Words: Richard Edwards
Published 26 August 2026
BYD is considering its new M9 people mover for New Zealand, with rental fleets rather than private buyers the likely route to market.
“It is under consideration, the market for mainstream people movers in New Zealand is very small,” BYD Auto NZ general manager Warren Willmot told us. “We are looking at it specifically for a rental customer.”
The M9 was confirmed for Australia today, arriving in the fourth quarter as a rival to the Kia Carnival and Hyundai Staria. It runs BYD’s DM-i 5.0 Super Hybrid system, pairing a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with an electric motor and a choice of 20.4kWh or 36.6kWh Blade batteries, for up to 145km of electric-only running and 850km of combined range, both on the WLTP cycle.
In Chinese specification the engine produces 115kW and the motor 200kW. DC fast charging and vehicle-to-load power are standard.
At 5.2 metres long and nearly two metres wide on a 3,045mm wheelbase, the M9 matches the Carnival for size. Australian versions open with seven seats, including second-row captain’s chairs, with an eight-seater to follow, in Dynamic and Premium grades. Australian pricing is yet to be announced.
New Zealand’s people mover segment is small and skews expensive. The Kia Carnival spans $62,990 to $81,990 for the hybrid Water flagship, the updated Hyundai Staria runs from $74,990 to $99,990 for the hybrid Lounge, and the segment’s existing plug-in hybrid is the GAC M8, at $85,990 to $89,990 with 106km of electric range. The M9 would be the second plug-in in the class, and the M8 its most direct rival on powertrain.
While BYD positions the M9 as premium, that slot within the group arguably belongs to the Denza D9, the luxury people mover from BYD’s upmarket brand. In China the M9 sells under BYD’s Linghui brand, built for ride-hailing and taxi fleets.
A New Zealand decision would join the more than 15 models BYD says are coming here in the next 18 months.
