BYD sets UAE debut for $300,000 electric flagship sedan

BYD will debut its new ultra-luxury electric sedan in the United Arab Emirates. Yangwang general manager Hu Xiaoqing confirmed this week that the vehicle's global launch will occur in the UAE rather than in China. The company has not yet provided a specific calendar date for the reveal.

The model is designed to compete with established ultra-luxury brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Mercedes-Maybach. This move marks a major shift for BYD, a company best known for selling affordable vehicles such as the Seagull hatchback, which costs under $10,000 in China. Local reports indicate the new sedan is approximately 5,500 mm long, a size comparable to the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Hu Xiaoqing released images of the car undergoing testing last month. Although the prototype was disguised, observers noted its rear-hinged coach doors. This design feature is a first for the company. The vehicle is also reportedly the first BYD model to utilize solid-state batteries.

Executive vice president Stella Li told Carwow.es last month that BYD's first solid-state battery vehicle would debut in 2027. However, the new sedan is expected to make its official debut this month. Zheng Yu, Yangwang's executive general manager, stated that the car will feature unprecedented disruptive technology, though he did not provide technical details.

Rumored pricing places the new sedan in the 2 million yuan range, or about $300,000. This price point is well above Yangwang's current lineup. The brand's U7 electric sedan starts at 658,000 yuan, or $98,000. Its highest-priced mass-produced vehicle is the extended U8L plug-in hybrid SUV, which starts at 1.45 million yuan, or $217,000.