BYD's Yangwang: $300,000 electric sedan skips China for UAE debut

BYD is skipping China for the global debut of its most expensive electric sedan. Hu Xiaoqing, general manager of the Yangwang brand, confirmed this week that the car will launch in the United Arab Emirates. The company has not yet announced a specific date, but the reveal is expected to happen this month. Rumors place the starting price at 2 million yuan, roughly $300,000.

The vehicle is the largest sedan BYD has ever built. Local reports indicate it measures 5,500 mm, or 216 inches, in length. That size places it in the same category as the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. Hu Xiaoqing said the car targets the ultra-luxury segment, aiming to compete directly with established brands like Bentley and Rolls-Royce. This is a major shift for BYD, which is widely known in China for selling the Seagull, a small hatchback that costs under $10,000.

BYD has expanded its product range over the past few years. It now sells entry-level EVs, three-row SUVs, pickup trucks, and electric supercars. The company operates three sub-brands: Denza, FangChengBao, and Yangwang. Yangwang sits at the top of this hierarchy and serves as a testbed for BYD's newest technologies. Previous Yangwang models used the quad-motor e4 platform, which produces 1,300 horsepower, and the DiSus-X body control system that allows the vehicle to jump and drive on three wheels.

Hu Xiaoqing shared images of the new sedan undergoing testing last month. The car was disguised, but its shape clearly matched the larger luxury sedans on the market. Zheng Yu, Yangwang's executive general manager, said the car will feature new disruptive technology but did not provide details. The sedan was photographed at a BYD Flash Charging station, suggesting it supports megawatt fast charging. It also features rear-hinged coach doors, a design choice BYD has not used before.

The car is reportedly the first model to use BYD's solid-state batteries. Stella Li, BYD's executive vice president, told Carwow.es last month that the company's first solid-state battery vehicle would debut in 2027. The UAE launch marks a strategic move to establish Yangwang in high-value international markets before rolling it out domestically.

The new sedan will be the most expensive car in the Yangwang lineup. Currently, the U7 electric sedan starts at 658,000 yuan, or $98,000. The brand also sells the U8 and U8L plug-in hybrid luxury SUVs and the U9 electric super-coupe. The extended U8L is currently the highest-priced mass-produced vehicle from the brand, starting at 1.45 million yuan, or $217,000. The new flagship will sit well above that price point.

BYD has broadened its lineup to cover almost every vehicle segment. It now sells everything from affordable city cars to luxury off-road vehicles. The introduction of this flagship sedan signals a push into the highest end of the automotive market. The company aims to use this model to showcase its technological advancements in battery and body control systems to a global audience.