Ferrari and Porsche will soon have company. BYD just confirmed plans to launch Yangwang, its ultra-luxury EV brand, in Europe. It will be the first Chinese brand to enter Europe’s most elite segment.
BYD preps new ultra-luxury EV brand for Europe
After launching Denza earlier this year, BYD is set to introduce another luxury brand to Europe. Yangwang is BYD’s most exclusive lineup of new energy vehicles, featuring its advanced technology and performance.
The brand has been on sale in China for about two and a half years, and now, it’s preparing to launch in Europe. BYD’s vice president Stella Li told Autocar that “our plan is that we will bring Yangwang into Europe,” after Denza earlier next year.
BYD launched its ultra-luxury EV brand in January 2023, with the first vehicle, the Yangwang U8, going on sale in September of the same year.
The Yangwang U8 is a Range Rover-like extended range electric SUV (EREV), packing over 1,100 hp (880 kW). It also comes loaded with features like float mode, which allows it to literally float on water, tank turns, and the U8 can even plow through more water than a Defender.
A few months later, BYD launched the second vehicle, the Yangwang U9, in February 2024. The Yangwang U9 is an electric supercar that can jump and dance thanks to BYD’s DiSus-X body control system.
It’s faster than a Ferrari, with four electric motors delivering nearly 1,300 hp, enabling a 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) sprint in just 2.36 seconds.
The Yangwang U8 and U9 start at 1,098,000 RMB ($150,000) and 1,680,000 RMB ($230,000) in China, respectively. Both will be sold in Europe.
Li said that “more cars are coming,” including the Yangwang U7, an electric ultra-luxury sedan. BYD delivered the first U7 models in China last month, starting at 628,000 RMB ($87,000).
The four-seater variant costs 708,000 RMB, or about $98,500, which is still about half the cost of the most affordable Ferrari.
With Yangwang set to arrive in Europe, BYD will be the first Chinese automaker to enter Europe’s top luxury auto segment.
With an additional 17% tariff, export costs, and other factors, prices in Europe are expected to be notably higher. We will learn more as we get closer to launch.
Source: Autocar
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