BYD and Leapmotor Drive China EV News Forward

China’s EV industry delivered a revealing mix of product moves this week: BYD’s next-generation Tang EV appeared in a regulatory filing with 515 kW (691 hp), dual-motor AWD and a 250 km/h top speed ahead of an expected Q4 2026 China launch; BYD also began expanding its Racco kei EV beyond Japan, starting in Sri Lanka; and Leapmotor launched the A10s in China at 92,800 yuan with LiDAR and a 505 km CLTC range. Taken together, these updates show how Chinese automakers are pushing on three fronts at once—high-performance family SUVs, export-oriented small EVs, and increasingly affordable smart-driving tech.

BYD Tang EV: More Power, More Space, More Speed

BYD’s next-generation Tang EV has surfaced in China’s proposed regulatory listing, giving the market an early look at one of the brand’s most important electric SUVs. While this is not final production approval, the filing strongly suggests BYD is preparing a meaningful upgrade for the Tang line in late 2026.

The headline numbers are significant:

• Dual-motor AWD system
• 515 kW combined output
• 691 hp
• 250 km/h listed top speed
• Expected China launch: Q4 2026

That makes the new Tang EV dramatically quicker on paper than the previous AWD version, with a listed top speed that is 70 km/h higher. It also grows substantially in size versus the second-generation model.

Tang EV key specifications

The new model is 145 mm longer and has a 130 mm longer wheelbase than the outgoing second-generation Tang EV, suggesting a stronger emphasis on cabin room and highway stability. Interestingly, BYD appears to be repositioning the Tang EV as a five-seat electric SUV, while larger families may be steered toward the newer Da Tang EV, which offers a three-row, seven-seat layout.

A More Focused Role Beside the Da Tang EV

One of the more intriguing aspects of the new Tang EV is product positioning. BYD already launched the Da Tang EV in China on June 17, 2026, with these core dimensions and pricing:

• Length: 5,263 mm
• Wheelbase: 3,130 mm
• Seating: 7 seats, 3 rows
• Starting price: 239,900 yuan (about $35,500)

On paper, this creates a clearer internal split:

• Tang EV: likely aimed at buyers who want performance, technology and a more premium five-seat layout
• Da Tang EV: aimed at larger households needing true three-row practicality

BYD has not formally explained the overlap, but the regulatory filing hints at a more segmented large-SUV strategy—something increasingly common in the Chinese EV market as brands broaden their lineups to cover more price points and use cases.

Powertrain, Battery, and Chassis Tech

The filing gives a useful look at the Tang EV’s hardware.

Motor setup

• Front motor: AC asynchronous motor
  • Peak power: 215 kW
  • Rated output: 75 kW
  • Supplier: Dongguan FinDreams Powertrain
  • Model: YS230XYF
• Rear motor: Permanent-magnet synchronous motor
  • Peak power: 300 kW
  • Rated output: 150 kW
  • Supplier: Xi’an BYD Automotive Components
  • Model: TZ205QYD

Combined, the two motors deliver 515 kW, putting the Tang EV firmly into the high-performance electric SUV category.

Battery details

The filing confirms a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, with:

• Cells supplied by: Wuwei FinDreams Battery
• Pack assembled by: Zhengzhou FinDreams Battery

BYD did not disclose battery capacity, charging speed, or range for this AWD variant in the filing. However, the current third-generation Tang EV lineup includes battery packs of 88.682 kWh and 105.792 kWh, with CLTC ranges of 730 km, 830 km, and 850 km across different versions. At this stage, those figures cannot be reliably matched to the new 515 kW AWD trim.

Other listed hardware

• Tyres: 245/45 R21, with optional rear HL265/45 R21 fitment
• ESP/BWA supplier reference: Bosch Automotive Products (Suzhou)
• Approach/departure angles: 18° / 21°

Separate reports also link the Tang EV to:

• DiSus-A intelligent air suspension
• DiPilot 300 driver-assistance system, branded domestically as God’s Eye B
• Roof-mounted LiDAR and fender-integrated cameras

Those features have not yet been officially confirmed for this AWD variant, but if they carry over to production, the Tang EV would become an even more direct rival to premium Chinese electric SUVs from brands such as NIO, Li Auto, Aito and Zeekr.

BYD Racco Goes Global, Starting With Sri Lanka

At the other end of the market, BYD is also expanding internationally with the tiny Racco electric kei car. After debuting in Japan in July 2026, the model has now launched in Sri Lanka, its first market outside Japan, and is also expected to enter Macau soon.

This matters because it shows BYD is not treating the Racco as a one-market experiment. Instead, it is testing whether compact right-hand-drive EVs can find demand in selected export markets with dense cities and high fuel costs.

