It’s slightly smaller than the Tesla Model Y but costs less than half as much. BYD unveiled the new Sealion 05 EV and PHEV days ahead of their official debut. The entry-level electric SUV is equipped with BYD’s “God’s Eye” smart driving system and starts at just around $16,000. It even has a built-in refrigerator.
BYD launches new Sealion 05 EV, a smart electric SUV
Does your car have a mini-fridge? If it does, it likely wasn’t under $20,000. After launching the Sealion 05 last March, BYD’s low-cost electric SUV is already getting an upgrade.
Ahead of its official debut on April 20, Zhang Zhou, the general manager of BYD’s Ocean series, revealed the first images of the new Sealion 05 SUV.
The new Sealion 05 will launch with purely electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains. The all-electric version is equipped with a rear-mounted electric motor and will be available with two power outputs: 200 kW (268 hp) and 240 kW (321 hp).
BYD will reveal official specs on April 20, but the new Sealion 05 EV is expected to feature its new Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging technology, enabling it to recharge in as little as 5 minutes.
The SUV is equipped with a roof-mounted LiDAR and BYD’s DiPilot 300 advanced smart driving system. Inside, the interior features BYD’s latest design, with a 15.8″ floating central touchscreen and a smaller 8.8″ driver-cluster display. Physical buttons are now found on the steering wheel and below the infotainment screen.
The PHEV variant is powered by BYD’s fifth-generation DM plug-in hybrid system, featuring a 1.5-liter engine and a 120 kW (160 hp) electric motor.
It will be offered with two battery pack options: 26.6 kWh and 34.275 kWh, providing pure electric CLTC ranges of 220 km (136 miles) and 305 km (189 miles).
According to CarNewsChina, the Sealion 05 DM-i will start at 96,000 yuan ($14,000) and range up to 126,000 yuan ($18,500). We will learn prices for the EV variant next week, but it’s expected to start at about the same price as the current model, at around 117,800 yuan ($16,200).
BYD launched the current Sealion 05 EV last March. The smart electric SUV is available in three trims and starts at 117,800 yuan ($16,200).
Powered by a 50 kWh LFP battery, the base “Zhihang” Edition has up to 430 km (267 miles) of CLTC driving range. The mid “Smart” Edition and “Flagship Smart” models have a 60.9 kWh battery, providing up to 520 km (323 miles) of CLTC driving range.
The current Sealion 05 EV is 4,620 mm long, 1,860 mm wide, and 1,630 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,770 mm. That’s slightly smaller than the new Tesla Model Y launched in China (4,797 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, 1,624 mm tall).
In comparison, the base Tesla Model Y RWD starts at 263,500 yuan ($33,300) and has a CLTC range of up to 593 km (368 miles). The Long Range AWD starts at 313,500 yuan and has a range of up to 719 km (447 miles).
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BYD chairman and president Wang Chuanfu announced in a small group today that the company's car sales target for 2025 is 5.5 million units, including more than 800,000 in overseas markets, according to a report by local media LatePost.
Compared to the 4,272,145 vehicles sold in full year of 2024, the overall target represents an increase of about 29 percent. The overseas sales target represents an increase of 92 percent compared to 417,204 in 2024...
...2025 is a big year for BYD's products, with nearly 20 new models to be released across its four brands...It already has 21 models, which will be updated and added to smart driving versions to improve competitiveness, the report said, adding that in March alone, BYD held six new car launch events.
The BYD Sealion Smart Edition starts at 127,800 yuan ($17,600), while the flagship trim costs 137,800 yuan ($19,000).
With DC fast-charging speeds of up to 156 kW, the Sealion 05’s battery can charge from 30% to 80% in just 18 minutes.
All trims are equipped with BYD’s “God’s Eye” C driving assist system. BYD’s DiPilot 100 is a “three eye” intelligent driving platform powered by five radars, 12 ultrasonic radars, and 12 cameras for ADAS features such as High-Speed Navigate On Autopilot, Full-Scenario smart parking, and active safety.
The interior features a smaller 12.8″ floating center screen and an 8.8″ driver display. It also includes a built-in refrigerator to keep things cool (or even heated) on the road. Despite its compact size, the Sealion 05 EV offers plenty of storage, with a 110 L “extra large” frunk (front trunk) and a 600 L trunk that expands to 1,460 L with the rear seats folded.
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