BYD teases Rolls-Royce-rivalling electric sedan

BYD’s ultra-luxury Yangwang brand is working on a new flagship sedan that could incorporate the automotive giant’s first solid-state batteries.

Images of the sedan – codenamed HU and featuring rear-hinged rear doors, à la the Rolls-Royce Phantom – were shared on Weibo by Yangwang general manager Hu Xiaoqing.

“This is the culmination of three years of meticulous development by Yangwang, featuring the brand’s signature design language, and is an ultra-luxury executive sedan,” said Ms Hu.

Her deputy, Zheng Yu, also posted that the new Yangwang sedan would be “equipped with unprecedented disruptive technology”, with speculation among Chinese media that the HU will feature solid-state batteries given BYD has previously confirmed it's working on the technology but said it's not yet ready for the mass market.

The photos shared by the Yangwang leaders reveal a stately large sedan, with a long, squared-off bonnet and upright front fascia; prominent shoulders that connect to the tail-lights; the aforementioned coach doors; and a fairly short, sloped boot-lid.

There are some clear similarities between the HU and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, though the Yangwang wears the same split-level lighting elements as the Yangwang U8 large SUV, featuring a thin horizontal upper strip and an L-shape lower array. One photo reveals a distinctive brushed metal inlay below cube-shaped lighting internals.

While the centre of the front fascia is among the details covered in camouflage, it's possible there'll be a large, patterned grille as in the U8.

The HU appears to be much more closely aligned stylistically with the U8 SUV than Yangwang's other models, the U7 sedan and U9 supercar, both of which are distinguished by their sleeker, sportier lines and large C-shaped front lighting assemblies.

Spy photographers have, however, captured what appears to be an SUV counterpart to the HU sedan. It's unclear how this will be positioned relative to the U8.

Yangwang's lineup is split not only in design but also in terms of its powertrains. The U7 is offered with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or electric powertrains, the U8 and its long-wheelbase U8L sibling offer an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain, and the U9 supercar is electric-only (EV).

Yangwang was introduced in 2023, slotting in above BYD's existing Denza premium brand. While Denza has subsequently arrived here, Yangwang – which translates roughly to "looking up" – has yet to be officially confirmed for Australia despite a U8 touring local BYD showrooms and what appeared to be right-hand drive U8 prototypes being spied testing in the Northern Territory.

Nick Politis, a director of BYD retail partner Eagers Automotive, has purchased one example of the $1 million-plus, 2220kW U9 Xtreme – the fastest and most expensive Chinese vehicle ever released – and intends to showcase it locally.

Yangwang vehicles aren't cheap. The range opens with the U7, priced from 658,000 RMB (~A$139,800), with the U8 starting at 1,008,000 RMB (~A$214,000), and the cheapest U9 costing 1,800,000 RMB (~A$382,400).

It's not the only Chinese brand competing in the ultra-luxury space.

JAC partnered with Huawei to form Maextro, which is the most upmarket brand in the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) which sees automakers collaborate with the tech giant. Other brands within HIMA include Chery's Luxeed and SAIC Motor's SAIC.

The debut Maextro model was the full-size S800 sedan, launched last year and offered as an EV or an EREV. It currently starts at 728,000 RMB (~$154,600) or 1,388,000 RMB (~A$294,900) in posh Grand Design guise.

Maextro only just commenced deliveries of two subsequent models, the V680 and V800 people movers. To the end of August, it has delivered almost three times as many vehicles – predominantly S800 sedans – than the entire Yangwang lineup.

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