BYD Yangwang U7 deliveries start

BYD, the undisputed giant in the world of electric vehicles, has officially begun deliveries of the Yangwang U7, the latest creation from its ultra-luxury sub-brand.

The large electric sedan is rolling into showrooms across China, aiming to carve out a slice of the premium EV pie. It is the clearest intent yet from BYD to expand its dominance in the mass market and to challenge established luxury players.

The Yangwang U7 commands a presence through its sheer dimensions alone. Measuring 207.3 inches long, 78.7 inches wide, and 59.7 inches tall, it sits right between BMW i7 and i5. The long wheelbase of 124.4 inches promises a spacious interior, which comes in both four-seat and five-seat layouts. This flexibility extends to the powertrain, as the U7 is available as a fully battery electric vehicle (BEV) or as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

Yangwang U7's e4 platform features four independent electric motors, with one dedicated to each wheel. Each motor produces a peak power of 240 kilowatts. When working in concert, they unleash a colossal total output of 960 kW (about 1,287 horsepower) and a peak torque of 1,168 lb-ft.

These are numbers typically associated with multi-million dollar hypercars, not four-door sedans. This immense power allows the large U7 to accelerate from a standstill to 62 mph in a breathtaking 2.9 seconds - a feat that could challenge your understanding of physics in a family car. Sure, it is nearly a second slower than the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra despite having almost identical power output. The difference is purely down to vehicle size and weight.

To manage the U7's performance and ensure a ride worthy of its luxury tag, BYD has fitted it with its most advanced suspension system, named DiSus-Z. The technical details are complex, but the goal is simple: provide a supremely comfortable and stable ride. The system actively manages the car's body movements, absorbing bumps and keeping the car level during hard acceleration, braking, and cornering.

The U7 starts at RMB 628,000 (approximately $87,400), placing it squarely against other domestic luxury EVs like the Nio ET9 and the Maextro S800. With the U7, BYD is leveraging its manufacturing scale and technological prowess to offer a compelling package in a segment where brand prestige has traditionally been paramount.

The U7 is the third model from the Yangwang brand, and it actually is the most affordable in the entire lineup. It joins the U8, a rugged off-road SUV priced at RMB 1,098,000, and the U9, a pure electric supercar with an even higher sticker price of RMB 1,680,000. In May, 33 units of the U7 were reportedly sold, marking the very beginning of its market journey. In the same month, the brand sold 139 vehicles in total, including 94 units of the U8 SUV and 12 of the U9 supercar. While these numbers are relatively small, Yangwang is a niche brand that was never meant to be a high-volume seller.

Via