BYD M9 design registered in SA but 'no plans' for now

The exterior design of the new BYD M9 has been registered in South Africa, but the Chinese brand says it currently has “no plans” to bring this plug-in hybrid MPV to local roads…

Chinese new-energy vehicle giant BYD has officially registered the exterior design of the BYD M9 in South Africa, though the firm’s local division says it currently has “no plans” to bring this plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to Mzansi.

Known as the Xia in its domestic market of China, the 3-row M9 measures 5 145 mm from front to back (with a wheelbase of 3 045 mm), making it 5 mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and 10 mm shorter than the Kia Carnival. In the world’s 2nd most populous country, BYD’s flagship MPV is available with up to 7 seats, arranged in a 2+2+3 configuration.

*The BYD M9’s 2nd row features so-called ‘captain’s chairs’.*

Cars.co.za can confirm that BYD’s head office in Shenzhen submitted drawings (depicting the M9) to South Africa’s Register of Designs in November 2024. In the 2nd week of June 2025, the M9’s design was officially registered in SA. This came after the Chinese automaker applied to trademark the “BYD M9” name (along with “BYD M6”, a smaller MPV) in Mzansi in November 2024.

However, when we asked BYD Auto SA for comment, the company told us: “Currently, we don’t have plans for BYD M9 to enter South Africa”. Still, the inclusion of the word “currently” (and indeed the local registration of the vehicle’s exterior design and the application to trademark its badge) suggests the door has not been entirely closed.

*The Chinese-market version is badged as the Xia.*

So, what do we know about the new BYD M9? Revealed as the Xia at the 2024 Chengdu Motor Show in China, this MPV employs a version of BYD’s PHEV powertrain built around a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine. Though combined outputs have yet to be confirmed, we do know the petrol mill makes 115 kW and 225 Nm, while the electric motor generates 200 kW and 315 Nm.

The claimed 0-100 kph time comes in at 8.1 seconds, while the NEDC fuel economy of 5.6 L/100 km – listed by BYD Mexico, with the M9 set to launch in that market later in June 2025 – translates to a theoretical single-tank range of nearly 1 000 km (depending on the selected battery capacity; BYD offers 20.4 kWh and 36.6 kWh items in China).

*The Chinese-spec Xia features a trio of screens up front.*

BYD Auto SA recently expanded its line-up, effectively doubling the size of its range in April 2025 with the launch of the Shark 6 PHEV, Sealion 6 PHEV and fully electric Sealion 7 (which joined the Dolphin, Atto 3 and Seal). That same month, the company confirmed to Cars.co.za the Seagull small EV is expected to arrive later in 2025. For the time being, it seems the M9 won’t be added to that list.