BYD is postponing the official launch of its Datang (Great Tang) three-row electric SUV because preorder demand has outpaced production. The flagship EV, which offers up to 590 miles of range and ultra-fast charging, has reportedly surpassed 100,000 preorders and will now debut on June 8 instead of at the end of May.
BYD’s newest flagship electric SUV is drawing so much interest that the company is reportedly pushing back its official launch. The Datang, also known as the Great Tang, was expected to go on sale at the end of May, but local dealers say the debut has now been moved to June 8 to help BYD catch up with demand.
The delay follows a surge in preorders for the three-row SUV. BYD said the model collected more than 30,000 orders in its first 24 hours, and company executive Lu Tian later said preorder volume had climbed past 100,000.
A flagship EV with premium range and fast charging
The Datang is positioned as one of BYD’s most advanced production vehicles to date. It uses the company’s new Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging system, which BYD says can deliver a 10% to 70% charge in five minutes and a 10% to 97% charge in nine minutes.
Range is another headline figure. BYD says the SUV can travel up to 590 miles, or 950 km, on a full charge under China’s CLTC testing cycle.
Large, luxurious, and priced aggressively for China
Despite being a full-size luxury SUV, the Datang starts at less than $37,000 in China, with presale pricing beginning at 250,000 yuan, or about $36,500. That price point appears to be a major reason buyers are lining up so quickly.
The SUV measures 5,263 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, and 1,790 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,130 mm. That makes it slightly larger than the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Kia EV9, putting it firmly in the large three-row EV segment.
Power, layout, and interior tech
BYD says the Datang comes in single-motor and dual-motor versions. Output is rated at 370 kW (496 hp) for the single-motor model and 585 kW (784 hp) for the dual-motor version.
Inside, the SUV is fitted with a wide digital dashboard layout that spans three screens across the instrument panel. Rear passengers also get a large entertainment display that folds down from the roof.
The cabin offers China’s first 2+2+3 seven-seat configuration, according to BYD, and the company claims the vehicle includes 29 “world firsts.” Those claims have not been independently verified.
Driver-assistance and launch incentives
The Datang also features BYD’s God’s Eye B driver-assistance system, which uses roof-mounted lidar. The setup supports features such as high-speed navigation assist and smart parking.
To attract early buyers, BYD is offering 18 months of free charging to customers who place orders before the SUV officially goes on sale.
Part of a broader surge for BYD’s new battery platform
The Datang is not the only model benefiting from BYD’s new battery and charging technology. The company says the Song Ultra has already topped 60,000 orders in its first month on the market.
The Song Ultra is offered in four trims priced up to 179,900 yuan, or about $26,000, and uses the same Blade Battery 2.0 platform. Two pack sizes are available: 68.4 kWh and 82.7 kWh, with claimed CLTC ranges of 605 km and 710 km, respectively.
BYD CEO Wang Chuanfu has already said demand for vehicles using Blade Battery 2.0 is exceeding current production capacity. The Datang launch delay suggests that constraint is beginning to affect the company’s rollout schedule.
Why This Matters
This is another sign that EV competition is no longer just about specs on a press release. BYD is showing it can create mass-market excitement around premium electric SUVs, especially when the vehicle combines long range, very fast charging, and aggressive pricing.
The story also matters because it highlights a growing bottleneck in the EV industry: demand can now outpace manufacturing capacity, even for one of the world’s largest automakers. For buyers, that can mean waiting longer for new models; for rivals, it shows how quickly a strong battery and charging platform can reshape the market.
Key Specs
- Model: BYD Datang (Great Tang) three-row electric SUV
- Launch delay: From end of May to June 8
- Preorders: Over 100,000
- First 24 hours: Over 30,000 orders
- Starting presale price: 250,000 yuan (about $36,500)
- Size: 5,263 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, 1,790 mm tall
- Wheelbase: 3,130 mm
- Range: Up to 590 miles (950 km) CLTC
- Charging: 10% to 70% in 5 minutes; 10% to 97% in 9 minutes
- Power: 370 kW (496 hp) single motor; 585 kW (784 hp) dual motor
- Battery: Blade Battery 2.0
- ADAS: God’s Eye B with roof-mounted lidar
- Offer: 18 months of free charging for pre-launch orders
- Related model: BYD Song Ultra, over 60,000 orders in first month
- Song Ultra battery options: 68.4 kWh and 82.7 kWh
- Song Ultra range: 605 km and 710 km CLTC
Source: Electrek
