BYD is certainly keen on filling out some of the gaps in its model line-up – and this one’s a biggie. The Chinese carmaker has just unveiled its new ETT 44, an electric HGV tractor unit. 

The four-wheel truck comes with up to 1,000hp and 372 miles of range from its 651kWh Blade LFP battery. 

BYD says that you can charge the ETT 44 from 20% to 80% in just 20 minutes on one of its 1.5MW Flash chargers, adding 248 miles of range while you’re there. 

The company has plans to install 300 of its Flash chargers in the UK before the end of 2026, and there are already over 10,000 of them in China. 

It’ll charge at up to 420kW on a CCS ultra rapid charger, which would mean getting from 20% to 80% in a more sedate “less than 60 minutes”. 

Even electric trucks can’t escape getting a huge touchscreen infotainment screen – this one is 12.8 inches and comes with Apple and Android connectivity as standard. BYD describes the interior of its new truck as “driver focused”, but we’ll take its word for it as we’ve not seen inside yet. 

The tractor unit weighs around 11 tonnes (quite a bit heavier than the new Tesla Semi that's coming to the UK in 2027 then) but can take a combined trailer/tractor weight of up to 44 tonnes. 

You get an impressive 10-year/1.2 million kilometre (746,000-mile) warranty on the truck’s battery, which will surely put even the most hardened fleet manager’s mind at ease. 

​BYD says that it is launching its commercial offering with a whole suite of options depending on your needs. 

Another truck it’s showing off in Hannover is a 26-tonne beast that comes as either a swap body truck like they use in dockyards that can shift freight containers around. 

The other version of this it has on display is a hook lift truck that can drag all sorts of containers and flat beds onto its own back for maximum practicality. 

BYD says that unlike other carmakers (lorrymakers?) it’s taking a holistic approach to fleet management where it’ll help companies with their charging infrastructure, operations and financing so that they can get the best out of their electric trucks. 

The Ford E-Transit rivalling BYD e-Vali is set to arrive in the UK at some point in early 2027