News analysis
In this issue
Above: BYD had a packed stand at Geneva, including the Seal U DM-i. BYD: Seal U DM-i
Chinese brand BYD – or Build Your Dreams – now sells more cars worldwide than Tesla and started official UK car imports in 2023. With a credible-looking electrified range courtesy of an ex-Alfa and Audi man as head of design, each new iteration of BYD’s range appears more confident than the last. Hot on the heels of the Atto 3 (compact crossover), Dolphin (small hatchback) and Seal (family fastback saloon) comes the Seal U DM-i, which on account of the extra ‘U for Utility’ is slightly confusingly also the name of the brand’s mid-size SUV. The ‘DM’ part stands for Dual Mode and is an evolution of its plug-in hybrid technology which utilises a 107hp 1.5-litre petrol engine twinned with an electric motor, but is engineered to prioritise electric driving.
Yangwang: U8
BYD’s luxury sub-brand Yangwang – already on sale in China with its large and imposing 5.3-metre-long U8 SUV – could also come to Europe. Channelling upmarket rugged Land Rover Defender and Mercedes G-Wagen exterior style, alongside sumptuous Bentley-esque
interiors, it was a surprise addition to the BYD stand and features clever four- electric motor tech which can make left and right wheels spin in different directions to allow 360-degree ‘tank-style’ turns. UK market entry is yet to be confirmed but shows BYD’s increasing aspiration.
Lucid: Air & Gravity
US-designed and developed, Lucid is pitched as an all-electric premium-luxury brand without some of the controversy that surrounds Tesla. It has been quietly impressing US customers since its first Air sports sedan model went on sale in late 2021 with slick looks, lighting-quick acceleration and long range. Now in Switzerland, Holland and Norway – with Germany to follow this year – the Air Pure offers 464 miles of range while the Air Sapphire model can sprint from 0-62mph in two seconds. The large seven-seat Gravity SUV also gained its European unveil in Geneva, boasting a very refined cabin, three rows of interior seating and a ‘two-person frunk seat’ where the engine would normally live. Right-hand drive models to the UK are still some way off, but could be from 2026.
Below: Lucid's Air Pure will offer some 464 miles of electric range. I hope you enjoy the issue.
Martyn Collins Business Car Editor
This month Jack queries the lack of bosses in fleet sales, falling from 20 pre-pandemic to now 13 across manufacturers. There’s no doubt the pandemic has played its part, but I can remember regular catch-ups with the fleet bosses of all the manufacturers, even during the first lockdown - it was a good way to keep up with the brand and their fleet activity. Yet, as we’ve got back to our new ‘normal,’ more and more of them have moved on – with no communication as to who is taking over, or whose responsibility it is to look after fleet. As Jack says, this isn’t true of all brands, but it does seem odd considering fleet is driving EV sales in the UK rather than retail. No one would blame the manufacturer for their focus on retail after the uncertainty of the pandemic – but as the SMMT sales figures bear out, perhaps it’s time for the OEMs to take another look at priorities? After all, it seems a relationship with those in charge of fleet sales equals more vehicles sold in the long term. Check out his feature on P24. Finally, it is my pleasure to announce that the Business Car Awards are back for 2024. Where we will once again be celebrating the fleet industry’s best and brightest, with entries open now and the glittering awards ceremony taking place at the Hilton, London Bankside, on Thursday 19 September. For more details check out P14.
www.businesscar.co.uk | March 2024 | 7
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