BYD, the Chinese automaker known for its high-performance vehicles, has set its sights on the ultra-luxury market with the debut of the Yangwang Altior electric limousine. Following the success of its U9X hypercar, which recently achieved a top speed of 313 mph, BYD introduced the Altior in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The vehicle is designed to compete with established luxury brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Maybach.
The Altior is a long, four-seat executive sedan with a wheelbase of 3,500 mm, primarily benefiting the rear passengers. The back seats feature leg rests, champagne glass holders, and a control interface, along with electric privacy sunshades and coach doors that open nearly 90 degrees. The interior combines wood trim, metal accents, and diamond-quilted upholstery, with additional luxury touches like Hetian jade vent trim and gold speaker grilles in the limited edition model.
BYD has paired the Altior with its Blade 2 battery and flash megawatt charging technologies, claiming a CLTC range of over 1,000 km (621+ miles), though details on whether this range is purely electric remain unclear. The limited edition model, capped at 399 units worldwide, requires a $44,660 deposit and is priced at approximately $310,000. A five-seat version is expected to follow.
The Altior's long wheelbase and focus on rear-seat comfort position it as a direct competitor to the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and Bentley Flying Spur, with potential overlap in the Rolls-Royce Ghost market. BYD's offering includes an electric or hybrid powertrain, a feature that luxury brands like Maybach and Bentley currently lack. The company aims to attract buyers from various corners of the globe with this new ultra-luxury electric limousine.