Whether the Australian market sways towards plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles, BYD's local arm believes it will be ready.
Electric Cars
BYD Australia believes customers will ultimately decide which electrification powertrain is right for them, fielding both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to cover its bases.
Speaking to Drive, BYD Australia boss Stephen Collins said there is “no concern” which way the market ultimately sways in terms of electrified powertrain choice.
“I think at the end of the day, consumers are going to decide [whether BEVs or PHEVs prove more popular],” Collins said.
“What we're seeing now, and what we see in the foreseeable future, is that there's distinct customers who want full EV, but there's a distinct chunk of customers who are really happy with the experience they get that plug-in hybrid provides.
“I think that we're in a fortunate position with BYD in that, if there's an accelerated shift to full EV, I think we're in probably the best position of many to capitalise on that.
“I still think we have a big education piece, particularly on plug-in or probably on both.
“I think there's a general lack of understanding to what benefits it brings – I can't see that going away anytime soon.”
To the end of October, BYD has amassed a 41,882-unit sales tally – split 19,248 and 22,634 between EVs and PHEVs respectively, although the Atto 1 (Australia’s cheapest new all-electric model), Atto 2, Sealion 5, and Sealion 8 are yet to start deliveries to customers.
In contrast, overall EV sales in Australia are drastically outpacing PHEV figures, with 83,805 sales playing 42,797, largely thanks to the popularity of the Tesla Model Y (17,972 sales year-to-date).
Collins said BYD’s sales are skewed compared to the overall market due to the popularity of the Shark 6 – the first plug-in ute offered in Australia – but PHEVs will remain relevant for a long while yet.
“Right now, I think [the majority] of our volume – and it's probably dominated a lot by Shark – is plug in,” Collins said.
“But Sealion 7 is a really good example of really strong uptake on a full EV that, I think, ticks a lot of boxes.
“I think plug-ins in the foreseeable future are a great solution for a lot of people and we're seeing that.”
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Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
