BYD’s Australian dealers keeping pace with rapid growth

BYD insists its Australian dealer network is ready to handle the brand’s ballooning sales and rapidly expanding model range, but acknowledges the growing challenge of training staff and finding more showroom space.

Since launching locally in 2022, the Chinese automaker has surged up the Australian sales charts, finishing second only to Toyota in each of the past three months.

Over the same period, its local range has expanded from one models to 12, spanning compact hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs, a wagon and a dual-cab ute.

To support that growth, BYD has established more than 100 sales and service locations across all eight states and territories, with dozens more due to open.

But last year it resorted to stockpiling unsold cars at a New South Wales fun park and, more recently, compensate affected buyers up to $3500 following a build-date debacle, amid reports of growing pains at retail level.

However, BYD Australia chief product officer Sajid Hasan says the brand's dealer network is prepared for both a growing model range and rising sales volumes.

“It is a challenge, particularly the training element,” Mr Hasan told CarExpert at the launch of the new Seal 6 Touring.

“The broader the product range, the harder it is to embed all of that training and roll it out.

“But, yeah, absolutely, they’re ready for it. They’re crying out for it. I haven’t heard anyone say 'stop giving us new products'.

“In terms of showroom space and things like that, of course that’s something they would need to manage.

“Not every vehicle needs to be displayed on the floor. Our dealers are experienced enough to work out what model mix appeals to their customers, which vehicles are best to display, and whether that selection should rotate or change seasonally.”

The model range is expected to grow further over the coming months, with BYD set to launch two new nameplates – the M9 people mover and V9 commercial van – by the end of 2026.

BYD delivered a record 18,881 vehicles in June, finishing just 243 units behind Toyota and more than doubling the result of third-placed Ford.

The company has now sold almost 140,000 vehicles in Australia since entering this market just four years ago, based on sales data to the end of June, and is on track to reach its current publicly stated short-term goal of becoming a top-three auto brand this year.

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