12,000 units sold in 24 hours: new milestone for BYD’s SUV with a range of 1,650 km, 9-minute charging time, and a price of 29,500€
BYD seems to have succeeded with one of its most important launches of the year. The new BYD Sealion 08 received over 12,000 confirmed orders within its first 24 hours on sale in China, according to Zhang Zhuo, general sales director of the Ocean series. This figure is particularly significant because it includes not only pre-orders but also customers who finalized purchases after the launch.
The new SUV is available in 8 versions, ranging from electric to plug-in hybrid, with prices between 229,900 and 279,900 yuan, roughly equivalent to 29,500 and 35,900 euros at current exchange rates. BYD combines this pricing with unusual specifications—its length is 5,115 mm, it can accommodate 5 or 6 passengers, and depending on the version, it offers up to 900 km of electric range or 1,650 km of combined range.
A massive SUV over 5.1 meters long with up to 6 seats
The Sealion 08 is a large SUV measuring 5,115 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width, and 1,800 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,030 mm. Its design follows BYD’s Ocean Aesthetics 2.0 concept, featuring split front headlights, a horizontal light bar, and a huge rear lighting signature at 1,982 mm long.
The interior can be configured with 5 or 6 seats. In the latter case, two individual seats appear in the second row, while certain seats offer heating, ventilation, and 10-point massage. It also features a central 17.3-inch multimedia screen, a 12.3-inch instrument panel, a 26-inch head-up display with augmented reality, and a 21.4-inch ceiling screen for rear passengers.
BYD includes a Devialet sound system with 25 speakers and Dolby Atmos, along with a 7.3-liter integrated refrigerator. The 5-seater version offers 943 liters of trunk space and an additional 201 liters under the front hood. The 6-seater model has 317 liters behind the last row, which can be expanded to 1,173 liters by folding the seats, while still retaining the 201 liters in front.
Up to 900 km on electricity or 1,650 km with the plug-in hybrid
The mechanical options are particularly extensive, as the BYD Sealion 08 plug-in hybrids use the fifth generation of BYD’s DM technology, combining a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with 156 HP and a second-generation Blade battery with a capacity of 55.843 kWh. The single-electric-motor version delivers 272 HP, while the all-wheel-drive variants use two electric motors, each with 272 HP.
Depending on the configuration, these PHEVs achieve between 350 and 400 kilometers of all-electric range under the CLTC cycle. With the battery charged and the tank full, BYD claims up to 1,650 kilometers of combined range and a gasoline consumption of 4.6 l/100 km when the battery is depleted.
The all-electric version is even more powerful. The rear-wheel-drive variant delivers up to 503 horsepower, while the all-wheel-drive model combines two engines to achieve 796 horsepower. The latter can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. Its second-generation Blade battery has a capacity of 115.072 kWh, enabling up to 900 kilometers of CLTC range.
A full charge in just nine minutes
Charging speed is another of its key advantages. BYD claims that the Sealion 08 can recover a useful amount of energy in just 5 minutes and fully charge its battery in 9 minutes under optimal conditions using its ultra-fast charging technology.
The steerable rear axle also allows for what is known as ‘Crab Walk,’ enabling the vehicle to move diagonally to facilitate certain maneuvers. In terms of driver assistance, all versions come standard with BYD’s God’s Eye B system featuring the God’s Eye 5.0 platform, LiDAR, as well as city navigation assistance and automated parking functions.
The Sealion 08 began its pre-order period on August 13th, but it was on September 2nd that BYD announced its final prices and officially started selling it. Just 24 hours later, Zhang Zhuo confirmed that the number of firm orders had already exceeded 12,000 units.