BYD has unveiled its brand-new C12 DUO battery-electric coach during a company press conference at Euro Bus Expo 2026 in Birmingham.
The coach marks the company’s first dedicated foray into the UK coach sector, and is now available for purchase, with service entry expected in spring 2027.
Measuring in at 12.3 metres in length, 2.5 metres in width and 3.5 metres in height; the BYD C12 DUO is equipped with a pair of BYD Fe Batteries (429 kWh & 495 kWh), and touts a range of up to 340 miles.
Each vehicle offers seating for up to 57 passengers, and is equipped with USB ports, power sockets, a pneumatic driver’s seat with heating and ventilation, a BYD D-Link multimedia cockpit pad, and a dedicated wheelchair area.
The range has been developed with a full fire suppression system in the rear compartment, an electro-hydraulic power steering system (EHPS), adaptive cruise control (ACC), automatic emergency breaking (AEB), forward collision warning (FCW), lane departure warning (LDW), a blind spot information system (BSIS), a moving off information system (MOIS), advanced driver distraction warning (DDAW), driver drowsiness and attention warning (ADDW), intelligent speed assistance (ISA), event data recorders (EDR), alcohol interlock, an electronic exterior rearview mirror and full 360 degree surround-view.
The introduction of the C12 DUO electric coach forms part of BYD’s new, extended plan to both bolster the company’s presence within the UK and further reinforce its support for the industry as a whole.
During a conference at Euro Bus Expo 2026; Frank Thorpe, Managing Director of BYD UK Commercial Vehicles discussed the company’s intentions to expand its existing industry footprint to incorporate more business outside of London – where it currently stands as the second most prominent manufacturer active today. Thorpe lamented the current challenges facing the bus and coach sectors, stressing that BYD’s future developments will aim to reduce some of the stresses introduced by franchising, falling passenger numbers and a lack of support for the industry as a whole.
