Tag: dynasty

  • BYD Builds Ten-Millionth Dynasty Vehicle as Da Han Sedan Nears Launch

    BYD Builds Ten-Millionth Dynasty Vehicle as Da Han Sedan Nears Launch

    BYD rolled its ten-millionth Dynasty series car off the assembly line in China on September 29. An upcoming Da Han flagship sedan logged the production record.

    Production of the lineup began nearly thirteen years ago with the Qin plug-in hybrid in December 2013. The final 1.14 million units took less than nine months to build.

    Lu Tian, general manager of the Dynasty sales division, announced the figure ahead of the sedan’s October 13 commercial launch. Presales opened August 21 at the Chengdu Auto Show. Three battery-electric variants are priced between 249,900 yuan and 299,900 yuan ($37,070 to $44,670).

    The five-seat vehicle measures 5,256 mm long with a 3,130 mm wheelbase. Both rear-wheel-drive editions claim 1,008 km of range under China light-duty vehicle test cycle standards. The all-wheel-drive trim offers 880 km. Dual-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering, flash charging and LiDAR-based driver assistance come standard across all versions.

    Mainstream Models Squeeze Upmarket Sales

    Sales for the domestic lineup have shifted downward into mass-market segments. The earlier Han sedan and Tang sport utility vehicle established BYD in the premium tier, but both nameplates have lost retail share.

    August retail deliveries for Dynasty reached 170,842 vehicles, up 13.88 per cent year on year. The Han family contributed 2,997 units and the Tang line delivered 12,340 units, making up roughly 9 per cent of the monthly total. Cheaper volume rested on the Yuan, Song and Qin families. Together they delivered 153,726 vehicles, or 89.8 per cent of August Dynasty sales.

    Export Strength Offsets Domestic Softness

    Adding higher-margin models like the Da Han helps hedge against price competition across China. Group new energy vehicle sales climbed 17.84 per cent to 440,293 units in August. Total deliveries across the first eight months fell 6.84 per cent to 2,668,015 vehicles.

    Foreign sales have offset slower domestic growth. Shipments outside China rose 134.6 per cent in August to 188,700 passenger cars, generating 43 per cent of group volume. First-half international revenue reached 181.27 billion yuan. That accounted for 52.57 per cent of total turnover, overtaking domestic sales receipts for the first time.

    Expanding the Upper Dynasty Portfolio

    The Da Han follows the June 17 rollout of the Da Tang SUV, which delivered its 10,000th unit on July 23. Both larger vehicles sit above the original Han and Tang lines to defend higher price tiers against domestic rivals.

    Year-to-date Dynasty deliveries reached 1,045,805 units through August, down 13.15 per cent from the same period in 2025. That contraction narrowed from 22.44 per cent in the first half of the year. Volume has now grown year on year for three straight months since June.

    Regulatory filings show BYD has registered a plug-in hybrid variant of the Da Han, though pre-orders currently cover only electric trims. Commercial pricing and delivery dates for the hybrid will follow after battery-electric handovers start on October 13.

  • Singapore’s Rubber King Dynasty Sells Prime District Plot for $453M, Paving Way for Residential Development

    Singapore’s Rubber King Dynasty Sells Prime District Plot for $453M, Paving Way for Residential Development

    A piece of land in Singapore, associated with the family of the city’s late “rubber king,” Lee Kong Chian, has been sold for S$578 million (US$453 million). The 18,860-square-meter property, located at 8 Thomson Lane, was sold bearing a 105-year leasehold tenure. Currently, the site is earmarked for hotel use under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Master Plan 2025. However, the selling party, Chequers Properties, has allegedly secured preliminary approval to transform the site into a residential development.

    Details of the Purchase

    The buyer of the property is a joint venture spearheaded by Sustained Land, a residential developer based in Singapore and created by magnate Douglas Ong. The venture also includes the construction firm Kay Lim Realty. The plot is situated in Singapore’s prime District 11, in close proximity to the Singapore Polo Club, United Square’s retail outlets, the Novena medical cluster, and various educational institutions such as St Joseph’s Institution International and CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh). Additionally, it is near the Toa Payoh MRT station and the future Mount Pleasant MRT station.

    Previously, the site was the location of a historic country bungalow that later evolved into a hotel and resort before becoming the campus of EtonHouse International School, which shut its doors in 2023.

    Late ‘Rubber King’ and his Legacy

    The late Lee Kong Chian, famously known as the “rubber king,” founded Lee Rubber Company, a small rubber smokehouse that he developed into a multi-million dollar empire. His pursuits later expanded into the banking sector, where he led the merger of three banks, forming OCBC Bank in 1932, which now stands as Southeast Asia’s second-largest bank in terms of assets.

    Earlier this year, one of Lee’s grandsons reportedly purchased a bungalow on Barker Road for S$43.2 million. Another grandson bought two vertically stacked units at the Seven Palms Sentosa Cove condominium, totaling S$23.9 million, not long before that. The Lee family was listed as the 11th richest family in Singapore, with an estimated net worth of US$7.75 billion, by Forbes in September of last year.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the significance of the site sold?
    The site sold by the Lee family, located at 8 Thomson Lane, is of great historical significance as it housed a historic country bungalow that was later transformed into a hotel and resort before becoming an international school campus.

    Who are the buyers of the property?
    The land was purchased by a joint venture led by Singapore-based residential developer Sustained Land, owned by business tycoon Douglas Ong, and also includes construction firm Kay Lim Realty.

    What was Lee Kong Chian known for?
    Lee Kong Chian was known as the “rubber king” for founding the Lee Rubber Company, which turned into a multi-million dollar business. He later expanded his business into the banking sector and led the merger forming OCBC Bank.