I Felt Excited for the First Time in 30 Years, Thank You BYD

The duty of the press is normally to report what it sees, but what I felt at the BYD launch was something very different. It awakened a long-lost feeling within me: the desire to own. I last experienced this feeling during Ericsson phone launches. It must have been about 30 years ago.

I was in Istanbul last week as a guest of BYD. They introduced two different cars from the brand's Yangwang series. One is the Yangwang U9, which makes headlines with its speed records and its ability to jump over obstacles. The other is the Yangwang U8, which can travel in water and even stay afloat when necessary.

At this point, a small parenthesis is needed. “Yangwang” means “looking to the future” in Chinese. The models BYD produces under this name show that the company sees itself not just as an automotive firm, but as a representative of a technology vision.

The Jumping Supercar

The U9 is an electric sports car. It intimidates its rivals with its performance, but the part that really sticks in the mind is watching it jump over obstacles on the road, even over spikes. This vehicle is a product of not just engineering, but also imagination.

The SUV That Floats on Water

The U8 is a completely different story. When you involve your family and children, the picture changes. Imagine an SUV that can travel in water: it is both reassuring and, in the eyes of children, practically an amusement vehicle. For me, the matter of preference became clear here. Despite all its charm, the U9 is a singular excitement like a “monster.” The U8, on the other hand, is suited to the joy of life experienced with family.

My Notes from the Press Conference

The event was actually far beyond an ordinary launch. BYD Turkey organized a show that will be remembered under the title “Technology Show in Turkey with Vehicles That Float, Spin on Their Own Axis, and Jump.” In this show, which was exhibited in Turkey for the first time in Europe, the U8 entered the lake and traveled in the water; the U9 showcased not only its speed but also its extraordinary capabilities such as 360-degree tank turns, jumping, and dancing.

The fact that the Track Edition version of the U9 reached a speed of 472.41 km/h in Germany and earned the title of the world's fastest electric supercar summarizes the point engineering has reached. The U8's ability to float on water, its equipment with integrated drone technology, and its range approaching 1000 kilometers redefine the “SUV” concept. The platform built from scratch in Kemerburgaz was prepared by cleaning the bottom of the lake; even this shows how carefully the show was planned.

?? You can see the video I shot during the event of the U8 traveling on water on the Netizenlist Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOdfkfGiMgY/?igsh=MngzOW9vZ3o1emFn

BYD’s Technology Company Stance

BYD is no longer just a company that produces cars. It acts like a company that redefines technology and pushes boundaries. It is clear that we will watch BYD with great pleasure over the next ten years.

On this occasion, we must also mention BYD Turkey General Manager İsmail Ergun and the communication agency Message, who made us admire the brand in a short time. Their efforts made this experience even more unforgettable.