Chinese auto giant BYD says it has reached a new milestone in its electric car sales in Australia – reaching 40,000 vehicles in less than three years since it entered the market, and is expecting to sell more than 40,000 vehicles in Australia this year alone.
BYD entered the Australian market in the second half of 2022 and quickly cemented itself as one of the country’s most popular carmakers.
Focusing on what Chinese automakers call “new energy vehicles”, or NEVs, BYD currently sells in Australia the Atto 3 battery electric compact SUV, the Dolphin battery electric hatchback, the Seal battery electric sedan, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Sealion 6 SUV and the battery electric Sealion 7, and the new BYD Shark 6, Australia’s first PHEV ute.
BYD says it hit the 40,000 milestone this month, following a record-breaking February in which it sold 3,281 units, headlined by the first deliveries of the Shark 6 PHEV.
In August of 2024 the company claimed that it expected to sell 100,000 units over its first five years in Australia – a goal that seemed a distant hope, considering it had only sold just over 25,000 to date at the time. But it now seems to be well on track to meet its goals.
Its target will be boosted by the new ‘Essentials’ range which includes the Dolphin Essential, Australia’s most affordable EV and the first to break the $30,000 barrier (retailing for $29,990, before on-road costs).
BYD, in partnership with its exclusive local distributor EVDirect, are also in the process of evaluating more BYD models for introduction into the Australian market.
“BYD is where the action is,” David Smitherman, CEO of EVDirect.
“What we’re providing Australian customers is a choice they haven’t previously been able to enjoy. With the Shark 6, Sealion 7, and soon the Essentials range, we’re introducing new vehicles in segments and at pricepoints never seen before.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.