BYD to take over EV distribution in Australia
The news about the split with its previous national distributor was first reported by the Australian portal CarSauce. It reports that the new structure will see BYD Australia manage national distribution, while the retail network will be overseen by the newly formed EV Dealer Group (EVDG). This entity includes the current EV Direct management and will work alongside Eagers Automotive, which remains a key retail partner.
“Phase One proved the BYD brand would thrive here; Phase Two will make new-energy vehicle ownership easier and more accessible than ever,” Luke Todd, founder of EV Direct and incoming Executive Chairman of EVDG, told Australian portal The Driven.
Since entering the Australian market, EV Direct has delivered over 50,000 new energy vehicles, including the Atto 3, Dolphin, and Seal. In 2024, BYD launched the Sealion 6 PHEV and Shark 6 PHEV ute, followed by the Essentials range in early 2025, offering lower-priced EV variants. February saw the arrival of the Sealion 7 electric SUV.
In parallel, BYD is expanding its presence in the rideshare sector. In 2024, the company signed a multi-year global deal with Uber to deploy 100,000 electric vehicles across key markets, including Australia. Locally, BYD and Uber have already partnered to offer special leasing and financing rates on 10,000 Atto 3 units.
BYD’s move to take over its own EV sales in Australia is expected to expand BYD’s retail footprint, improve service capacity, and accelerate delivery times. And this is not the first time the Chinese carmaker has taken that route – in 2024, it took over direct access to dealers in Germany, after being increasingly dissatisfied with the performance of its previous importer Hedin.
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