BYD’s M9 people mover under consideration for NZ, with rental fleets the target

BYD is considering its new M9 people mover for New Zealand, with the company eyeing rental fleets rather than private buyers as the route to market.

“It is under consideration, the market for mainstream people movers in New Zealand is very small,” BYD Auto NZ general manager Warren Willmot told EVs and Beyond. “We are looking at it specifically for a rental customer.”

The M9 was confirmed for Australia today, arriving there in the fourth quarter with BYD’s DM-i 5.0 Super Hybrid system: a 1.5-litre turbo petrol paired with an electric motor, with 20.4kWh and 36.6kWh battery options delivering up to 145km of electric-only range and 850km combined, both on the WLTP cycle. Australian versions launch in Dynamic and Premium grades, seven seats with second-row captain’s chairs first and an eight-seater to follow, with DC charging and vehicle-to-load standard. Australian pricing is yet to be announced.

At 5.2 metres long on a 3,045mm wheelbase, the M9 is closely related to the Xia sold in China, and in Chinese-market form its powertrain combines a 115kW engine with a 200kW motor. Its targets in Australia are the Kia Carnival and Hyundai Staria.

While BYD positions the M9 as premium, that slot within the group arguably belongs to the Denza D9, the luxury people mover from BYD’s upmarket brand. The M9’s rental-fleet framing for New Zealand fits its origins: in China it sells under BYD’s Linghui brand, built for ride-hailing and taxi work.

A New Zealand decision would add another entry to the more than 15 models BYD says are coming here in the next 18 months, a cadence already underway with the Atto 2 DM-i arriving next month.