BYD will soon bring a rival for Australia’s best-selling electric vehicle (EV) to its local showrooms.
Due in the second half of 2024 (July to December inclusive), the BYD Sealion 7 – sold overseas as the Sea Lion 07 – will be the brand’s fourth all-electric model in showrooms, to be sold alongside the smaller Atto 3 SUV, Dolphin hatchback and Seal sedan.
Unlike the plug-in hybrid Sealion 6, the Sealion 7 adopts design elements from the Seal, while also sharing similar dimensions to the rival Tesla Model Y.
Measuring 4830mm long, 1925mm wide, and 1620mm tall with a wheelbase of 2930mm, the Sealion 7 is 5mm wider and 80mm longer than the Tesla Model Y, and larger than the Atto 3 across every dimension.
It’s underpinned by the brand’s e-platform 3.0 EV architecture which is also found under the Seal sedan, with its BYD Blade battery – available in 71.8kWh and 80.64kWh capacities – integrated into its structure for greater rigidity and safety.
In China, three powertrains are offered: two rear-wheel drive grades with 170kW and 230kW respectively, plus a flagship dual-motor Performance model offering up to 390kW.
Driving range varies from 550km for the base rear-wheel drive and flagship all-wheel drive to 610km in the case of the mid-range, 230kW model – all tested to the lenient CLTC cycle.
Pricing in China ranges from 189,800 yuan ($39,000) to 239,800 yuan ($49,525), undercutting the Tesla Model Y which starts at 249,900 yuan ($51,600), but more expensive than the base Seal sedan’s 179,800 yuan ($37,130) price tag.
For context, the BYD Seal is priced from $49,888 before on-road costs in Australia, while the Tesla Model Y starts from $60,900 before on-road costs.
More details including Australian pricing and specifications are due to be announced closer to the Sealion 7’s local launch.
BYD’s Australian distributor – EVDirect – has previously said it plans to launch at least two new vehicles each year from this year, with the aim of being a top-five brand on the local sales charts in 2025.
Across the opening five months of 2024, BYD was the 16th-best selling carmaker in Australia with 7805 sales – 3386 Seals, 3375 Atto 3s and 1044 Dolphins.
By contrast, Tesla sold 9610 Model Ys and 8823 Model 3s across the same period.
The BYD Shark – the brand’s plug-in hybrid ute – is also due to arrive in Australia during the second half of 2024.
