6 Minutes
Success can create its own headache. That is exactly where BYD finds itself as the Chinese car giant pushes back the official launch of its new Datang electric SUV after preorder demand climbed past 100,000 units.
The delay says plenty. In a market flooded with new EVs, very few models generate this kind of frenzy before they even reach full release. But the Datang, a large three row electric SUV positioned at the top of BYD’s lineup, has clearly struck a nerve with buyers looking for space, speed, range, and unusually fast charging in one package.
BYD first pulled the wraps off the model at the Beijing Auto Show, where it quickly became one of the event’s breakout stars. The company said it collected more than 30,000 orders within the first 24 hours of opening reservations. That early burst was not a one day spike. According to Lu Tian, general manager of BYD’s Dynasty series, preorder volume has now moved beyond 100,000 as momentum continues to build.
Originally, the Datang was expected to launch by the end of May. Local dealer reports cited by Chinese media now point to a new date of June 8, with BYD needing extra time to respond to demand that has run ahead of production plans. CEO Wang Chuanfu had already warned that vehicles using the brand’s latest Blade Battery 2.0 technology were selling faster than the company could build them.
That is not hard to understand once you look at the numbers. In China, the Datang starts from around €34,000, which feels aggressively priced for a full size premium electric SUV. Its dimensions put it slightly above rivals such as the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Kia EV9, measuring 5,263 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width, and 1,790 mm in height, with a generous 3,130 mm wheelbase.
And BYD is not pitching this as just another family hauler. The company claims the SUV brings 29 world firsts, while one of the biggest talking points is a quoted range of up to 950 km on the CLTC cycle. Real world results will almost certainly land lower, as usual, but even allowing for the optimistic Chinese test standard, the headline figure is enough to grab attention fast.
The charging story may be even more important.
Five minutes that change the conversation
With BYD’s new Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging system onboard, the Datang can reportedly jump from 10 percent to 70 percent charge in just five minutes. A deeper top up from 10 percent to 97 percent is said to take only nine minutes. If those figures hold up outside the lab, BYD will have a serious advantage in the race to make EV charging feel less like a compromise and more like a routine fuel stop.
Powertrain options are hardly modest either. Buyers can choose between a single motor version producing 370 kW, or about 496 horsepower, and a dual motor setup delivering 585 kW, equal to roughly 784 horsepower. For a three row SUV, that is supercar territory on paper.
Inside, BYD has gone all in on screens and showroom drama. The dashboard stretches across the cabin with a three screen layout, while rear passengers get a large roof mounted entertainment display that folds down when needed. The seating arrangement is also unusual, using a 2 plus 2 plus 3 layout, making this one of the first Chinese full size electric SUVs to lean into that format.
Technology is another major part of the pitch. The Datang comes equipped with BYD’s God’s Eye B driver assistance suite, supported by roof mounted lidar. That setup enables features such as high speed navigation assist and intelligent parking functions, both of which are becoming essential selling points in China’s increasingly competitive EV market.
BYD is also adding a short term incentive to keep orders flowing before the official launch, offering 18 months of free charging to customers who reserve the SUV early. It is the kind of sweetener that can turn curiosity into commitment, especially when a model is already generating this much buzz.
The Datang is not an isolated case, either. BYD’s latest battery and charging hardware is drawing strong interest across its wider portfolio. The new Song Ultra EV, which also uses Blade Battery 2.0, reportedly secured more than 60,000 orders in its first month. That model is offered in four trims, priced up to about €23,500, with battery options of 68.4 kWh and 82.7 kWh and CLTC range claims of 605 km and 710 km.
All of it points to the same broader story. BYD is no longer just launching electric cars at speed. It is now dealing with the harder problem every fast growing automaker wants to have: not how to attract buyers, but how to build enough vehicles to satisfy them.
For the Datang, the postponed launch is less a warning sign than a signal of just how hot this flagship electric SUV has become before its first full day on sale.
Comments
mechbyte
wow BYD went full sci fi with that charging claim!! 950 km range? 784 hp in a 3 row SUV? Sign me up if chargers exist, but still crazy value for €34k, no?
Tomas
Is this even real? 10 to 70% in 5 mins sounds like lab magic. Battery wear, chargers, grid limits... if that’s true, wow but skeptical need real world tests
Leave a Comment