BYD to reveal new seven-seat EV and ‘tank-turning’ luxury SUV at Geneva

February 15, 2024 Matt Allan

China’s BYD will unveil a host of new models at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, including an electric seven-seater and a high-tech luxury SUV under its Yangwang sub-brand.

The show gets underway on Tuesday February 27 and BYD will join brands including Renault, MG and Lucid in previewing upcoming models.

At the heart of its latest product offering is a new version of the BYD Tang, the firm’s all-electric seven-seat SUV. The Tang has previously been on sale in China and Norway but the updated model will be launched in mainland Europe this year. It will challenge the Kia EV9 in the family-friendly large SUV segment, offering seven seats, all-wheel-drive and up to 330 miles of range.

BYD will also premiere a plug-in hybrid version of the Seal U SUV at this year’s show. The “dual mode” version is intended for European countries with less well developed charging infrastructure and will sit alongside the all-electric Seal U, which is due in the UK later this year.

As well as displaying models scheduled for release this year, BYD will be testing public reaction to two sub-brands with a view to bringing them to Europe in future.

First up is its Yangwang sub-brand, showing off its latest model, the U8.

Yangwang is BYD’s self-proclaimed “supreme luxury” spin-off and the high-tech U8 SUV showcases the firm’s very latest e4 platform. This is the world’s first mass-produced four-motor platform, featuring individual motors at each wheel and adaptive independent suspension. BYD says the setup allows the most precise control of all four wheels through torque vectoring and even allows for on-the-spot “tank turns” thanks to independent control of each motor. There is no word on whether Yangwang will definitely come to Europe but the platform hints at BYD’s plans for future models.

Alongside Yangway, BYD’s Denza brand – a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz – will also be in attendance with two models currently on sale in other parts of the world. The D9 is a premium seven-seat MPV which bosses have previously hinted could come to the UK. Powered by either an all-electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain, the D9 could become a competitor to the Lexus LM and Volvo EM90. Denza’s second model is the N7, a mid-sized electric crossover built on the same platform as the BYD Seal and offering a choice of rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive.