Already the number one export market in the APAC region – and the strongest export market globally for three consecutive months in 2025 – BYD Australia has grown from being what it describes as a “blip on the radar” at the end of 2022 (with just 2113 sales) to a serious player with sales of more than 52,000 units at the end of 2025.That trajectory is one BYD Australia chief operating officer Stephen Collins said is set to escalate.

Speaking with GoAutoNews Premium at the launch of the Sealion 5 and Sealion 8 in Melbourne this week, he said the importer is investing heavily in the expansion of its dealership and servicing network, warehousing operations, customer support centers, its strategic partnerships, and in an even more extensive product portfolio to ensure no stone is left unturned in growing the brand Down Under.

“EV Direct did a seriously awesome job in establishing the BYD brand in Australia, and the decision to switch over to an OEM operation was very much about streamlining the business, which in turn has offered us a direct feed into the logistics network, into the factory, into the R&D division, into stockholding, and into the supply chain as a whole,” he said.

“The reality of the situation is that the business grew quicker than anyone imagined, and in switching over to a factory-backed operation we now have that crucially important direct line of communication (with China), and that makes us far nimbler.

Stephen Collins, BYD Australia chief operating officer

“We can make quicker decisions. We don’t have to wade through the layers that a lot of other car companies have to. This is what is helping us to grow our presence in Australia – and we’re not stopping there.”

Mr Collins said that the company recently sold its 85,000th vehicle in Australia. While growth at such unprecedented speed had presented its share of issues, the efforts of the broader BYD network have contributed to the creation of an ecosystem where BYD has been able to go toe-to-toe with more established marques more quickly than it has elsewhere. 

“We are certainly delivering growth in spades, but that’s not without its challenges. It puts pressure on the backend, it puts pressure on logistics and supply, and it puts pressure on our dealers – thankfully they have been very positive in understanding that these are issues we are working through,” he said.“The growth of our dealer network has occurred in record time and is indicative of the levels of confidence head office has, and the partnerships we have with the network as a whole.

“Of course, we still have a lot of work ahead of us, particularly in the back end. Service and parts (supply) is an area we are working very hard to improve, but we are investing in the right people, the facilities, and everything that we really should be investing in.

“It’s not easy to change quickly, and I’ve been around long enough to see what good practice looks like. We’re not there yet. But we will get there.

“We pride ourselves on being faster than anyone to market, not just with products, but the establishment of our dealer network.

“Looking ahead, it’s clear that the winners are going to be those who adapt with speed, and the losers those who say it’s business as usual and who are not acting fast enough,” he said.Elaborating on the scale of investment currently underway, Mr Collins said BYD will work to not only build an ecosystem capable of supporting substantial retail growth, but one that will deliver a more rounded sales model that offers structured fleet discounting, faster delivery times, improved parts supply, and a vastly more comprehensive dealer network.

“While supply from the factory is not a problem, getting cars through the system locally is a little problematic. We’re working really hard to improve that and to reduce customer wait times to days, not weeks,” he explained.

“We will keep working with our dealer partners and our local logistics providers to get there.”

Read more:

Exponential growth ahead for BYD – Part Two

By Matt Brogan