $29,990 drive-away in Australia. The wagon goes on sale in June 2025 and is expected to cost from ¥109,800 ($23,421). Meanwhile, the sedan is offered in five grades with the top-spec version costing ¥139,800 ($29,820). There are two different output hybrid powertrains across the range for both the sedan and wagon. For the sedan, they both use a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with a 120kW/210Nm front axle electric motor on lower-spec and a 160kW/260Nm motor on higher model grades. The entry-level 10.08kWh battery is also replaced with a 15.87kWh version for higher-spec versions, with electric-only range increasing from 80km (CLTC) to 120km (CLTC). Combined fuel economy claims are 2.9L/100km and 3.08L/100km for the two different hybrid powertrains. There are currently no medium or large PHEV passenger cars offered in Australia by mass-market brands, though the Toyota Camry hybrid – despite its lack of plug-in capability – presents as a logical competitor. Skoda is also launching a PHEV version of its Superb. BYD continues to expand its product lineup in Australia after it announced it would take over local distribution from importer EVDirect. Since the announcement, it has appointed former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins as its chief operating officer and confirmed the Atto 2 small SUV as well as its first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8, for local showrooms. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The BYD Seal 06 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan will be joined by a PHEV wagon in China late this month, and BYD Australia says the model line is an ideal candidate for local showrooms. Priced identically to the BYD Dolphin electric hatch in China – which starts at $29,990 drive-away in Australia – the Seal 06 DM-I could potentially usurp the Hyundai i30 to become Australia's cheapest sedan. "The Seal 06 being a DM [hybrid] product, there's a very strong appetite for hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia, so yes, something like that in our lineup would be fantastic," BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon – the first PHEV wagon that BYD has produced – was shown at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It's scheduled to join the Seal 06 sedan in Chinese showrooms in the coming weeks after the sedan was launched in 2024. While the Seal 06 is also offered with an electric powertrain, it's the plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon BYD Australia has a keen eye on. "Positioning of that model in the lineup would be on the more affordable end of things like in China, so you imagine that that would have a nice role in Australia as well," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 has already been confirmed for right-hand drive production. It would join BYD's growing lineup of PHEVs in Australia, which includes the mid-size Sealion 6 SUV that was Australia's best-selling PHEV in 2024. Confusingly, despite the name the Seal 06 is not a replacement for the existing Seal electric sedan sold in Australia, but is a different vehicle adding 30mm in length and 35mm more height. The Seal 06 sedan has a 2790m wheelbase – compared to a Toyota Camry at 2825mm – and is 4830mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm high. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon is around 20mm longer, 15mm higher and 10mm wider, but full specifications have not yet been made public. The Seal 06 DM-I sedan is priced from ¥99,800 in China ($21,300) – the same starting price as the BYD Dolphin, which is $29,990 drive-away in Australia. The wagon goes on sale in June 2025 and is expected to cost from ¥109,800 ($23,421). Meanwhile, the sedan is offered in five grades with the top-spec version costing ¥139,800 ($29,820). There are two different output hybrid powertrains across the range for both the sedan and wagon. For the sedan, they both use a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with a 120kW/210Nm front axle electric motor on lower-spec and a 160kW/260Nm motor on higher model grades. The entry-level 10.08kWh battery is also replaced with a 15.87kWh version for higher-spec versions, with electric-only range increasing from 80km (CLTC) to 120km (CLTC). Combined fuel economy claims are 2.9L/100km and 3.08L/100km for the two different hybrid powertrains. There are currently no medium or large PHEV passenger cars offered in Australia by mass-market brands, though the Toyota Camry hybrid – despite its lack of plug-in capability – presents as a logical competitor. Skoda is also launching a PHEV version of its Superb. BYD continues to expand its product lineup in Australia after it announced it would take over local distribution from importer EVDirect. Since the announcement, it has appointed former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins as its chief operating officer and confirmed the Atto 2 small SUV as well as its first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8, for local showrooms. