After gaining significant traction in the big population centres, the next focus for BYD in Australia will be regional and rural communities, says the brand’s local boss, Stephen Collins.

It’s been a strong two years for BYD in Australia. As it sits at the launch of the manufacturer’s latest iteration of the BYD Shark 6, BYD is the number one EV brand in Australia, the number one Chinese OEM in Australia, and occupies first, second and third position on the plug-in hybrid sales charts. Its Sealion 7 also sits in the number two position for electric vehicles overall.

“I’ll be disappointed if we don’t finish somewhere near the top three OEMs at the end of 2026,” Collins told WhichCar by Wheels. “I’m not out there saying that we’re here to knock off Toyota or here to be number one… but I think we’ve shown in the last few months that we can certainly be well and truly in the top five, if not the top three. And that’s where I want to be by the end of the year.”

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Since launch, BYD has sold more than 24,000 Shark 6 PHEVs, with that number set to climb thanks to the introduction of a cab-chassis and Performance variant to take the range to three models. However, tied in to a strengthening of the dealer network – the manufacturer had less than 50 in 2024 and will have 150 by the end of 2026 – is a key presence in rural and regional Australia. It’s something the boss of BYD in Australia thinks is critical to continued success.

Given BYD has made such significant inroads into the dual-cab segment in the cities, it follows that the outer urban and regional areas are the next opportunity for a brand well on the march in this country.

“One hundred per cent it’s an opportunity, but it’s also about supporting rural communities,” Collins said. “When I was a kid, I was Melbourne born and bred, but I was up at my grandparents’ place in the Riverina all the time. So I understand the connection to community and supporting rural communities, and that’s what we’re going be trying to do. We’re trying to do more of that with our corporate social responsibility, as well.”

In that sense, the growth into regional areas isn’t just about sales figures on a spread sheet. Rural buyers have deep connections to dealers, service centres and the vehicles they choose to buy. And, it’s why brands like Toyota, that have been building in those regional areas for decades, have such a head start.

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“So it’s not just about selling cars,” Collins said. “A lot of the vehicles we have coming on the vessel that’s on its way here now, a number of those are for rural and remote communities.”

Conquering the cities is one thing, of course, with buyers more likely to be transient, but also with more access to more variety in regard to both purchase ands service.

BYD’s sales success in the cities though has delivered a loyal cohort of owners keen to spruik the product.

“I think the product speaks for itself, now, and I think the coverage of our dealer network, and now after sales support, are all key parts of that jigsaw,” Collins told WhichCar by Wheels. “So I think absolutely that’s our next real big opportunity, rural and provincial Australia.”