Germany EV subsidy surge aids BYD, while BYD unveils M9 MPV in Hong Kong

Germany re‑opened a purchase subsidy for electric cars in May, offering €1,500‑€6,000 per vehicle based on income and family size. Within weeks the German environment ministry recorded about 42,000 applications, more than nine‑tenths for pure‑electric models. Dealers warned the scheme is boosting sales of Chinese brands, especially BYD, whose domestic‑market‑price‑segment vehicles saw a sales increase of over 200 %.

EU officials voiced concern that taxpayer‑funded aid is effectively supporting Chinese manufacturers that already benefit from subsidies at home. Critics such as German car‑dealers’ association chairman Burkhard Weller argued the subsidies “are being taken up mainly by Chinese electric‑vehicle brands, outpacing most European makers.”

Separately, BYD presented its flagship M9 DM‑i luxury MPV at the Hong Kong International Auto Expo. The seven‑seat, right‑hand‑drive model is priced around HK$4 million, markedly lower than Japanese competitors. It features the company’s latest 800 V platform, a “flash‑charge” system that can add a full charge in five minutes, and a novel rail‑suspended T‑post charging pole. BYD aims to expand the model’s market in Hong Kong, Macau and Southeast Asia, complementing its broader push into premium electric and hybrid vehicles.