BYD NZ announces certified pre-owned programme, will import its used vehicles from Japan

BYD New Zealand will launch a certified pre-owned programme, taking back the brand’s earliest New Zealand-new vehicles as they cycle off fleets, and backing them with a BYD New Zealand warranty.

The distributor will also import its own used vehicles from Japan, making it the first Chinese brand in New Zealand to take either approach.

Country manager Warren Willmot told AutoTalk the timing was right for a certified used offering, with vehicles sold in the brand’s launch years now reaching the end of their fleet terms.

“When we hit the market four years ago, a lot of those companies that we sold cars to in 2022 and 2023, they’re ready to be cycled off their fleet,” Willmot says.

“We’re going to bring back those New Zealand-new cars. We’re going to put them through our workshops and through our panel and paint network, and we’ll be giving warranties and guarantees on them.”

The distributor will also look offshore to supplement supply, with used imports from Japan sourced through an established relationship there. 

Japanese-market vehicles are fitted with the CHAdeMO fast-charging port, and Willmot says the company will investigate converting them to the CCS standard used in New Zealand. “It remains to be seen whether we can do the conversion from CHAdeMO to CCS, but we’re going to give it a crack.”

Imported vehicles sold through the programme will carry a BYD New Zealand-backed warranty.

Our sister title EVs and Beyond is currently in Japan testing the Racco, BYD’s kei-class electric vehicle, which could make an interesting option for the New Zealand market.

Finance and insurance launched

The certified pre-owned push comes as BYD New Zealand builds out its ownership ecosystem, launching BYD Auto NZ Financial Services this month, with a BYD-branded insurance product to launch on September 21.

The finance offering is underwritten by Automotive Lending Solutions.

Warning on damaged imports

Meanwhile, BYD New Zealand is warning the industry over a consignment of used Atto 3s in Malaysia that has been offered to a number of New Zealand importers.

Willmot says the distributor is aware of the vehicles, and even considered purchasing them itself before walking away.

“Like any deal that is too good to be true, there’s always a hook,” he says.

“There are cars in Malaysia that are basically insurance write-offs. They have been exposed to salt water. There is no warranty on most of those cars, and they probably should have been destroyed.”

AutoTalk understands the vehicles may be connected to a cargo vessel incident in the region, but has been unable to confirm this.

Willmot says the cars would arrive in New Zealand without any BYD warranty or connected car services, and the distributor will be monitoring closely should any reach the market.

“We’re never going to turn a customer away in terms of servicing. But buyer beware. Customers should be really aware of what they are purchasing.”