BYD's 216-inch electric sedan to debut in UAE at $300,000

BYD will introduce its most expensive vehicle to customers in the United Arab Emirates before selling it in China. Yangwang general manager Hu Xiaoqing confirmed the launch plan this week, though the company has not released a specific date. The new model is the brand's first sedan and represents a sharp pivot from the affordable cars that built BYD's reputation.

The car measures approximately 5,500 millimeters, or 216 inches, in length. That size rivals the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. BYD aims this sedan at luxury buyers who currently shop at Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Mercedes-Maybach. This is a distinct departure from the Seagull hatchback, a small electric vehicle that sells for under $10,000 in China.

Rumored pricing places the new sedan in the 2 million yuan range, which converts to about $300,000. That price point is more than double the cost of the U8L, Yangwang's current most expensive mass-produced vehicle. The U8L, a plug-in hybrid SUV, starts at 1.45 million yuan, or $217,000. The new sedan will sit above the U7 electric sedan, which starts at 658,000 yuan, or $98,000.

Yangwang is the top tier of BYD's vehicle lineup, positioned above the Denza and FangChengBao sub-brands. The company uses the brand to showcase its newest engineering. Previous Yangwang models used a quad-motor e4 platform that produces 1,300 horsepower. They also featured the DiSus-X body control system, which allows the vehicle to perform maneuvers like jumping and driving on three wheels.

Zheng Yu, Yangwang's executive general manager, described the new sedan as featuring "unprecedented disruptive technology" without providing technical details. The car was spotted at a BYD Flash Charging station, suggesting it supports megawatt charging speeds. It also includes rear-hinged coach doors, a design first for the manufacturer.

Local reports indicate the sedan is the first BYD model to use 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. The new sedan is expected to make its official debut this month, bridging the gap between that 2027 announcement and the current launch timeline.