BYD is on a hot streak of launching new models in Australia, but one of them has been pushed back to next year.
The Australian launch of the BYD Sealion 7 is now set to take place in February 2025. It was previously scheduled for release before the end of 2024.
The mid-size electric SUV will be another direct to the popular Tesla Model Y, which is currently Australia’s top-selling electric vehicle (EV).
100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
When asked about pricing for the Sealion 7, the CEO of BYD’s local distributor EVDirect, David Smitherman, told CarExpert it will be “really competitively positioned against our known competitors”.
“So we haven’t set the pricing yet, but you can be assured it will be very competitive,” said Mr Smitherman.
“We know where we’d like to be, and if you look at the rest of our range and our pricing, we’re always very competitive on the price point, and we know we need to be.”
For reference, the Tesla Model Y is currently priced from $55,900 before on-roads for the base RWD, extending to $82,900 before on-roads for the Performance.
The BYD Seal, which is the sedan counterpart to the Sealion 7, on the other hand is priced from $49,888 before on-roads for the base Dynamic, extending to $68,748 before on-roads for the Performance.
BYD hasn’t locked in what its local Sealion 7 lineup will look like just yet.
In China, three powertrains are offered: two rear-wheel drive grades with 170kW and 230kW respectively, plus a flagship dual-motor Performance offering up to 390kW.
Driving range varies from 550km for the base rear-wheel drive and flagship all-wheel drive variants, to 610km in the case of the mid-range, 230kW model – all tested to the lenient CLTC cycle.
Measuring 4830mm long, 1925mm wide, and 1620mm tall with a wheelbase of 2930mm, the Sealion 7 is 5mm wider and 80mm longer than the Model Y, and larger than the Atto 3 across every dimension.
MORE: Everything BYD Sealion 7
