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The fifth new vehicle in two years from Chinese electric-car specialist BYD in Australia is all but confirmed to be a mid-size Tesla Model Y rival known as the Seal U.
Chinese electric-car maker BYD is preparing to introduce a rival for the top-selling Tesla Model Y electric SUV in Australia – the 2024 BYD Seal U – to complete its passenger-car model range for the immediate future.
Due in showrooms sometime next year, the Seal U is larger than the small BYD Atto 3, and joins the mid-size electric SUV class occupied by the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Toyota BZ4X and Ford Mustang Mach-E.
A spy photo of a camouflaged Seal U – identified by its distinctive LED tail-light signature, and rear window shape – testing in Sydney has surfaced on social media this week, spotted by Carsales.
Speaking to Drive in Sydney this week, Luke Todd – managing director of BYD’s Australian distributor, EVDirect – would not explicitly say the Seal U is the mid-size SUV the company is planning to introduce next year.
However Mr Todd said: “the one that you’ve seen in camouflage is the one that’s coming to Australia. Whether it’s the Seal U or not, I can’t comment as yet.”
While prices are yet to be announced, other cars in the class are priced from about $70,000 to $85,000 plus on-road costs, depending on specification level, battery size and electric motor count.
Sold in the Song Plus Champion Edition in China, the Seal U borrows design cues and technology from the BYD Seal sedan, a Tesla Model 3 competitor due in Australian showrooms by the end of this year.
In Europe there is a choice of 71.8kWh and 87kWh ‘Blade’ lithium iron phosphate battery packs, good for a claimed 420km or 500km of driving range in European WLTP testing.
Drive has previously reported that all models share a 160kW electric motor capable of 0-100km/h acceleration in 9.3 seconds with the smaller battery, or 9.6 seconds with the larger battery.
The Seal U is said to be capable of 30 to 80 per cent fast charging in 28 minutes and 29 minutes respectively for the 71kWh and 87kWh batteries.
There are plug-in hybrid versions of the BYD Seal U available in China – using long-range plug-in technology branded as ‘DM-i’ – but it is unclear if they will be available in Australia.
It will be BYD’s fifth mass-production model in Australia behind the Atto 3 small SUV introduced last year, the Dolphin city hatch and Seal mid-size sedan due this year, and a ute due next year.
Mr Todd says the next phase of the company’s expansion in Australia is being discussed soon, and BYD Australia plans to launch “at least two models every year, and so far we’re comfortably on track for that.”
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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