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The BYD Seal 06 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan will be joined by a PHEV wagon in China late this month, and BYD Australia says the model line is an ideal candidate for local showrooms. Priced identically to the BYD Dolphin electric hatch in China – which starts at $29,990 drive-away in Australia – the Seal 06 DM-I could potentially usurp the Hyundai i30 to become Australia's cheapest sedan. "The Seal 06 being a DM [hybrid] product, there's a very strong appetite for hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia, so yes, something like that in our lineup would be fantastic," BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon – the first PHEV wagon that BYD has produced – was shown at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It's scheduled to join the Seal 06 sedan in Chinese showrooms in the coming weeks after the sedan was launched in 2024. While the Seal 06 is also offered with an electric powertrain, it's the plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon BYD Australia has a keen eye on. "Positioning of that model in the lineup would be on the more affordable end of things like in China, so you imagine that that would have a nice role in Australia as well," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 has already been confirmed for right-hand drive production. It would join BYD's growing lineup of PHEVs in Australia, which includes the mid-size Sealion 6 SUV that was Australia's best-selling PHEV in 2024. Confusingly, despite the name the Seal 06 is not a replacement for the existing Seal electric sedan sold in Australia, but is a different vehicle adding 30mm in length and 35mm more height. The Seal 06 sedan has a 2790m wheelbase – compared to a Toyota Camry at 2825mm – and is 4830mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm high. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon is around 20mm longer, 15mm higher and 10mm wider, but full specifications have not yet been made public. The Seal 06 DM-I sedan is priced from ¥99,800 in China ($21,300) – the same starting price as the BYD Dolphin, which is $29,990 drive-away in Australia. The wagon goes on sale in June 2025 and is expected to cost from ¥109,800 ($23,421). Meanwhile, the sedan is offered in five grades with the top-spec version costing ¥139,800 ($29,820). There are two different output hybrid powertrains across the range for both the sedan and wagon. For the sedan, they both use a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with a 120kW/210Nm front axle electric motor on lower-spec and a 160kW/260Nm motor on higher model grades. The entry-level 10.08kWh battery is also replaced with a 15.87kWh version for higher-spec versions, with electric-only range increasing from 80km (CLTC) to 120km (CLTC). Combined fuel economy claims are 2.9L/100km and 3.08L/100km for the two different hybrid powertrains. There are currently no medium or large PHEV passenger cars offered in Australia by mass-market brands, though the Toyota Camry hybrid – despite its lack of plug-in capability – presents as a logical competitor. Skoda is also launching a PHEV version of its Superb. BYD continues to expand its product lineup in Australia after it announced it would take over local distribution from importer EVDirect. Since the announcement, it has appointed former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins as its chief operating officer and confirmed the Atto 2 small SUV as well as its first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8, for local showrooms. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The BYD Seal 06 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan will be joined by a PHEV wagon in China late this month, and BYD Australia says the model line is an ideal candidate for local showrooms. Priced identically to the BYD Dolphin electric hatch in China – which starts at $29,990 drive-away in Australia – the Seal 06 DM-I could potentially usurp the Hyundai i30 to become Australia's cheapest sedan. "The Seal 06 being a DM [hybrid] product, there's a very strong appetite for hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia, so yes, something like that in our lineup would be fantastic," BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon – the first PHEV wagon that BYD has produced – was shown at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It's scheduled to join the Seal 06 sedan in Chinese showrooms in the coming weeks after the sedan was launched in 2024. While the Seal 06 is also offered with an electric powertrain, it's the plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon BYD Australia has a keen eye on. "Positioning of that model in the lineup would be on the more affordable end of things like in China, so you imagine that that would have a nice role in Australia as well," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 has already been confirmed for right-hand drive production. It would join BYD's growing lineup of PHEVs in Australia, which includes the mid-size Sealion 6 SUV that was Australia's best-selling PHEV in 2024. Confusingly, despite the name the Seal 06 is not a replacement for the existing Seal electric sedan sold in Australia, but is a different vehicle adding 30mm in length and 35mm more height. The Seal 06 sedan has a 2790m wheelbase – compared to a Toyota Camry at 2825mm – and is 4830mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm high. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon is around 20mm longer, 15mm higher and 10mm wider, but full specifications have not yet been made public. The Seal 06 DM-I sedan is priced from ¥99,800 in China ($21,300) – the same starting price as the BYD Dolphin, which is $29,990 drive-away in Australia. The wagon goes on sale in June 2025 and is expected to cost from ¥109,800 ($23,421). Meanwhile, the sedan is offered in five grades with the top-spec version costing ¥139,800 ($29,820). There are two different output hybrid powertrains across the range for both the sedan and wagon. For the sedan, they both use a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with a 120kW/210Nm front axle electric motor on lower-spec and a 160kW/260Nm motor on higher model grades. The entry-level 10.08kWh battery is also replaced with a 15.87kWh version for higher-spec versions, with electric-only range increasing from 80km (CLTC) to 120km (CLTC). Combined fuel economy claims are 2.9L/100km and 3.08L/100km for the two different hybrid powertrains. There are currently no medium or large PHEV passenger cars offered in Australia by mass-market brands, though the Toyota Camry hybrid – despite its lack of plug-in capability – presents as a logical competitor. Skoda is also launching a PHEV version of its Superb. BYD continues to expand its product lineup in Australia after it announced it would take over local distribution from importer EVDirect. Since the announcement, it has appointed former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins as its chief operating officer and confirmed the Atto 2 small SUV as well as its first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8, for local showrooms. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
