How BYD is redefining automotive spaces in Singapore

[This is a sponsored article with BYD by 1826.]

Singapore’s physical spaces are shifting from purely transactional retail to experience-led destinations.

Consumers, especially younger and urban audiences, increasingly seek places where they can linger without pressure, connect socially and experience a brand through food, design and culture.

Across industries, retail, food and lifestyle brands are rethinking how space functions—not just to sell, but to shape how they are experienced.

From individual brands like Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami’s pop-up, where potential customers can pamper themselves with a cinema, cafe and carestation to creative precincts like New Bahru that feature retail brands in a design-led and cultural environment, physical environments are becoming strategic branding tools.

Now, the automotive industry is catching up. BYD by 1826, which claims to be Singapore’s first integrated automotive lifestyle brand, wants to lead the way in enhancing how car showrooms can appeal to customers.

BYD is transforming the car-buying experience

While lifestyle-first spaces are common in fashion, food, and retail, automotive retail spaces have largely remained transactional. Traditional showrooms can feel intimidating or high-pressure, especially for first-time buyers.

As electric vehicle (EV) adoption grows and car ownership becomes a lifestyle choice rather than a status symbol, expectations around how people engage with car brands are shifting, alongside the global move towards experiential spaces. 

This is evident from how two-thirds of people globally expect the places and spaces where they live, work and play to provide more enjoyment, diverse activities, and add value to the time they spend there.

As such, BYD has been experimenting with spaces that blend automotive retail with lifestyle experiences. Over the years, it has launched several of these spaces, including the first BYD-themed restaurant, BYD by 1826, which opened at Boat Quay in 2023. 

These outlets have helped the brand understand how Singaporeans interact with cars in relaxed, everyday settings and refine its automotive-lifestyle retail model.

Michelle Ho, Chief Brand Officer & Chief Culinary Officer, shared: “Each outlet sharpened our understanding of how different communities engage with us.”

For instance, while BYD by 1826’s Zhongshan Park outlet demonstrated the strength of inclusive, pet-friendly environments that encourage longer stays, the Suntec and Tanjong Pagar outlets reinforced the need for accessibility and seamless integration into the routines of professionals. 

On the other hand, BYD by 1826 at Waterway Point highlighted the power of neighbourhood familiarity and repeat visits driven by coffee culture.

Armed with these insights, its latest IMM outlet, located in the West, draws inspiration from local identity and daily routines. The outlet combines electric vehicles, a café, design elements, and community-focused activities.

Alongside its accessible EVs, BYD by 1826 at IMM also includes DENZA, a premium electric‑vehicle brand owned by the Chinese automaker. 

BYD by 1826’s IMM hub represents the evolution of the concept from hybrid showroom to experiential hub… [it] signals a deeper commitment to embedding BYD within the social fabric of the neighbourhood.

Michelle Ho, Chief Brand Officer & Chief Culinary Officer of BYD by 1826

What you can expect at BYD by 1826’s IMM hub

At the BYD by 1826 IMM hub, visitors can enjoy speciality coffee and Singaporean fusion fare, from Chilli Crab Shiok-shuka to Tiger Prawn Risotto Pao Fan, in a pet-friendly, family-oriented space designed for lingering.

While they enjoy the ambience and food, they can also browse cars from BYD and DENZA. 

Together, these elements form a “café-first” environment where food, conversation, and community unfold alongside automobiles, according to the brand. 

This reinforces BYD by 1826’s vision of automotive-lifestyle integration, where they aim to position cars as part of a place of familiarity and belonging.

The brand has noticed that because customers are not in a sales-driven environment, they feel comfortable asking questions at their own pace, which piques their curiosity. 

In several cases, repeat visits have led to spontaneous test drives and eventually to serious purchase considerations.

When people experience the brand in a relaxed, lifestyle setting, trust builds organically. That sustained engagement has proven far more impactful than a single transactional interaction.

“Each location we open is not just about showcasing cars—it’s about creating experiences that belong to Singaporeans,” said Davin Ongsono, CEO of BYD by 1826. 

The future of automotive spaces

In Singapore, it’s clear that retail spaces are no longer just about transactions—they’re evolving into experience-driven destinations. 

BYD has embraced this trend by creating spaces that combine cars, cafés, and community activities, offering a more relaxed and engaging way for people to explore automotive options.

It’s a notable disruption in the automotive industry, which has long relied on traditional, transactional showrooms. 

From the West to the East, the brand wants Singaporeans to experience what the future of automotive spaces can look like. You can check out BYD by 1826 at IMM here, and discover its other lifestyle spaces across the city-state here.

Featured Image Credit: BYD by 1826