Look out, Defender? New BYD Ti 7 firming for South Africa

With the Defender 110 firmly in its sights, the BYD Ti 7 could be coming to South Africa after the Chinese brand filed to trademark the badge locally. Here’s what we know…

BYD files to trademark “Ti 7” in Mzansi
Badge applied to 7-seater unibody SUV
PHEV powertrain confirmed for UK

A fresh trademark application suggests the BYD Ti 7 – a boxy Chinese 7-seater SUV that appears to have Land Rover’s Defender 110 firmly in its sights – could be on the menu for South Africa.

Yes, Cars.co.za can confirm the Shenzhen-based new-energy vehicle (NEV) automaker filed to trademark the “Ti 7” badge in Mzansi as recently as 22 April 2026. Interestingly, the company applied to protect “Tai 7” – the name used for this model in China, albeit under BYD Auto’s Fangchengbao sub-brand – back in September 2025.

So, what do we know about the BYD Ti 7? Well, the export version already confirmed for the United Kingdom (a fellow right-hand-drive market) measures 5 146 mm from front to back, making it 128 mm longer than a Defender 110. Of course, this unibody vehicle features 3 rows of seating, along with what the Chinese brand describes as a “generous load space”.

In the UK, the Ti 7 will feature BYD’s so-called “Dual Mode Performance” (DM-p) plug-in hybrid powertrain. Though outputs have yet to be confirmed, we know the system includes a pair of electric motors and a turbocharged 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine. The brand claims a 0-100 kph time of 4.8 seconds.

Curiously, the left-hand-drive version already on the market in Saudi Arabia has a half-second slower claimed 0-100 kph sprint time of 5.3 seconds. In that country, the Ti 7’s PHEV powertrain employs a 26.6 kWh battery pack and generates peak outputs of 360 kW and 630 Nm. For the record, a fully electric version is furthermore available in China.

Of course, as we always point out in such instances, trademark applications are by no means guarantees the automaker will use the badges in question. But this latest filing suggests the Shenzhen-based automaker is at least considering slotting the new Ti 7 towards the top of its local line-up. More info as we have it…

UPDATE: BYD Auto SA has since told Cars.co.za: “Unfortunately, we cannot confirm or comment on the Ti 7 at this current time”.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What indicates that the new BYD Ti 7 SUV could be heading to South Africa?

A: BYD has recently filed a local trademark application for the “Ti 7” badge in South Africa on 22 April 2026. This follows a previous filing in September 2025 to protect the name “Tai 7” (which is the moniker used for the vehicle in the Chinese market under BYD’s Fangchengbao sub-brand), suggesting the automaker is evaluating a local introduction.

Q: How does the BYD Ti 7 compare in size and seating to rivals like the Land Rover Defender 110?

A: The BYD Ti 7 features a boxy design aimed directly at the Defender 110 segment. Measuring 5 146 mm from nose to tail, the unibody Chinese SUV is actually 128 mm longer than a Defender 110, allowing it to easily accommodate three rows of seating for up to seven passengers alongside a generous luggage compartment.

Q: What powertrain and performance specifications can be expected from the BYD Ti 7?

A: Right-hand-drive export versions like the one destined for the UK will feature BYD’s Dual Mode Performance (DM-p) plug-in hybrid (PHEV) setup, pairing a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine with dual electric motors for a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.8 seconds. In other markets like Saudi Arabia, the PHEV system produces 360 kW and 630 Nm using a 26.6 kWh battery pack, while a fully electric version is sold in China.