The selected buyers of the BYD model did not expect this: that is, receiving the keys personally from the company's bosses. This happened recently at SCS in Vösendorf. On the way to the 91st Geneva Motor Show, this year's 2019 took place in Luxbo for the first time after the pandemic interruption, but on a much smaller scale, Vienna and Wössendorf were the last stops for the important guests. BYD CEO and founder Wang Xuanfu and his European boss Michael Shu visited Austrian importer Denzel and its showroom.
“Being close to customers and dealers is very important to Mr. Wang,” said Denzel CEO Gregor Strauss. So it's no surprise that select customers get the keys to their new BYD from Wang.
BYD will position itself as a volume brand in Austria, precisely because we stand for more affordable e-mobility than any other manufacturer and already offer a high-tech e-car in every segment at a comparable combustion engine price! BYD Austria Managing Director Danijel Dzihic
The young importer was selected as the best bidder in the tender of the Federal Procurement Commission, and Straussl did not understand that some businessmen and politicians were upset that they would deliver up to 640 electric cars in the next few years: “We had creative discussions with our guests about what plant should be built in Szeged. We heard that we could hand over the goods to Austrian companies. This creates an opportunity for many domestic companies to do business with BYD. Such an initiative should not really come from us, but from the political side,” explained Straussl in an NÖN interview.
The group, which started as a battery maker and will overtake Tesla as the world's largest electric car maker in 2023, will be represented in the Denzel family in Austria from the end of 2022. The entry from 2023 with three models was fantastic: 1,024 new entries for a newcomer were pretty impressive. “Our goal is to double by 2024,” says local BYD managing director Danijel Džić. This is very realistic, because the Atto 3, Han, Tang, Dolphin and Seal now have (launching in the second quarter of 2024) a model with an alternative: the Seal U (the U stands for usability).
Label the U as a plug-in hybrid
In addition to the two electric versions (72 and 87 kWh battery), there will also be two plug-in hybrid variants, with rear or top row all-wheel drive, although Dzihic makes it clear that imports are the last word. is not yet available. But at least: even at BYD (“Build Your Dreams”), combustion engine dreams aren't quite over yet.
European boss Shu explains why in an interview with members of the pan-European “Autobest” jury: “90 percent of our customers want purely electric models, but we want to serve the other ten percent. In addition, charging infrastructure in some countries or regions is not yet at the desired level. .” BYD is currently on the market in 19 countries in Europe. For example, in Switzerland, the Chinese are just starting. “We are clearly following a two-way strategy,” says Shu. He also confirms that they want to find partners in Hungary: “We will discuss with local suppliers soon.”
Shu, a chemist, is not worried about whether there will be EU customs barriers for Chinese imported cars: “We produce in Hungary in the EU.”
Back to the model range: The Sealed U as a plug-in hybrid is aptly called DMi (Dual Mode Intelligent) and is said to offer an electric range of up to 115 kilometers. “This makes a total range of up to 1,000 kilometers possible,” stresses Shu.
D9: BYD subsidiary Denza offers a sedan with an interior that rivals the Mercedes Maybach. And the Denza D9's massive grill lights up at night.
Photo:
Tenza
U8: BYD's luxury brand Yangwang impresses even die-hard Land Rover fans with this bulwark. Four electric engines total nearly 1,200 hp!
Photo:
Yangwang
At BYD, the expansion of the range into the upper segments has been going on for a long time: with the sub-brand Densa (with plug-in variants) they want to play in the premium sector, and even in the luxury environment with Yangwang. While the Denza N7 is a fully electric SUV, the D9 is an electric or hybrid seven-seat van. Both are due to arrive in Europe in the next twelve months. Yangwang starts with the giant SUV U8, which can “swim” and turn while stationary, as well as the sporty U9. Yangwang's market launch in Europe is still open.
BYD importer Denzel now has 28 dealers with 30 sites under contract. The remaining “white spots” are the city of Salzburg and St. Bolton, but the Austrian boss Dzihic is confident that these state capitals can be covered soon.
