Yangwang Altair: 5.5m BYD flagship EV with coach doors

BYD's Yangwang brand unveiled the Altair, a 5.5 meter flagship electric sedan that pairs four independent electric motors with rear-hinged coach doors that open to nearly 90 degrees.

The Altair debuted at a global event in Abu Dhabi as Yangwang's entry into the ultra-luxury segment, pitched against long-established rivals such as the Rolls-Royce Ghost, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and the Hongqi L-series S800. The announcement enlarges Yangwang's range beyond the U8 and U8L SUVs and the electric hypercar U9.

Design and cabin

The Altair's body measures roughly 5,500 millimeters long with a 3,350 millimeter wheelbase. Visually it mixes traditional motifs and modern execution. The front grille uses 137 faceted elements, described by the brand as inspired by ancient Chinese bronze vessels. A two-tone paint scheme, an extended C-pillar and polished disk-style alloy wheels aim to reinforce a stately profile. Key exterior detail includes rear doors that hinge rearward and incorporate a dedicated umbrella stowage at the hinge.

Inside the four-seat, ceremonial cabin the rear compartment centres on a large central console. Rear seats recline fully and include footrests, with electric sunshades and an electrically controlled crystal cup storage compartment provided for passengers. A roof-mounted LiDAR unit is visible, indicating the car is equipped for advanced driver assistance.

Powertrain and technology

Early reports indicate the Altair is built on BYD's e4 platform and employs four separate electric motors and active suspension. Chinese media have pointed to a 4 nanometer Xuanji A3 chipset, paired with BYD's new processors, that the manufacturer says will deliver more than 2,100 TOPS of compute for the autonomous system. There is speculation about solid-state battery use, but commercialization of such cells has been targeted for 2030 and BYD has not confirmed battery chemistry, capacity or range for the production Altair.

Yangwang's sales chief, Ho Xiaoching, said development of the sedan took more than three years and that the chosen front-end treatment was selected from more than 100 proposals. No official figures for battery capacity, range, precise power output or final pricing have been released; early estimates put the Altair near 2,000,000 yuan, approximately 280,000 dollars.

Abu Dhabi was chosen for the global reveal in part because the emirate has been a test venue for the brand. The U9 Extreme hypercar recently recorded a top speed of 503.17 kilometres per hour on a closed Abu Dhabi highway. In the first nine months of 2026 Yangwang reported 3,251 domestic sales, a 38.9 percent increase year on year, though September deliveries fell to 377 units. With the Altair added to the U7, U8, U8L and U9, Yangwang says it intends to broaden its presence in the international ultra-luxury market.