BYD Automotive is taking control of its Australian operations from July 2025, dropping EVDirect as its local distributor.
EVDirect will remain involved with the Chinese brand, however, through a minority stake in its retail joint venture with Eagers Automotive Limited, called EVDealer Group.
It has a 20 per cent stake in this joint venture, with Eagers holding 80 per cent. EVDirect CEO David Smitherman will serve as CEO of the joint venture.
BYD Australia and Eagers have signed a term sheet for a new five-year dealer agreement, with an option for a further five-year term.
This term sheet is subject to finalisation of formal documentation between the joint venture and BYD Australia.
Not only does this move preserve the current network of retail and service locations, but it also allows Eagers to expand its retail footprint for the BYD brand, provided BYD Australia approves.
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“This transition is consistent with BYD’s continued global reach into key strategic markets and will strengthen the brand’s capabilities in Australia by leveraging BYD’s global resourcing and expertise,” Eagers Automotive said in a press release.
In its own press release, EVDirect said the move comes a year ahead of schedule.
“Now is the time to further unlock BYD’s immense potential for Australian drivers,” said Luke Todd, chairman and founder of EVDirect and incoming executive chairman of EVDealer Group.
“Phase One proved the BYD brand would thrive here; Phase Two will make new-energy vehicle ownership easier and more accessible than ever,” he added, with EVDirect noting it intends to offer customers more retail locations, shorter wait times, and enhanced after-sales support.
“As the inaugural importer, EVDirect is extremely proud of the role it has played in the launch of BYD into the Australian market, overseeing what has been one of the most successful new car brand launches in Australian history,” added Mr Todd.
“As a team we are extremely proud of what’s been achieved and even more excited by the future as our team reposition into a new role that will help catapult the BYD brand further, right across Australia.”
We’ve contacted BYD Australia for comment.
The BYD brand has grown rapidly in Australia, after an uncertain start.
BYD e6 vehicles had previously been distributed in limited numbers under Carbridge and Nexport, companies run by Luke Todd.
The T3 electric van was also offered here in limited numbers in 2021.
But it was the launch of the Atto 3 in 2022 that put BYD on the map with Australian new car buyers, with the small-to-medium electric SUV aimed at the heart of the local EV market.
Initially offered only through its website, EVDirect subsequently announced in 2022 plans to sell BYD vehicles through Eagers dealers and have them additionally able to be serviced at Mycar locations.
EVDirect and Eagers established a 51:49 joint venture retail partnership, which in 2023 shifted to a 20:80 split.
The local distributor has long stated aggressive goals for the Australian market, saying back in 2022 and 2023 it wanted to be a top five brand. Even as recently as this year, Mr Todd said BYD could overtake Toyota as soon as 2027 in Australia.
Last year, BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, including 14,260 electric vehicles (EVs) and 6198 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which was enough to make it our market’s second best-selling EV brand and the second best-selling PHEV brand.
Overall, it was the market’s 17th best-selling brand in 2024.
The move to in-house distribution will see BYD join other Chinese brands such as MG, GWM/Haval, Chery/Jaecoo and Geely.
Chinese brands that use a third-party distributor include LDV (Ateco), Deepal and Foton (Inchcape), and Xpeng (TrueEV).
There’s also Leapmotor, which leverages Stellantis retail locations through the Leapmotor International joint venture with the European/American giant.
BYD will not only be distributing vehicles under its namesake brand, but also under its premium Denza brand, which is due on our shores this year.