3 days ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
BYD Seal 06 mid-size PHEV sedan, wagon could battle Toyota Camry in Australia
The BYD Seal 06 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan will be joined by a PHEV wagon in China late this month, and BYD Australia says the model line is an ideal candidate for local showrooms. Priced identically to the BYD Dolphin electric hatch in China – which starts at $29,990 drive-away in Australia – the Seal 06 DM-I could potentially usurp the Hyundai i30 to become Australia's cheapest sedan. 'The Seal 06 being a DM [hybrid] product, there's a very strong appetite for hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia, so yes, something like that in our lineup would be fantastic,' BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon – the first PHEV wagon that BYD has produced – was shown at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It's scheduled to join the Seal 06 sedan in Chinese showrooms in the coming weeks after the sedan was launched in 2024. While the Seal 06 is also offered with an electric powertrain, it's the plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon BYD Australia has a keen eye on. 'Positioning of that model in the lineup would be on the more affordable end of things like in China, so you imagine that that would have a nice role in Australia as well,' Mr Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 has already been confirmed for right-hand drive production. It would join BYD's growing lineup of PHEVs in Australia, which includes the mid-size Sealion 6 SUV that was Australia's best-selling PHEV in 2024. Confusingly, despite the name the Seal 06 is not a replacement for the existing Seal electric sedan sold in Australia, but is a different vehicle adding 30mm in length and 35mm more height. The Seal 06 sedan has a 2790m wheelbase – compared to a Toyota Camry at 2825mm – and is 4830mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm high. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon is around 20mm longer, 15mm higher and 10mm wider, but full specifications have not yet been made public. The Seal 06 DM-I sedan is priced from ¥99,800 in China ($21,300) – the same starting price as the BYD Dolphin, which is $29,990 drive-away in Australia. The wagon goes on sale in June 2025 and is expected to cost from ¥109,800 ($23,421). Meanwhile, the sedan is offered in five grades with the top-spec version costing ¥139,800 ($29,820). There are two different output hybrid powertrains across the range for both the sedan and wagon. For the sedan, they both use a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with a 120kW/210Nm front axle electric motor on lower-spec and a 160kW/260Nm motor on higher model grades. The entry-level 10.08kWh battery is also replaced with a 15.87kWh version for higher-spec versions, with electric-only range increasing from 80km (CLTC) to 120km (CLTC). Combined fuel economy claims are 2.9L/100km and 3.08L/100km for the two different hybrid powertrains. There are currently no medium or large PHEV passenger cars offered in Australia by mass-market brands, though the Toyota Camry hybrid – despite its lack of plug-in capability – presents as a logical competitor. Skoda is also launching a PHEV version of its Superb. BYD continues to expand its product lineup in Australia after it announced it would take over local distribution from importer EVDirect. Since the announcement, it has appointed former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins as its chief operating officer and confirmed the Atto 2 small SUV as well as its first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8, for local showrooms.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
BYD Seal 06 mid-size PHEV sedan, wagon could battle Toyota Camry in Australia
The BYD Seal 06 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan will be joined by a PHEV wagon in China late this month, and BYD Australia says the model line is an ideal candidate for local showrooms. Priced identically to the BYD Dolphin electric hatch in China – which starts at $29,990 drive-away in Australia – the Seal 06 DM-I could potentially usurp the Hyundai i30 to become Australia's cheapest sedan. 'The Seal 06 being a DM [hybrid] product, there's a very strong appetite for hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia, so yes, something like that in our lineup would be fantastic,' BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon – the first PHEV wagon that BYD has produced – was shown at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert It's scheduled to join the Seal 06 sedan in Chinese showrooms in the coming weeks after the sedan was launched in 2024. While the Seal 06 is also offered with an electric powertrain, it's the plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon BYD Australia has a keen eye on. 'Positioning of that model in the lineup would be on the more affordable end of things like in China, so you imagine that that would have a nice role in Australia as well,' Mr Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 has already been confirmed for right-hand drive production. It would join BYD's growing lineup of PHEVs in Australia, which includes the mid-size Sealion 6 SUV that was Australia's best-selling PHEV in 2024. Confusingly, despite the name the Seal 06 is not a replacement for the existing Seal electric sedan sold in Australia, but is a different vehicle adding 30mm in length and 35mm more height. