BYD launches Qin Max as Qin family sales halve year-to-date

BYD unveiled the Qin Max, its flash-charging flagship sedan, on August 13, 2026, as the Qin family's sales fell 50.55% year-to-date.

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BYD presented the Qin Max at an event in Beijing on August 13, 2026, at 19:30 local time, following a teaser on Weibo the previous day. The sedan is the flagship of the Qin family, positioned above the Qin L, and joins the Qin Plus and Qin L to form a three-model lineup.

The Qin Max is a B-segment sedan with dimensions of 4,866 mm in length, 1,880 mm in width, 1,495 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2,820 mm. It is offered with two powertrains: a pure electric version and a plug-in hybrid (DM-i). The EV versions feature a motor with peak power of either 240 kW (322 hp) or 120 kW, while the DM-i combines a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with a 175 kW motor.

A key highlight is BYD's flash charging technology, which the company unveiled in March 2026, with a peak single-gun power of 1,500 kW. The EV versions come standard with the second-generation Blade Battery and support flash charging. According to BYD, the battery can charge from 10% to 70% in five minutes and from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. The company is also offering one year of free flash charging for EV buyers.

Performance figures for the EV include a 0-100 km/h acceleration in as little as 5.8 seconds, with CLTC ranges of 530 km or 630 km. The DM-i versions offer an all-electric range of 320 km and a combined range of 2,370 km on a full tank and full charge. Fuel consumption is rated at 2.59 L/100 km (NEDC, battery depleted), which BYD claims is the lowest in its class.

The Qin Max also features a LiDAR-based advanced driver assistance system called God's Eye B, which supports urban and highway navigation assist and all-scenario parking assist. BYD covers parking losses and provides one year of urban navigation assist coverage. The car includes a built-in AI agent named Didi Xia.

Pricing starts at 99,900 yuan for the DM-i and 109,900 yuan for the EV, with top variants at 129,900 yuan and 143,900 yuan, respectively, across nine variants in total. The trunk offers 523 liters of space, expandable to 1,450 liters, and the cabin includes 27 storage compartments. The EV version can be badged either "Da Qin" or "Qin Ultra" on the trunk, and the model has appeared in the filing catalog of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The launch comes as the Qin family has seen a sharp decline in sales. According to CnEVPost data, the Qin series sold 661,090 units in 2025, accounting for 14.36% of BYD's group total. In July 2026, sales were 13,117 units, down 75.67% year-over-year, and for January through July 2026, sales totaled 162,291 units, a drop of 50.55% compared with the same period last year.

Lu Tian, general manager of sales for BYD's Dynasty network, teased the model on July 13, calling it a "super large cup." The Qin Max is one of several recent BYD launches, including the 2027 Seal 06 on August 11 and a lower-priced variant of the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 3 on August 13.

At the exchange rate of $1 = 6.7888 yuan, the starting prices translate to roughly $14,700 for the DM-i and $16,200 for the EV.