BYD claims new Yangwang U8L frame passes 12-tonne lift test

BYD has announced that the new frame used on the luxury SUV Yangwang U8L has successfully passed an extreme test involving lifting a 12-tonne load. The company also claims the new structure is 56 kilograms lighter than the previous design. According to CarNewsChina’s report on Monday local time, the frame structure development began in 2023 through a collaboration with Hantek, which has an aerospace technology background. The structure uses an integrated casting component spanning 4.2 square metres with wall thickness varying between 4mm and 50mm—a manufacturing challenge previously considered beyond conventional automotive casting capabilities. Unlike typical automotive aluminium structures, the U8L’s frame uses 6000 and 7000 series aluminium alloys commonly used in the aerospace industry. This technology disclosure comes as Yangwang continues to be positioned as BYD’s flagship technology brand. At the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, Yangwang displayed special versions of the U8L and U9 Xtreme. Meanwhile, the limited-edition U9 Xtreme became BYD’s most expensive vehicle ever sold, priced at 20 million yuan, approximately US$2.76 million (Rp52 billion). According to China EV DataTracker data, Yangwang shipped 264 vehicles in April 2026, following sales of 307 units in March and 232 in February.