Local tuning is conducted on every new BYD model before its Australian-market introduction, according to the Chinese brand.
China’s BYD has taken a page out of rivals' playbooks and will use an Australian team of engineers to tweak and tune models to better suit local conditions.
The engineering team – based in Melbourne and Sydney – comprises 25 individuals who look at both hardware and software adjustments before cars are put on sale and delivered to customers.
“Every BYD model currently on sale in Australia has received local engineering treatment and all future models will continue to do so,” a BYD spokesperson told Drive.
While almost all manufacturers have a degree of localisation – to ensure radio station frequencies are correct, for example – BYD’s software team also tweaks advanced driver safety assistance systems (ADAS) and connected services to ensure they function correctly in Australia.
“We aim for quarterly over-the-air updates that will not only improve the vehicle but also to introduce new features, all while being completely free to the customer,” said the spokesperson.
For example, when the Atto 3, Seal, and Dolphin first arrived in Australia from 2022, they were missing wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity, a feature that was patched last year via an over-the-air update.
The rotating infotainment touchscreen also scored new shortcuts that allows three-finger swiping to adjust temperature and fan speed, alleviating the difficulty of using the touch-only controls while driving.
As for the hardware team, BYD ensures a degree of suspension, chassis, and powertrain adaptation for Australian conditions.
“We are constantly improving and adapting the suspension for Australian road conditions,” said the spokesperson.
The most obvious example of local engineering is found in the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute, which undertook extreme environment testing in the lead up to the car’s launch late last year.
“Durability testing of the Shark saw it cover over 40,000km of Australian terrain,” said the BYD spokesperson.
“We had to make sure the Shark was going to perform in all conditions – rain or shine. The Shark has been to every available proving ground across Australia, Alice Springs in the middle of summer, Simpson Desert, Broken Hill, Toolangi, Yarra Ranges, Mount Kosciuszko – just to name a few.”
Other models in the BYD stable include the Sealion 6 and Sealion 7, while more vehicles – including a sub-Dolphin electric car that may to be the most affordable in Australia – are on their way as the Chinese brand has ambitions to become a major automotive player.
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