BYD’s new flagship EV will be its largest and most luxurious electric sedan yet, potentially debuting two firsts for the company next week: Rolls-Royce-style coach doors and solid-state batteries.
BYD teases Yangwang Altior EV ahead of Nov 5 debut
BYD is better known for its low-cost electric cars, like the Seagull, a little hatchback that sells for under $10,000 in China.
The Chinese auto giant has greatly expanded its portfolio over the past few months and years. BYD now offers everything from entry-level EVs to three-row flagship SUVs, pickup trucks, electric supercars, and just about everything in between.
BYD has three sub-brands: Denza, FangChengBao, and Yangwang. It also has two main families under the BYD brand: the Dynasty and Ocean series.
Yangwang sits at the top of BYD’s brand hierarchy and showcases its latest breakthrough technologies.
Previously, Yangwang vehicles debuted on BYD’s quad-motor e4 platform, delivering a whopping 1,300 horsepower and featuring its DiSus-X intelligent body control system, which enables the vehicle to “dance,” jump, and drive on three wheels.
For its next model, BYD is pushing further into the elite segment to take on ultra-luxury brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Mercedes-Maybach.
BYD revealed the name of its flagship ultra-luxury EV for the first time on Tuesday: the Yangwang Altior, along with a new teaser of the partially uncovered executive sedan.
Yangwang general manager Hu Xiaoqing said the name was chosen as an independent Chinese-English naming scheme. In China, it goes by DingYao. The “Ding” symbolizes stability and endurance, while “Yao” signifies radiant brilliance, or shining brightly like a star in the sky.
The English name Altior comes from Latin for “higher,” representing Yangwang’s relentless pursuit of ever-greater heights.
The new teaser comes after Hu revealed several images of the new Yangwang executive sedan testing for the first time last month.
Although it was disguised, it appeared to be about the same shape and size as the Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-Class or Rolls-Royce Phantom. Local reports indicate it will be around 5,500 mm (216″) long.
HU confirmed for the first time last week that the global launch of the new flagship sedan will take place in the UAE, not in BYD’s home market of China.
BYD has not yet revealed a specific launch date, but the Yangwang sedan could make its first appearance as early as next week. According to CarNewsChina, citing “sources familiar with the project,” BYD is aiming to reveal the new flagship model in Dubai, UAE, around November 5.
Zheng Yu, Yangwang’s executive general manager, said the new model will feature “unprecedented disruptive technology,” but didn’t reveal specifics.
Although details are still limited, the ultra-luxury sedan was shown at BYD’s Flash Charging station, suggesting it will support megawatt flash charging.
It also features rear-hinged coach doors, a first for BYD. The flagship EV will reportedly be the first to feature BYD’s solid-state batteries.
BYD executive vice president Stella Li said during an interview with Carwow.es last month that the company’s first vehicle to use solid-state batteries will debut in 2027.
Li said BYD is “in the leading position” in solid-state battery technology and its commercialization, and the company plans to prove it next year.
BYD’s battery unit, FinDreams, plans to begin production of sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries in 2027. It will initially be produced in limited batches, then scale to mass production closer to the end of the decade.
While BYD has yet to confirm it, introducing the new battery tech in a flagship model would make sense.
The executive sedan is expected to debut around November 5. Prices are rumored to start in the 2 million yuan range, or about $300,000.
Yangwang’s current electric sedan, the U7, starts at 658,000 yuan ($98,000). The brand also sells the U8 (and U8L), a plug-in hybrid luxury off-road SUV, and the U9, a fully electric super-coupe.
The extended U8L is Yangwang’s highest-priced mass-produced vehicle, starting at 1.45 million yuan ($217,000).
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