BYD unveils $230K supercar, $14K hatchback in same week

But BYD, backed by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, is more versatile than many might realize. The carmaker produces not only ultra-affordable vehicles, but also models all along the price spectrum. 

That includes luxury models, such as those under its Yangwang brand. This weekend, BYD officially launched the Yangwang U9, a high-end electric sports car designed to rival Ferrari and Lamborghini. 

The vehicle—priced at 1.68 million yuan ($233,450)—can reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.36 seconds and reach a top speed of 309.19 km/h, the company said. It can also spin in place and enter dance mode, as videos posted on social media showed.

BYD officially launched its pure electric flagship sports car, the YANGWANG U9, today.

Its air suspension system offers a wide range of dance modes, while the adoption of four electric motors allows it to spin in place. pic.twitter.com/IHhhTKDCSW

— Yan Chang (@cyfoxcat) February 25, 2024

The car will be available only in China for now, though traders taking advantage of a loophole have been selling luxury Chinese EVs to overseas customers who view them as status symbols—even in markets where they’re not yet officially available.

On the other end of the spectrum, BYD unveiled this week a lower-priced version of its popular Dolphin hatchback. In 2023, BYD sold 367,419 Dolphin models, up 79% from the previous year. The new version’s starting price is $13,865.

Elon Musk’s ‘highly competitive’ EV rival

Of course, BYD needs to do more than produce a wide range of vehicle types to survive. It faces price wars, a saturated market, and slower EV growth within China. And as it…