Eagers Automotive Takes Full Ownership of BYD Australian Retail Business

Australia's biggest automotive retailer, Eagers Automotive, has entered into an agreement to acquire full control of the national retail operations for BYD vehicles.

Under an unconditional agreement announced on Monday, Eagers will purchase the remaining 20 per cent interest in EV Dealer Group Pty Ltd, the joint venture responsible for retailing BYD models across Australia. EV Dealer Group will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Eagers when the transaction finishes by the end of October.

The remaining minority stake was held by EVDirect, the company that originally launched BYD into the Australian market in 2022. Eagers initially acquired a 49 per cent holding in the retail venture at launch before increasing its share to 80 per cent in 2023. BYD Australia assumed direct control of wholesale vehicle distribution in 2025, leaving the joint venture to concentrate solely on retail store operations and customer handovers.

To fund the buyout, Eagers will use a combination of cash and 1,126,779 ordinary shares, with the equity component valued at roughly $21.1 million. Eagers told shareholders it expects the transaction to boost earnings by 5.0 to 5.5 per cent, reflecting strong commercial performance as EV adoption hits record levels nationwide.

The move follows a significant surge in deliveries for BYD, which ranked as Australia's second-best-selling automotive brand in September with over 8,100 registrations.

What this means for your novated lease

For drivers looking at salary packaging an electric car, full ownership by Australia's largest dealership network is positive news for supply, pricing, and handover convenience.

• Faster turnarounds on popular models: By consolidating retail under a single parent company with nationwide scale, ordering and stock allocation for high-demand electric SUVs and sedans should become more streamlined.
• Closer integration with lease providers: Major dealership groups generally maintain established fleet divisions that work directly with salary packaging firms, helping employees secure transparent quotes and avoid unnecessary dealer markups.
• Longer-term support network: Consolidating BYD retail under Eagers ensures strong financial backing for warranty work, routine servicing, and test drives, giving employees greater peace of mind when committing to a three- to five-year novated lease term.
• Tax savings remain untouched: Streamlined dealer distribution does not alter your tax benefits. Eligible battery electric vehicles priced beneath the luxury car tax limit continue to qualify for the full Fringe Benefits Tax exemption, keeping pre-tax salary deductions as cost-effective as ever.