BYD Confirms M9 Plug‑In People Mover for Australian Launch

The large three‑row PHEV is pitched as a mainstream rival to the Kia Carnival, offering long WLTP electric range and fleet‑friendly features with final pricing and local performance figures to be announced.

Overview

BYD confirmed in late August that the M9 will arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2026 with an initial seven‑seat Premium grade followed later by an eight‑seat Dynamic.
Both M9 variants use BYD’s DM‑i 5.0 plug‑in hybrid system with front‑wheel drive and Blade lithium‑iron‑phosphate batteries, and include vehicle‑to‑load (V2L) capability.
The Premium carries a 36.6 kWh Blade battery that BYD claims delivers up to 145 km of WLTP electric range and as much as 850 km combined range under WLTP testing.
Key local details remain unresolved as BYD will release Australian pricing, final power and torque figures, and certified DC charging speeds closer to launch even though overseas certification documents list outputs near 191.4 kW and 218.2 kW.
The M9 is positioned to challenge the Kia Carnival’s dominance in the mainstream people‑mover market by targeting private buyers and fleets with lower running costs and strong touring range, and its arrival adds volume competition to an area that has seen mostly premium electric entrants until now.