A new partnership between electric vehicle manufacturer BYD Australia and salary packaging provider Smart aims to make manufactured electric vehicles more affordable for eligible Australians by integrating novated leasing into the vehicle purchasing process.
Smartgroup Corporation said in a media release that the agreement will see Smart become the strategic partner for BYD and its premium brand DENZA, providing access to more than 2.5 million Australians employed by its government, healthcare, education, corporate and not-for-profit clients to consider the vehicles through a Smart novated lease.
Eligible employees will be able to consider a BYD or DENZA vehicle through a Smart novated lease at the point of purchase, with access to information on affordability, tax savings and total cost of ownership.
The announcement comes as electric vehicle uptake continues to grow in Australia. According to VFACTS data cited in the release, battery electric vehicles accounted for 23 per cent of the new vehicle market in June 2026.
BYD Australia also reported year-to-date sales of 52,335 vehicles at the end of June, more than double the figure recorded at the same time last year.
BYD Australia General Manager Wing You said the partnership was intended to simplify the ownership experience for customers.
“As BYD continues to grow in Australia, we are focused on making new energy vehicle ownership as simple and accessible as possible for our customers,” You said.
“Partnering with Smart allows us to integrate novated leasing support into the dealership experience, helping customers understand affordability, savings and ownership options at the point of sale.”
Smart said the partnership enables customers to access available tax savings for eligible electric vehicles through the federal government’s electric car discount policy.
Smart’s Group Executive, Novated Leasing and Electric Vehicle Services, Sid Jha, said the collaboration combined two companies seeking to support Australia’s transition to electric vehicles.
“This partnership brings together two market leaders with a shared ambition to accelerate Australia’s transition to electric vehicles,” Jha said.
“BYD has transformed the Australian market by making EVs more accessible, and Smart can now help remove another major barrier by integrating novated leasing into the customer journey.”
Jha said Smart’s employer network would help provide customers with information about ownership costs and available savings before purchasing a vehicle.
“Smart reaches more than 2.5 million Australians through employers nationally. By integrating salary packaging into the BYD customer journey, we can remove friction at a critical point in the purchase process and give customers a clearer view of cost, savings and ownership options before they make a decision,” he said.
“For eligible Australians, this is about making EV ownership more attainable, not simply offering another way to finance a car. We can help customers understand whether a BYD through a Smart novated lease works for them, compare the cost of owning and running an EV, and give them the confidence to make the switch to electric.”
