The ultra-luxury electric vehicle market has a new competitor as BYD’s Yangwang U7 sedan hit the market on Thursday, priced lower than originally anticipated.
The U7 boasts impressive performance metrics, including nearly 1,300 horsepower generated by four electric motors. It is loaded with smart technology and premium features. Pricing for the five-seat version of the U7 starts at 628,000 yuan ($87,700), while the four-seater begins at 708,000 yuan ($94,300).
BYD is expanding rapidly into new automotive segments. Although the company is known for more affordable electric vehicles like the $10,000 Seagull EV sold in China, the launch of the Yangwang brand in early 2023 signaled its intent to compete with established ultra-luxury automakers like Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz.
The first vehicle from Yangwang, the U8 off-road SUV, debuted in September 2023 with a starting price of approximately $150,000 (1,098,000 yuan). The Yangwang U9 electric supercar followed last year, with a starting price of $233,400 (1,680,000 yuan) and a performance profile that outpaces a Ferrari.
On Thursday, the Yangwang U7, BYD’s first ultra-luxury EV sedan, officially launched. The U7 has four electric motors capable of producing up to 1,287 horsepower (960 kW). That enables it to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in just 2.9 seconds.
At 5,265 mm long, 1,998 mm wide, and 1,517 mm tall, the U7 is slightly larger than Porsche’s Panamera. Similar to the U9 supercar, the luxury sedan incorporates the DiSus-Z body control system, which can stabilize the vehicle in the event of a tire blowout.
The U7 is equipped with BYD’s advanced driving assistance system, “God’s Eye.” This uses three Lidars, five radars, 13 high-definition cameras, and 12 ultrasonic radars to provide Level 2 self-driving capabilities. Expected features include Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) functionality.
Powering the luxury sedan is a 135.5 kWh BYD Blade battery, providing a CLTC range of up to 720 km (447 miles). Furthermore, the U7 can charge from 30% to 80% in under 20 minutes using DC fast-charging at speeds up to 500 kW.
The interior of the Yangwang U7 echoes the design of the U8, featuring a “Star Ring Cockpit” layout. It also integrates BYD’s DiLink smart cockpit system and DeepSeek AI. The interior includes a 12.8-inch curved center screen, a 23-inch instrument display, and 6-inch passenger entertainment screens.
The U7 is offered in both electric and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants.
