BYD’s new Sealion 05 EV is finally here, and it’s even better than expected. The mass-market electric SUV is loaded with BYD’s “God’s Eye” smart driving tech, has up to 323 miles of driving range, 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. BYD is on fire. After launching the new Qin L EV yesterday, a new Tesla Model 3 rival but at half the cost (119,800 yuan/ $16,500), BYD has another trick up its sleeve.
BYD officially launched the Sealion 05 EV on Tuesday. 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 Sealion 05 EV is 4,520 mm long, 1,860 mm wide, and 1,630 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,720 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).
The BYD Sealion Smart Edition starts at 127,800 yuan ($17,600), while the flagship trim costs 137,800 yuan ($19,000).
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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.
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 another 12 cameras for ADAS features like High-Speed Navigate On Autopilot, Full-Scenario smart parking, and active safety.
Like the Qin L EV sedan, BYD’s new electric SUV adopts a revamped interior with a 12.8″ floating center screen and an 8.8″ driver display.
It even includes a built-in refrigerator to keep things cool (or even heated) on the road. Despite its compact size, the Sealion 05 EV has plenty of storage with a 110 L “extra large” frunk (front trunk) and a 600 L trunk that can expand to 1,460 L with the rear seats folded.
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