U8 — BYD Goes Upmarket in Australia - CleanTechnica

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Elon Musk, it is said, was encouraged by one of his sons to make the future look like the future. Hence the Cybertruck which we touched about a week ago. Yesterday, we had a little adventure to see the Yangwang U8 — the future from BYDs’ perspective. BYD has made its name throughout the world, and especially here in Australia, by selling value-for-money vehicles. The U8 is its first vehicle from its high-end sub-brand — Yangwang. It is a “wow” — a huge and expensive 4-wheel drive MoFo! The U8 is not for sale in Australia (yet) but if it was, the price would be north of AUD$200,000.


David and the U8. Photo courtesy Majella Waterworth.

To capture the thoughts of the future, we took our two granddaughters along (aged 10 and 8). As I spoke with a sales rep, Majella took photos and the girls explored the car. I was amazed at how at home they were manipulating the screens and exploring the options. They seem most fascinated by the massage options on the rear passenger seats. Strangely, they weren’t so interested in music or infotainment.


Isobelle and Elizabeth and U8. Photo courtesy Majella Waterworth

Elizabeth and Isobelle definitely thought that this vehicle could form part of their future. They had no fear as they played with the controls on the back seat screens (three of them). They found how to open the sunroof (wouldn’t want them to do that when we were driving), open and close the door handles, open and close the windows, and of course enjoy a massage (three different types were available — see photo).

I asked Isobelle how she found the massage option. She explained it to me patiently. “I hit the car button on the screen on the back of the seat, chose which seat I wanted it to massage, then chose which type of massage I wanted — wave, relax, etc. — and hit the massage button.” She is used to explaining things to her technologically backward grandfather.

Backseat drivers. Photo courtesy Majella Waterworth.

She thought that it was wonderful that children in the back seat could control things from their own screens. I did explain that there would have to be some sort of parental locking device so they couldn’t operate the car’s functions and become the worst kind of backseat drivers. The girls also found the compartment with USB chargers tucked away under the air vents.

Elizabeth exploring the U8. Photo courtesy Majella Waterworth.

The screens gave them access to a variety of seat adjustments. The screen between the seats gave the time and options for music. They told me they found some app icons, but were enjoying the massage so much they didn’t explore those. It was like having a whole range of iPads and they felt at home with that. They learnt by experimenting. Just as well — we were stationary on the showroom floor.

I asked Isobelle what her first impressions were. She said: “I love this, I want one.” So, of course, being good grandparents, we sent this comment and some photos to her parents. The response: “She’ll have to work hard and save up.”


U8 front seats. Photo courtesy Majella Waterworth.

It was the total opposite of our introduction to the minimalist Cybertruck. The U8 was a big brassy blonde who didn’t mind the doubletakes of those who walked past the showroom window — no covering cloth here. Though, it does feel like a “bait and switch” — get ‘em in the showroom with the U8, and then sell them an Atto 3. Just like Tesla is doing in Australia with the Cybertruck. Or are they testing the water?

Although I am sure that there is a market for the Cybertruck in Australia, I am not sure how big a market there would be for this beast. The sales rep compared the U8 favourably with a Rolls-Royce. If the demand for the U8 is the same as for a Rolls, then BYD will not sell many. The car has been compared with the GMC Hummer EV and the Bentley Bentayga. However, BYD has sold 5,000 U8’s so far in China at a price of around AUD$200,000, and has a backlog of 30,000 orders.

Isobelle exploring the U8. Photo courtesy Majella Waterworth

According to the BYD website: “BYD’s e⁴Platform is the world’s first mass-produced four-motor independent drive technology platform. The U8 Premium Edition packs a whopping 1,200 horsepower, it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds. The precise torque vectoring on each wheel ensures stability even during a tire blowout, pushing the boundaries of active automotive safety.”

And furthermore: “The U8 Premium Edition supports fast DC charging at rates of up to 110 kW, allowing a charge from 30% to 80% in just 18 minutes. In extreme conditions, such as flash floods or off-road water obstacles, the U8 Premium Edition can remain afloat for up to 30 minutes, maintaining stability and control for swift evasion. Its 6 kW vehicle-to-load (VTL) discharge capability can power electronic devices and high-power equipment for up to 25 hours. The Yangwang U8 Premium Edition integrates 38 high-precision components and the robust NVIDIA ADRIVE Orin intelligent driving processor, with a computational capability of up to 508 TOPS. The Yangwang U8 Premium Edition is equipped with Blade Batteries and supplemented with Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) technology, ensuring comprehensive travel safety.”

The BYD Yangwang U8 has a 49.5 kWh LFP battery, which gives it a range of 112 miles on electricity alone. So, we would probably describe it as an EREV — an extended range electric vehicle. This is paired with a 2-litre turbo petrol engine that drives 4 “in wheel” electric motors. It has a top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h). Not bad for a 4-ton vehicle that can act as a boat. Don’t believe me? Watch this video.

The luxurious interior boasts high-end Nappa leather seats combined with sapele wood from Africa. The interior of the U8 was luxurious — it made the minimalist Cybertruck look like the “pov pack.” There’s even a storage cubby beneath the central armrest that can be cooled to −6 degrees Celsius or heated to 50 degrees Celsius (21 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit).
You can certainly see where the money went. Not so with the Cybertruck.

When we first saw the U8 in the showroom, I thought it was huge. So, I thought it might be fun to compare it with the dimensions of the Cybertruck. The Yangwang is 5319 mm (209.4 inches) long; 2050 mm (80.7 inches) wide; 1930 mm (76 inches) high; with a wheelbase of 3050 mm and a kerb weight of 3460 kg (7628 lb).


U8 rear. Photo courtesy Majella Waterworth

The Tesla Cybertruck is 5683 mm (223.7 inches) long, 2200 mm (86.6 inches) wide with mirrors folded, and 1796 mm (70.5 inches) high and a kerb weight of 3130 kg (6901 lb). The U8 is shorter than the Cybertruck, narrower but higher, and slightly heavier. Not a lot of difference really. Just looked a lot larger in person.

Do I prefer the U8 to the Cybertruck — no. Just different vehicles for different uses and demographics. The U8 can act like a boat, but the CyberTtruck is bullet proof.

To judge how things were going for BYD sales in general, I asked our friendly sales rep which BYD model was doing the worst. He replied that it was the Dolphin, because “Australian drivers don’t want hatchbacks.” This contrasts strongly with data coming out of China — where the Seagull (not yet available in Australia) is sitting at number two in the top ten — even higher than the Tesla Y. Hopefully when the Seagull arrives in Australia it will sell well — possibly as the second car in a two-car family. The PHEV Sea Lion 6 is the best-selling BYD plug-in at present in Australia.

The Yangwang will be leaving Brisbane soon for its next showing. In the two weeks it has been on the floor in Brisbane at least 100 people have come in and looked at it. BYD is expanding rapidly in Australia, bringing in new models and establishing showrooms, experience centres, and partners up for servicing. I expect 2025 will be a bumper year for them, especially with deliveries of the Shark commencing soon.

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