Coffee, catch-ups and your next EV: Inside BYD’s Tampines 1 lifestyle showroom

Shopping for your next car no longer has to mean setting aside an entire afternoon.

Instead, it could be as simple as popping into your neighbourhood mall after work, grabbing a coffee with a friend and taking a closer look at the latest electric vehicles (EVs) before heading off for dinner or ticking off your weekend errands.

That is the thinking behind Vantage Automotive’s new BYD showroom at Tampines 1, the first lifestyle-focused retail concept from the brand’s authorised distributor. 

Rather than a conventional showroom, the space has been designed as a lifestyle destination where shoppers can browse the latest EVs, enjoy a coffee, attend workshops or simply get to know the brand while going about their day.

The concept comes as EVs become increasingly mainstream in Singapore. They now account for about 60 per cent of new car registrations, fuelled by government incentives, a growing choice of models and more competitive pricing. 

James Ng, managing director of BYD Singapore and president of BYD Philippines, says: “As electric vehicle adoption continues to accelerate, it is important for us to bring the BYD brand closer to where our customers live, work and spend their time.”

He adds that the Tampines 1 outlet expands the brand’s presence in the east while creating “new opportunities for customers to discover BYD’s cutting-edge technology and experience our vehicles in a convenient and welcoming environment”.

For Vantage Automotive, the concept is as much about building familiarity with the brand as it is about selling cars.

Andrew Basham, managing director of Sime Motors, the parent company of Vantage Automotive, says: “BYD’s still a young brand. It’s only been in Singapore for five years, and it’s only been large globally for three or four years.”

Rather than expecting customers to make a dedicated trip to a showroom, he says the idea is to meet them where they already spend their time.

“We want much more of a community aspect, to be in the community with the people, where all the locals are wandering through,” he says.

How BYD is making EV shopping part of everyday life

Located within Tampines 1, the showroom gives residents, families and working professionals in the east an easier way to explore BYD’s latest EVs without making a special trip to Singapore’s traditional automotive belt.

Its design reflects that philosophy. Instead of rows of cars in a conventional retail space, visitors are greeted by a curved layout centred around a circular coffee and snack bar, with comfortable seating that invites them to slow down and stay awhile.

Whether you’re catching up with a friend over coffee, waiting for the kids to finish an enrichment class or taking a break from a shopping trip, the space offers an opportunity to explore the latest offerings.

The showroom can accommodate up to three vehicles, including the compact Atto 2, the Seal 6 DM-i plug-in hybrid and the seven-seat Sealion 8, giving visitors the chance to compare models suited to different lifestyles, from daily commuting to growing families.

Visitors can also speak with product specialists to better understand what living with an EV is really like, from charging and ownership to choosing the model that best suits their lifestyle.

“We want to make it more inviting... to get people to come in, have a look, feel comfortable. They can have some bakery items, have a coffee, take a test drive, or just become familiar with the place,” Basham explains.

Why this is more than just a place to buy your next car

Beyond displaying vehicles, the Tampines 1 showroom has also been designed as a community space with a calendar of lifestyle activities throughout the year.

Visitors can look forward to sustainability talks, EV education sessions and family-friendly workshops such as matcha-making and cake decorating. 

Rotating collaborations with food and beverage and lifestyle brands will also keep the programme fresh, giving visitors new reasons to return throughout the year beyond browsing the latest models.

The aim is to encourage repeat visits and build familiarity with the brand long before customers are ready to make their next car purchase.

“The idea is to make them feel comfortable about BYD so that it becomes a familiar experience when they are looking to purchase their next car,” says Basham.

The Tampines 1 showroom complements Vantage Automotive’s flagship facility at Alexandra Road, where customers can access after-sales servicing and maintenance. 

Together, the two locations offer a seamless ownership journey, from exploring and purchasing a vehicle to long-term ownership support.

BYD by Vantage Automotive is open daily at Tampines 1, #01-04 to 07, from 10am to 10pm. Prospective owners enjoy up to $8,000 in ownership benefits, plus a chance to win up to $1,000 in shopping vouchers.