BYD is preparing to put long-distance electric driving and exceptionally rapid charging into the luxury-car spotlight. The Chinese automaker will open presales for its new Da Han flagship sedan at the Chengdu Auto Show on August 21, with the headline all-electric version claiming up to 1,008 kilometres of range on China’s CLTC test cycle. Even more eye-catching is BYD’s claim that every version will support a 10-to-97-percent recharge in just nine minutes.
A flagship built around range and speed
The Da Han is a substantial machine. At 5,256mm long with a 3,130mm wheelbase, it stretches beyond a Mercedes-Benz S-Class in overall length. The rear-wheel-drive electric version combines a 370kW motor with a 102.326kWh battery for that 1,008km CLTC rating, while an all-wheel-drive model raises output to 570kW and offers a claimed 880km. Buyers will also get rear-wheel steering and BYD’s DiPilot 5.0 assisted-driving package, including roof-mounted lidar and additional cameras. Pricing has not yet been confirmed, although Chinese media expects the range to sit around 300,000 yuan.
BYD is not relying on one halo model to carry its technology story. Its Fang Cheng Bao sub-brand is also launching a longer-range version of the Tai 7 DM plug-in hybrid SUV on August 18. The existing Tai 7 offers as much as 200km of battery-only range and more than 1,300km combined under CLTC testing, while its fully electric sibling can charge from 10 to 70 percent in five minutes. The SUV has already passed 200,000 cumulative sales in roughly ten months, underlining how quickly BYD can turn new platforms into meaningful volume.
Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions meet a regulatory limit
Tesla supplied the day’s sharpest contrast. Nevada regulators have approved the company to operate fully autonomous vehicles in Las Vegas, but the initial permit caps the fleet at 10 cars rather than the 5,000 Tesla requested. Operations are limited to an approved geofenced section of the Strip, with a 45mph speed ceiling and no airport pickups. Tesla must also label the vehicles as robotaxis, inform passengers that the ride is driverless and provide appropriate human supervision. The permit gives Tesla another market in which to demonstrate its autonomy technology, but the tight conditions show that scaling robotaxi services depends on regulatory confidence as much as software.
Affordable EVs and cleaner batteries
At the more accessible end of the market, Hyundai has opened UK orders for the IONIQ 3 electric hatchback. The entry model starts at £22,245 with a 42kWh battery and up to 213 miles of WLTP range, while the 61kWh version reaches a claimed 308 miles. Its 400-volt electrical architecture is less exotic than the IONIQ 5’s 800-volt setup, but a 10-to-80-percent rapid charge still takes about 29 to 30 minutes. European showroom arrivals are expected from late September, adding another practical option in a segment where price remains crucial.
The battery supply chain is also getting closer scrutiny. CATL says all 20 of its operating battery plants are now certified carbon neutral under ISO 14068-1. The company, which reported a 39.2 percent share of the global EV battery market in 2025, says zero-carbon electricity powered its core operations that year. The harder task lies upstream: CATL estimates that more than 80 percent of a battery’s lifecycle emissions come from its supply chain, which it aims to decarbonise by 2035.
For EV enthusiasts, the takeaway is bigger than any single range figure. BYD is pushing charging speed and battery capacity at the top end, Hyundai is lowering the cost of entry, Tesla is testing the boundaries of autonomous deployment, and CATL is addressing the footprint behind the cells. The next phase of EV competition will be judged not just by how far a car travels, but by how quickly, affordably and responsibly the entire ecosystem can scale.