BYD Qin Max 2026: launch date, specs and Flash Charging explained

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BYD is bringing the Qin Max to market on August 13, at a moment when the whole Qin family has lost real momentum: 162,300 units were sold in China between January and July 2026, down 50.55% year-on-year. That makes the new flagship’s job bigger than just its charging speed — it has to win back buyers who have been drifting away from one of BYD’s best-selling model lines. The automaker said the reveal event in China starts on August 13 at 7:30 PM local time.

China’s MIIT regulatory filing lists two powertrain figures for the electric version: 240 kW as peak output and 120 kW as the rated figure — in other words, the filing describes one drivetrain, not two separate power tiers. In more familiar terms, that peak translates to roughly 326 hp, with a claimed top speed of 190 km/h.

The Qin Max measures 4,866 x 1,880 x 1,495 mm, with a 2,820 mm wheelbase, and the registered EV version has a curb weight of 1,795 kg. Compared with the Qin L, the new sedan is 36 mm longer and rides on a wheelbase stretched by 30 mm, yet its body is 20 mm narrower. In other words, the “Max” badge is mostly about extra length and a longer wheelbase, not a bigger car in every dimension.

Alongside the pure electric version, BYD is offering a plug-in hybrid with a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter engine paired with a 175 kW electric motor, or roughly 238 hp. The car also gets the God’s Eye B driver-assistance system. Chinese outlets had already reported the launch date back in July, so this stage effectively wraps up a nearly month-long teaser campaign ahead of the full premiere.

The biggest technical story remains the new-generation Flash Charging. BYD says its second-generation Blade Battery can complete a core charging cycle in around five minutes, with a near-full charge taking about nine. The company also plans to expand its Chinese network to 20,000 such stations by the end of 2026. The technology has already reached other new models in the lineup, and real-world tests of Flash Charging 2.0 have shown both the fast pace and some concerns about battery thermal behavior. On another BYD model, second-generation Blade tech has already delivered that nine-minute charging cycle.

Pricing for the Qin Max hasn’t been announced yet. That price tag will be the real test for the model: a nine-minute charge alone won’t guarantee a recovery for a line whose sales have roughly halved over seven months. BYD’s own lineup adds extra pressure too — the Qin Max needs to slot in above the Qin L without pulling buyers away from the brand’s pricier sedans.