BYD's 1300HP Luxury EV Sedan Is Here – And Australia Won't See It For Years (Here's Why)

Let’s be brutally honest: Australia is always last in line for cutting-edge EVs. While China gets BYD’s new 1,287HP Yangwang U7 luxury EV sedan – a Porsche Panamera rival at half the price – we’re stuck waiting. Again. And if history repeats, we’ll be lucky to see it before 2026.

Why the Yangwang U7 Should Make Aussie EV Fans Furious

This isn’t just another premium EV. The U7 is BYD’s statement to Tesla and Mercedes:

• 1,287HP from four electric motors (0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds)

• Level 2+ autonomy with triple LiDAR and BYD’s "God’s Eye" ADAS

• DiSus-Z stabilization that corrects blowouts at highway speeds

• PHEV and pure-EV variants starting at $87,700 USD

Yet despite these specs, BYD’s Australian arm hasn’t even hinted at a local launch. Why?

Yangwang U7 luxury sedan - 1287HP from four electric motors

The Three Reasons Australia Always Lags

1. Right-Hand Drive Tax

   BYD prioritises left-hand drive markets (China, Europe) first. The U7’s platform isn’t RHD-ready, and with Australia’s tiny EV market share (just 8.1% of new car sales), retrofitting isn’t profitable yet.

2. Population vs. Profit

   Australia’s 26 million people can’t compete with China’s 1.4 billion. BYD sold 4.2 million vehicles globally in 2024 – allocating stock here is an afterthought.

3. Regulatory Speed Bumps

   ADR certification, charging standards, and safety tests add 12-18 months to launches. The U8 SUV still isn’t here despite a 2023 Chinese debut.

   
   
   
   

What’s the biggest barrier to Australia getting cutting-edge EVs?

• Right-hand drive production delays
• We're a small, irrelevant market (low priority)
• Low government approvals
• All of the above

Cold hard truth: Unless you’re buying a Tesla or Hyundai, Australia gets tech leftovers.

What the U7 Means for BYD’s Global Ambitions

This sedan proves BYD can out-engineer legacy brands:

• DiLink AI cockpit with 23-inch displays

• 800V architecture (faster charging than current Aussie BYDs)

• PHEV version at 3.8L/100km – perfect for our fuel-reliant highways

Yet while China enjoys sub-$90K luxury, we’re still begging for basic EV rest stops on the Hume Highway.

Will We Ever Get the U7?

BYD Australia’s focus is on mass-market models (Atto 3, Seal). Their 2025 roadmap hints at a seven-seat SUV, not a $150K+ halo car. Even the Han L sedan – a U7-lite – isn’t confirmed despite spy shots.

Prediction: Earliest possible U7 arrival? Late 2026 – if we’re lucky. (in other words, "don't hold your breath")