Watch out Toyota Gazoo Racing, BYD Australia is pushing for a performance division!
While rumours circulate that BYD is considering a future in Formula 1, its Australian division is lobbying internally for the brand to develop a global road car performance arm to rival established names such as Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Local executives want to work with BYD’s headquarters in China on a performance-focused sub-brand, although any such plans remain at an early stage.
BYD Australia chief product officer Sajid Hasan said the idea of a performance division is already on the radar, but stressed it would need to be developed as part of a broader international strategy rather than a standalone Australian program.
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“It is one of my to-do lists to work with HQ on a performance brand strategy,” Hasan said.
“This is a really big topic, but it’s not something that we should just do in isolation in Australia. It has to be done at a global level. All successful OEM performance brands are led by the home market.”
He added that a locally developed program without global backing would lack the engineering depth and credibility required to compete with established performance divisions.
“I don’t think it would be a good use of our time to try and do something for Australia that was only for Australia and didn’t reflect in other markets. It wouldn’t have the proper product if it was just done locally.”
While BYD has demonstrated its engineering capability at the extreme end of performance through its Yangwang brand – including the quad-motor U9 electric supercar – it has yet to establish a mainstream performance division comparable to rivals such as Hyundai N, Ford Performance or Gazoo Racing.
Hasan emphasised that any future performance models would need to go beyond cosmetic upgrades.
“We’re not about sticker packs and wheels. If we do a performance grade, it’s going to be credible and authentic.”
Potential candidates for a performance push could include vehicles already within BYD’s expanding global line-up. The Seal 06 GT electric hot hatch (pictured top) has been identified as a natural fit, although it is currently only produced in left-hand drive.
“I actually think that would be a fantastic addition to the line-up,” Hasan said. “It is something that I’ve tried pushing, but it’s only available in left-hand drive at the moment.”
A more extreme version of the Shark 6 ute has also been suggested as a possible rival to high-performance off-roaders such as the Ford Ranger Raptor, particularly given the strong acceleration benefits delivered by electrified powertrains.
Beyond road cars, Hasan indicated that any performance sub-brand would likely be linked to motorsport to help build credibility and transfer technology into production vehicles.
“It probably should be tied back to some motorsport or competitive racing,” he said. “So that technology that’s innovative and pushing boundaries is flowing down to the road car.”
The discussion comes amid broader speculation about BYD’s potential interest in Formula 1, although no formal plans have been confirmed.
