BYD Australia COO: 95% of parts reach dealers within 24 hours as aftersales network expands

BYD's rapid sales growth in Australia has brought a new challenge: making sure its aftersales operations can keep pace with the number of vehicles on the road. The brand has faced criticism over parts shortages and long repair waiting times, prompting it to step up investment in logistics, dealer coverage and customer support.

In an interview, BYD Australia Chief Operating Officer (COO) Stephen Collins made a bold assessment of the company's progress, saying, "We can ramp up, we can ramp down, we can flex better than anyone, I think, in the automotive world."

From a new parts distribution network to a stronger presence in regional areas and a bigger push into fleet sales, BYD is working to build a stronger foundation for its long-term business in Australia.

Teaming up with SF Express

Earlier this year, the rapid growth of newer EV brands in Australia put considerable pressure on the automotive parts supply chain. Some owners reportedly had to wait as long as six to eight weeks for repairs because replacement parts were not readily available.

Collins said improving parts supply and aftersales support had been his top priority since taking on the COO role.

"It was right at the top of the list and we had a really good understanding that good brands that want to become great brands in this country need not just parts and not just service, but training, local development, and the development of people."

To improve the flow of parts across the country, BYD has joined forces with logistics company SF Express to establish a dedicated distribution network.

• Main distribution centre: A new central hub for equipment and spare parts has been established in Melbourne.
• Regional warehouses: Satellite warehouses in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane support the distribution network, with more than 580,000 spare parts held in stock nationwide.
• Delivery times: BYD says up to 95% of parts can now reach dealerships within 24 hours.

The investment is aimed at turning parts availability from a weakness into a competitive advantage, while reducing the time customers spend waiting for repairs.

Toyota offers a model for customer retention

Collins also pointed to Toyota as an example of how to build a lasting presence in the Australian market. After decades of operation, Toyota has established an extensive aftersales network, helping it maintain strong customer loyalty.

He said, "Toyota are very, very good for a whole host of reasons." BYD has recently delivered its 150,000th vehicle in Australia and is aiming to reach 200,000 deliveries in the first quarter of next year.

He added that protecting residual values and providing a consistently positive ownership experience would be essential to keeping customers loyal and encouraging repeat purchases.

Expanding dealer network in Australia

Improving parts logistics is only one part of BYD's expansion strategy. The company is also increasing its number of sales and aftersales outlets, with a particular focus on areas beyond Australia's major cities.

• Current network: Around 120 full-service dealerships across Australia, providing sales, aftersales and parts services.
• Expansion targets: BYD aims to increase that number to 150 by the end of this year and 200 next year.
• Regional coverage: Most of the new outlets will be located in provincial and rural areas.

BYD Australia public relations representative Paul Ellis said 24 of the 33 new dealerships scheduled to open in the second half of 2026 would be in rural areas or smaller regional towns.

Fleet sales and Flash Charging in focus

With parts supply and dealership coverage being strengthened, BYD is now looking to broaden its business in Australia, with commercial fleets and charging infrastructure among its next priorities.

Growing its presence in commercial fleets

Collins said BYD would step up investment in fleet sales next year, targeting tradespeople, rental companies, government agencies and large corporate fleets.

The Shark pick-up is expected to play an important role in this push. Its recently introduced Cab Chassis version is designed to meet the needs of commercial operators, including businesses in construction, maintenance and utilities.

BYD is also seeing interest in other models for fleet use. These include the Sealion 7, Atto 3 Evo and the entry-level Atto 1 and Atto 2, giving fleet buyers a broader choice across different vehicle categories.

Keeping the focus on BYD and Denza

While competitors such as Chery are expanding their presence through multiple brands, Collins said BYD had no intention of adopting a similar approach.

“For us, there's no way we're looking at having nine brands or anything like that. For us, it's two that are critical, BYD and Denza."

BYD's Flash Charging network is another development to watch. Collins said the company was actively working on its plans and expected to share more details early next year.

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