BYD Racco key specifications

The Sri Lankan price is 2.5 times higher than the starting price in Japan, but local context matters. Sri Lanka’s vehicle import duties and taxes are high, and BYD pointed to an introductory pricing period that runs through November 9. Even at that level, the Racco can still look relatively competitive in the local market; for comparison, the petrol-powered Toyota Yaris Cross reportedly costs 19,950,000 LKR ($60,315) there.

Why the Racco matters

The Racco’s significance is less about absolute volume and more about strategy:

• It gives BYD a foothold in micro EV exports beyond mainland China.
• It expands the company’s presence in right-hand-drive markets.
• It broadens BYD’s brand image from mainstream and premium EVs to urban mobility solutions.
• It shows how LFP battery economics can support compact EV formats globally.

In Japan, the Racco reportedly secured 1,000 orders in just two weeks, an encouraging early signal for a category where packaging efficiency, low running costs and maneuverability matter more than outright performance.

Leapmotor A10s Brings LiDAR to the Budget EV Segment

If BYD’s Tang EV represents the premium-performance side of China’s EV market, the newly launched Leapmotor A10s shows how quickly advanced driver-assistance features are moving downmarket.

Leapmotor launched the A10s in China on October 18 at 92,800 yuan (about $13,810). That price puts a LiDAR-equipped EV within reach of buyers who, just a few years ago, would have had to shop far higher up the market for that kind of hardware.

Leapmotor A10s key specifications

The A10s appears to be less about boosting output and more about raising perceived value through design, cabin upgrades and intelligent driving features.

What’s new in the A10s

• Exclusive Mirror Night Black paint
• 18-inch black sport wheels
• Gunmetal-gray exterior emblems
• Red “S” rear badge
• “Modern Gray” interior theme
• Faux-suede seats with red stitching and headrest embroidery
• Ventilated front seats
• Rear ambient lighting

On the software and electronics side, Leapmotor says the A10s supports:

• Urban navigation assistance
• Highway navigation assistance
• Parking-space-to-parking-space navigation

That is notable in a sub-100,000-yuan EV. It reflects a broader Chinese EV trend: features once marketed as premium differentiators are increasingly becoming expected equipment in mass-market products.

Market Context: Different Vehicles, Same Competitive Theme

These three stories may seem unrelated—a large electric SUV, a kei car export, and a budget smart SUV—but together they reveal the current shape of the Chinese EV market.

1. Performance is becoming mainstream

A 691 hp family SUV from BYD is no longer unusual in China. Domestic brands are normalizing high-output EVs in segments that used to be defined mainly by practicality and price.

2. LFP batteries remain central

All three vehicles highlighted here use LFP battery technology. That reinforces how important LFP remains for:

• Cost control
• Supply-chain localization
• Thermal stability
• Broad product coverage from micro EVs to large SUVs

3. ADAS is moving into lower price bands

Leapmotor’s A10s demonstrates how LiDAR, powerful Qualcomm chips, and advanced navigation functions are no longer limited to premium EVs from NIO, XPeng or Huawei-backed brands.

4. Chinese EV makers are segmenting more aggressively

BYD is now operating across:

• Micro urban EVs
• High-volume compact and midsize EVs
• Premium large SUVs
• Export-focused localized offerings

This is classic scale strategy: cover more niches, share technology where possible, and use supply-chain control to defend margins.

Why This Matters Globally

For global observers, the biggest takeaway is not any single launch—it is the pace and breadth of China’s EV innovation.

• BYD Tang EV shows Chinese brands can deliver premium performance and potentially premium ADAS in mainstream-branded SUVs.
• BYD Racco suggests Chinese automakers are getting more sophisticated in matching product formats to overseas market conditions, especially in right-hand-drive regions.
• Leapmotor A10s highlights how quickly smart-driving hardware is being democratized in China.

This has several implications for international automakers:

1. Price-pressure will intensify. Features like LiDAR, large screens, advanced chips and long range are becoming cheaper faster in China than in many overseas markets.
2. Export competition will broaden. It won’t be limited to sedans and crossovers; compact city EVs and specialized body styles may follow.
3. Brand hierarchy is shifting. Chinese automakers are increasingly comfortable launching products that span economy to near-premium categories under the same broader corporate umbrella.

What to Watch Next

Several questions remain open over the coming months:

• Will the next-gen BYD Tang EV keep its full 515 kW output in final production form?
• What battery size, charging speeds, and real-world range will BYD assign to the AWD version?
• How clearly will BYD differentiate the Tang EV from the Da Tang EV?
• Can the Racco build momentum in export markets beyond Japan, Sri Lanka and Macau?
• Will competitors respond to the Leapmotor A10s by pushing LiDAR-equipped EVs below the 100,000-yuan threshold even more aggressively?

The answers will help define the next stage of the Chinese EV race. For now, one thing is clear: China’s automakers are not moving in a single direction. They are expanding upward into high-performance electric SUVs, outward into export niches, and downward into affordable intelligent cars—all at the same time.