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Seal 06 sedan has a 2790m wheelbase – compared to a Toyota Camry at 2825mm – and is 4830mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm high. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon is around 20mm longer, 15mm higher and 10mm wider, but full specifications have not yet been made public. The Seal 06 DM-I sedan is priced from ¥99,800 in China ($21,300) – the same starting price as the BYD Dolphin, which is $29,990 drive-away in Australia. The wagon goes on sale in June 2025 and is expected to cost from ¥109,800 ($23,421). Meanwhile, the sedan is offered in five grades with the top-spec version costing ¥139,800 ($29,820). There are two different output hybrid powertrains across the range for both the sedan and wagon. Supplied Credit: CarExpert For the sedan, they both use a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with a 120kW/210Nm front axle electric motor on lower-spec and a 160kW/260Nm motor on higher model grades. The entry-level 10.08kWh battery is also replaced with a 15.87kWh version for higher-spec versions, with electric-only range increasing from 80km (CLTC) to 120km (CLTC). Combined fuel economy claims are 2.9L/100km and 3.08L/100km for the two different hybrid powertrains. There are currently no medium or large PHEV passenger cars offered in Australia by mass-market brands, though the Toyota Camry hybrid – despite its lack of plug-in capability – presents as a logical competitor. Skoda is also launching a PHEV version of its Superb. BYD continues to expand its product lineup in Australia after it announced it would take over local distribution from importer EVDirect. Since the announcement, it has appointed former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins as its chief operating officer and confirmed the Atto 2 small SUV as well as its first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8, for local showrooms. MORE: Everything BYD
The Advertiser
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Australian testing to play critical role in global BYD model development
Australia will play a vital role in the development of BYD models sold around the world, not just locally, says the Chinese automaker. Testing of models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute – which was extensively evaluated in Australia ahead of its local release in January 2025 – is designed to ensure local suitability, but models not sold here such as the Yangwang U8 large SUV from BYD's luxury brand have also been spied testing on Australian roads. Ford is the only automaker that still develops vehicles from the ground up in Australia, but several others including Kia and more recently GWM and Mitsubishi also conduct local chassis tuning in and for this market. However, Australian input was critical for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab – a competitor for the top-selling, locally designed and engineered Ford Ranger sold around the world – just as it has been for other rivals including the upcoming Kia Tasman, which was repeatedly seen testing here ahead of its mid-year release. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Yet BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert the local arm's evaluation and engineering signoffs will be used to finetune suspension and other settings for the automaker's global products. "It's important that we do local confirmation testing, rough-road durability, hot weather, climate, tow testing – all those kinds of things are being done to make sure that the products are suitable for Australian customers," Mr Hasan said. "For models like that [Shark 6], particularly off-road focussed vehicles, we're in a fortunate position that in Australia, our roads represent 80 per cent of the world's variety of roads. "So we are a very critical market for right-hand drive development, and the kind of tuning and testing that gets done here is used in other areas of the world." The development of the Shark 6 included engineers from BYD's Chinese headquarters joining Australian testing teams, with a particular focus on suspension as part of a broader vehicle assessment program. BYDs sold in Australia – including the upcoming Atto 2 small SUV and the brand's first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8 – will ride on locally tuned suspension instead of the 'soft' or more comfortable chassis tunes preferred by Chinese customers. BYD says the feedback will influence right-hand drive models sold in countries like Japan, the UK and Cyprus – where BYD was launched on May 28 – as well as playing a role in left-hand drive vehicle development, too. The popularity and variety of SUVs in Australia – where they accounted for more than half of all new vehicle sales in 2024 – makes local testing even more helpful for BYD HQ in China. "It also gives us kind of an access, like a gateway, into the global development," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "For certain models, like large SUVs and off-road focused SUVs, we're a very important market because of our market size and demand for that type of vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Australia will play a vital role in the development of BYD models sold around the world, not just locally, says the Chinese automaker. Testing of models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute – which was extensively evaluated in Australia ahead of its local release in January 2025 – is designed to ensure local suitability, but models not sold here such as the Yangwang U8 large SUV from BYD's luxury brand have also been spied testing on Australian roads. Ford is the only automaker that still develops vehicles from the ground up in Australia, but several others including Kia and more recently GWM and Mitsubishi also conduct local chassis tuning in and for this market. However, Australian input was critical for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab – a competitor for the top-selling, locally designed and engineered Ford Ranger sold around the world – just as it has been for other rivals including the upcoming Kia Tasman, which was repeatedly seen testing here ahead of its mid-year release. