BYD has become the first Chinese automaker to participate in the Tokyo auto show, with the ultra-luxury Yangwang U8 making its overseas debut and demonstrating its tank turn feature.

Seal -- a competitor to Tesla's Model 3 -- will officially go on sale in Japan in spring 2024, BYD said.

The Yangwang U8's presence at that show also marks its first appearance at an overseas auto show.

BYD demonstrated the Yangwang U8's tank turn feature on the floor of that Tokyo auto show, attracting the attention of many visitors, according to the company.

Yangwang is a luxury brand launched by BYD on January 5. Its first production vehicle, the Yangwang U8, was officially launched on September 20 with a starting price of 1.098 million yuan ($150,300), and deliveries are expected to begin later this month.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is visiting China, experienced the Yangwang U8 in Shenzhen yesterday, as well as the model's tank turn function.

BYD chairman and president Wang Chuanfu made an appearance at the Tokyo auto show, demonstrating the Chinese NEV maker's focus on the Japanese market.

BYD officially entered the Japanese passenger car market in July 2022, when it unveiled three battery electric vehicles (BEVs) -- the Seal, Dolphin and Atto 3. The Atto 3 is known in China as the Yuan Plus.

Atto 3 and Dolphin are currently available in Japan with 15 stores covering the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya and Fukuoka.

The company plans to open 100 stores in Japan by the end of 2025, together with local dealers and partners, it said.

As of September, BYD's cumulative sales of NEVs had exceeded 5.4 million units, with owners in more than 70 countries and regions and over 400 cities.

($1 = RMB 7.3169)

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