The next battleground for Chinese brands? BYD's upcoming plush hybrid people mover has Kia Carnival, LDV Mifa 9 and future Zeekr 009, XPeng X9 firmly in its sights

BYD has revealed additional details on one of its next models, the 2025 Xia people mover ahead of its official debut at the Guangzhou motor show.

The model was first shown without camouflage earlier this year, but has now had its interior detailed through design sketches. It won’t be fully electric, at least not initially, instead using BYD’s signature plug-in hybrid ‘DM-i’ drivetrain also used in the Sea Lion 6 mid-size SUV.

In the case of the Xia, this system combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 115kW with an electric motor producing 200kW. It also features a 20.4kWh battery pack, good for an estimated EV driving range of 80km.

Measuring in at 5145mm long, 1970mm wide, and 1805mm tall it is roughly the same overall size as the Kia Carnival.

The Xia is said by the brand to be the flagship model in its ‘Dynasty Series’ of vehicles, of which the Atto 3 is also a part. Each Dynasty vehicle is named after a period of Chinese history, and Xia is the oldest of the lot.

Like other luxury people movers including the popular grey-imported Toyota Alphard, the Xia features a large chrome-highlighted grille, which is topped-off by the Dynasty-style nose. Around the rear it is finished with a small roof spoiler and contemporary bar-style light fitting.

The new interior images show a raised centre console area, with a split-armrest console, a phone charging bay and a pass-through section below.

Most interesting is the tri-screen set-up across the dash, featuring a digital instrument cluster for the driver, large multimedia screen in the centre and a passenger information screen on the far side.

If it were to make it to the Australian market, the Xia would be unique in the people mover space as the only plug-in hybrid offering, following in the footsteps of the Shark 6 which is the first PHEV ute to be launched in Australia. 

Kia has just launched a plugless hybrid version of its Carnival (priced at $76,210), and LDV offers its fully electric Mifa 9 from $115,000.

Chinese media is speculating the Xia will start from the equivalent of around $63,000 in its domestic market, which if it follows suit to the usual 15 - 20 per cent price bump Chinese vehicles get by the time they arrive in Australia would have it around the same price as the Carnival HEV.

Indeed, the segment-dominating Carnival will have a fight on its hands in the next few years as Chinese automakers, which face strong competition in their home markets, start to offer genuine alternatives.

Not only could BYD offer this Xia, but Zeekr will enter the market with its all-electric and luxurious 009 (from $135,900), and Xpeng will enter the market with its also electric X9 which is yet to be priced.

Additionally, MG has frequently said it wants to offer a vehicle in every segment and could pull from its international catalogue to offer an MG-badged version of the iMax 8 people mover.

Elsewhere, BYD recently revealed its purpose-built E-Vali commercial van designed to shake up the fleet market in Europe, which the local division said it was quite interested in adding to its portfolio to end the current hegemony dominated by the Toyota HiAce, Ford Transit, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.