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Yet BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert the local arm's evaluation and engineering signoffs will be used to finetune suspension and other settings for the automaker's global products. "It's important that we do local confirmation testing, rough-road durability, hot weather, climate, tow testing – all those kinds of things are being done to make sure that the products are suitable for Australian customers," Mr Hasan said. "For models like that [Shark 6], particularly off-road focussed vehicles, we're in a fortunate position that in Australia, our roads represent 80 per cent of the world's variety of roads. "So we are a very critical market for right-hand drive development, and the kind of tuning and testing that gets done here is used in other areas of the world." The development of the Shark 6 included engineers from BYD's Chinese headquarters joining Australian testing teams, with a particular focus on suspension as part of a broader vehicle assessment program. BYDs sold in Australia – including the upcoming Atto 2 small SUV and the brand's first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8 – will ride on locally tuned suspension instead of the 'soft' or more comfortable chassis tunes preferred by Chinese customers. BYD says the feedback will influence right-hand drive models sold in countries like Japan, the UK and Cyprus – where BYD was launched on May 28 – as well as playing a role in left-hand drive vehicle development, too. The popularity and variety of SUVs in Australia – where they accounted for more than half of all new vehicle sales in 2024 – makes local testing even more helpful for BYD HQ in China. "It also gives us kind of an access, like a gateway, into the global development," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "For certain models, like large SUVs and off-road focused SUVs, we're a very important market because of our market size and demand for that type of vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Australia will play a vital role in the development of BYD models sold around the world, not just locally, says the Chinese automaker. Testing of models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute – which was extensively evaluated in Australia ahead of its local release in January 2025 – is designed to ensure local suitability, but models not sold here such as the Yangwang U8 large SUV from BYD's luxury brand have also been spied testing on Australian roads. Ford is the only automaker that still develops vehicles from the ground up in Australia, but several others including Kia and more recently GWM and Mitsubishi also conduct local chassis tuning in and for this market. However, Australian input was critical for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab – a competitor for the top-selling, locally designed and engineered Ford Ranger sold around the world – just as it has been for other rivals including the upcoming Kia Tasman, which was repeatedly seen testing here ahead of its mid-year release. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Yet BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert the local arm's evaluation and engineering signoffs will be used to finetune suspension and other settings for the automaker's global products. "It's important that we do local confirmation testing, rough-road durability, hot weather, climate, tow testing – all those kinds of things are being done to make sure that the products are suitable for Australian customers," Mr Hasan said. "For models like that [Shark 6], particularly off-road focussed vehicles, we're in a fortunate position that in Australia, our roads represent 80 per cent of the world's variety of roads. "So we are a very critical market for right-hand drive development, and the kind of tuning and testing that gets done here is used in other areas of the world." The development of the Shark 6 included engineers from BYD's Chinese headquarters joining Australian testing teams, with a particular focus on suspension as part of a broader vehicle assessment program. BYDs sold in Australia – including the upcoming Atto 2 small SUV and the brand's first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8 – will ride on locally tuned suspension instead of the 'soft' or more comfortable chassis tunes preferred by Chinese customers. BYD says the feedback will influence right-hand drive models sold in countries like Japan, the UK and Cyprus – where BYD was launched on May 28 – as well as playing a role in left-hand drive vehicle development, too. The popularity and variety of SUVs in Australia – where they accounted for more than half of all new vehicle sales in 2024 – makes local testing even more helpful for BYD HQ in China. "It also gives us kind of an access, like a gateway, into the global development," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "For certain models, like large SUVs and off-road focused SUVs, we're a very important market because of our market size and demand for that type of vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Australia will play a vital role in the development of BYD models sold around the world, not just locally, says the Chinese automaker. Testing of models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute – which was extensively evaluated in Australia ahead of its local release in January 2025 – is designed to ensure local suitability, but models not sold here such as the Yangwang U8 large SUV from BYD's luxury brand have also been spied testing on Australian roads. Ford is the only automaker that still develops vehicles from the ground up in Australia, but several others including Kia and more recently GWM and Mitsubishi also conduct local chassis tuning in and for this market. However, Australian input was critical for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab – a competitor for the top-selling, locally designed and engineered Ford Ranger sold around the world – just as it has been for other rivals including the upcoming Kia Tasman, which was repeatedly seen testing here ahead of its mid-year release. