Nobody is safe from BYD’s model tsunami: Chinese brand reveals yet more Australian expansion plans to target Ford, LDV and Mercedes-Benz

November 13, 2024November 13, 2024 Bruce Newton 3048 Views 0 Comments BYD, E-Vali, ETP3

Chinese mega-brand BYD’s Australian importer is planning to open up a new front in its ambitious campaign to top Aussie sales by launching into commercial vehicles.

BYD has long been a player in heavy trucks and buses globally and has a bus presence here through its own subsidiary.

But EVDirect, which is an independent importer operating in passenger vehicles in Australia on behalf of BYD, has recently launched successfully into the commercial arena with the Shark 6 ute, and it now has its sights set on vans.

“We are very interested [in commercial vehicles],” EVDirect CEO David Smitherman told EV Central.

“BYD’s commercial division is growing. It has always had a bus division and in Australia it’s been moderately successful.

“Globally there is the full light and heavy truck divisions and the commercial vehicle division, the vans, is certainly growing in discussions.”

BYD’s capabilities in this part of the market were recently underlined when it unveiled its all-new E-Vali electric van at Hanover commercial vehicle show in Germany.

It will go on-sale in right-hand drive UK in 2025.

The E-Vali sits in the 3.5- to 4.25-tonne segment on two wheelbases and offers a range of 220-250 km (WTLP) depending on whether you choose rear or dual motor all-wheel drive.

The E-Vali is powered by an 80.64 kWh BYD Blade Battery and has a top speed of 90km/h or 120km/h depending on the powertrain.

In Australia it would face off against electric van rivals such as the Ford E-Transit, LDV eDeliver 9 and Mercedes-Benz eSprinter.

But the bigger volume is in the 2.5-3.5-tonne delivery van segment where the diesel Toyota HiAce rules the roost with more than 10,000 sales so far this year.

The current BYD model in this segment is the ageing ETP3, which has recently gone on-sale in the UK. If it made it to Australia – a replacement might pop up before in the meantime – its battery-driven rivals in Australia would include the new Ford E-Transit Custom, Mercedes-Benz eVito and Peugeot E-Expert.

Smitherman wouldn’t put a timeline on the launch of commercial vehicles in Australia, but it is not 2025 when more than five new model launches are already planned.

“I think there is still some time before it comes to market,” he cautioned.

BYD has an aggressive triple-double sales plan in Australia, which is targeting 100,000 sales per annum in 2026.

The eventual objective, as declared by EVDirect owner Luke Todd, is taking sales leadership from Toyota.