Taking EVs into Japan
BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of new-energy vehicles (NEVs), took centre stage at the Japan Mobility Show.
The company exhibited five NEV models along with an array of advanced technologies.
The occasion marked BYD as not only the first Chinese carmaker to participate at the event, but also “underscores the Japanese market’s evolving inclination towards vehicle electrification”.
At the event, the BYD Seal, a pure-electric sporty sedan, caught the spotlight. Set for its Japanese launch in spring 2024, it was a focal point.
Adding to the excitement, Yangwang, which is BYD’s premium electric sub-brand, showcased its inaugural model, the U8, on its first display outside of China.
“This innovative model flaunted a tank-turn at the event, enchanting audiences with its pioneering technologies, superior craftsmanship and futuristic design,” according to the company.
Meanwhile, Denza, another subsidiary of BYD, showcased its high-end luxury MPV, the D9.
It was on July 21, 2022, that BYD entered the Japanese passenger-vehicle market and has since rapidly developed there, it says.
BYD now operates 15 showrooms across major cities, such as Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, and it plans to open 100 showrooms by the end of 2025, anticipating Japan’s surging demand for NEVs.
“For 28 years, we have been unwavering in our commitment to technological innovations and our green dream,” says Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD Asia-Pacific’s automotive sales division.
“We’re striving to align diverse lifestyles with eco-conscious choices. With Japanese consumers by our side, we are promoting the adoption of EV products and technology, aiming to make electric vehicles the essential vehicle in people’s daily lives, and to pioneer the transition to sustainable mobility.”
Atsuki Tofukuji, president of BYD Auto Japan, introduced the line-up on show at Tokyo’s Big Sight with a spotlight on Seal’s Japanese launch next year.
He underscored the marque’s commitment to innovation, pointing to technologies, such as the CTB technology, the e Platform and the DiSus intelligent body-control system among others. Tofukuji also conveyed BYD’s aim to provide the Japanese market with more diverse NEV options in the future.
As of September 2023, BYD had achieved global sales of more than 5.4 million NEVs to rank it as this sector’s top brand. Its global reach extends across six continents, covering some 400 cities in more than 70 countries and regions.