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Yet BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert the local arm's evaluation and engineering signoffs will be used to finetune suspension and other settings for the automaker's global products. "It's important that we do local confirmation testing, rough-road durability, hot weather, climate, tow testing – all those kinds of things are being done to make sure that the products are suitable for Australian customers," Mr Hasan said. "For models like that [Shark 6], particularly off-road focussed vehicles, we're in a fortunate position that in Australia, our roads represent 80 per cent of the world's variety of roads. "So we are a very critical market for right-hand drive development, and the kind of tuning and testing that gets done here is used in other areas of the world." The development of the Shark 6 included engineers from BYD's Chinese headquarters joining Australian testing teams, with a particular focus on suspension as part of a broader vehicle assessment program. BYDs sold in Australia – including the upcoming Atto 2 small SUV and the brand's first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8 – will ride on locally tuned suspension instead of the 'soft' or more comfortable chassis tunes preferred by Chinese customers. BYD says the feedback will influence right-hand drive models sold in countries like Japan, the UK and Cyprus – where BYD was launched on May 28 – as well as playing a role in left-hand drive vehicle development, too. The popularity and variety of SUVs in Australia – where they accounted for more than half of all new vehicle sales in 2024 – makes local testing even more helpful for BYD HQ in China. "It also gives us kind of an access, like a gateway, into the global development," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "For certain models, like large SUVs and off-road focused SUVs, we're a very important market because of our market size and demand for that type of vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
Perth Now
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Australian testing to play critical role in global BYD model development
Australia will play a vital role in the development of BYD models sold around the world, not just locally, says the Chinese automaker. Testing of models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute – which was extensively evaluated in Australia ahead of its local release in January 2025 – is designed to ensure local suitability, but models not sold here such as the Yangwang U8 large SUV from BYD's luxury brand have also been spied testing on Australian roads. Ford is the only automaker that still develops vehicles from the ground up in Australia, but several others including Kia and more recently GWM and Mitsubishi also conduct local chassis tuning in and for this market. However, Australian input was critical for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab – a competitor for the top-selling, locally designed and engineered Ford Ranger sold around the world – just as it has been for other rivals including the upcoming Kia Tasman, which was repeatedly seen testing here ahead of its mid-year release. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Yet BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert the local arm's evaluation and engineering signoffs will be used to finetune suspension and other settings for the automaker's global products. 'It's important that we do local confirmation testing, rough-road durability, hot weather, climate, tow testing – all those kinds of things are being done to make sure that the products are suitable for Australian customers,' Mr Hasan said. 'For models like that [Shark 6], particularly off-road focussed vehicles, we're in a fortunate position that in Australia, our roads represent 80 per cent of the world's variety of roads. 'So we are a very critical market for right-hand drive development, and the kind of tuning and testing that gets done here is used in other areas of the world.' The development of the Shark 6 included engineers from BYD's Chinese headquarters joining Australian testing teams, with a particular focus on suspension as part of a broader vehicle assessment program. Supplied Credit: CarExpert BYDs sold in Australia – including the upcoming Atto 2 small SUV and the brand's first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8 – will ride on locally tuned suspension instead of the 'soft' or more comfortable chassis tunes preferred by Chinese customers. BYD says the feedback will influence right-hand drive models sold in countries like Japan, the UK and Cyprus – where BYD was launched on May 28 – as well as playing a role in left-hand drive vehicle development, too. The popularity and variety of SUVs in Australia – where they accounted for more than half of all new vehicle sales in 2024 – makes local testing even more helpful for BYD HQ in China. 'It also gives us kind of an access, like a gateway, into the global development,' Mr Hasan told CarExpert. 'For certain models, like large SUVs and off-road focused SUVs, we're a very important market because of our market size and demand for that type of vehicle.' MORE: Everything BYD
