- BYD offers free up-to-66-hour home test drives nationwide from April 18 to May 31, 2026.
- Sealion 6 debuts as BYD’s first plug-in hybrid in Japan amid surging gasoline prices.
- BYD registrations and Q1 sales more than doubled while dealer network grew to 70 outlets.
BYD Japan recently announced the launch of a “BYD 66-hour test drive campaign” across its authorized dealers nationwide, allowing consumers to take vehicles home for free trials of up to 66 hours. The program runs from April 18 to May 31, 2026.
The campaign covers all BYD models currently available in Japan, including Dolphin, Seal, Atto 3, as well as the newly introduced plug-in hybrid Sealion 6 and the pure electric SUV Sealion 7.
Among them, the Sealion 6 marks BYD’s first plug-in hybrid model in the Japanese market. Since test vehicles were deployed in February, cumulative orders have exceeded 1,000 units within two months.
Consumers can apply via the BYD Auto Japan website, selecting their preferred model, date, and dealership. Vehicles are then assigned upon dealer confirmation. Some locations have already reported supply shortages due to strong demand.
The timing of the campaign coincides with rising fuel prices in Japan. Data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry show that by mid-March, the national average retail price of regular gasoline reached 190.80 yen ($1.2) per liter, up 29 yen week-on-week, marking a record high.
With global oil prices remaining elevated, the cost of operating internal combustion vehicles continues to rise.
As a country heavily reliant on crude oil imports, Japan is seeing increasing cost pressure on conventional vehicle users.
Against this backdrop, BYD is using a zero-cost, extended-use experience to highlight the economic advantage of EV charging over refueling.
According to data from the Japan Automobile Importers Association, BYD registered 625 new vehicles in Japan in March 2026, nearly doubling year-on-year.
In the subsidy-driven Japanese market, BYD’s total sales in the first quarter of 2026 increased by more than 100% compared with a year earlier.
At the same time, its retail network is expanding rapidly. Since opening its first store in 2023, BYD has established 70 sales outlets across all eight major regions in Japan.
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