BYD's Ferrari rival confirmed for UK launch in 2027

BYD’s Ferrari-rivalling Yangwang brand will enter the UK, but not until 2027, according to the firm’s Europe chief.

The Chinese giant will launch its Denza brand in Britain next year with a three-car line-up designed to take on premium rivals such as Porsche and Audi – and the more extreme Yangwang will follow soon after.

Stella Li, BYD’s vice-chairman and Europe boss, said the push to bring both brands to the UK comes because it is one of the “leading countries for premium car sales, and so is very important for our Denza brand – and very important for Yangwang in the future”.

According to Li, the decision to wait until 2027 to launch Yangwang in the UK was to ensure it would be able to compete from the off. She said: “We need to build up the team [for the UK]. We need to build up the foundation. And we will do that step by step.”

The brand was launched in 2023 with the Yangwang U8 - a huge range-extender luxury SUV that packs more than 1000bhp, outpaces the BMW M3, can turn 360deg on the spot and floats on water. 

That was followed shortly after by the U9, an electric supercar that cracks 240mph and can use its fully hydraulic suspension to jump on the spot or drive on three wheels. 

Both cars have been on sale in China for around two years, priced at the equivalent of £120,000 and £200,000 respectively.

Li previously said the U8 and U9 are earmarked for European sale, as well as "more cars coming" including the U7 super-saloon – a quad-motor Lotus Emeya rival with 1250bhp and 1237lb ft for a 0-62mph time of 2.9sec. 

BYD also has a burgeoning electric van range in China and Li hinted that could also be introduced to the UK in the near-future, given the lucrative business opportunities.