BYD Seal U: The electric version is no longer orderable, but the plug-in hybrid remains available

Image: BYD

The Chinese automaker BYD no longer offers its mid-size SUV Seal U in Germany with a purely electric drive. The electric version has been removed from the current German model lineup and can no longer be configured regularly, according to InsideEVs. The Seal U DM-i, which combines a gasoline engine with an electric drive, is still available. No official statement has been released regarding the reasons for discontinuing the electric variant.

According to the BYD Seal Forum, the electric version was taken off the market as early as June 2026. ADAC also lists June 2026 as the end of production for both variants. The all-electric Seal U was introduced to the German market at the end of 2023 and was available in the Comfort and Design trim levels. Both versions are equipped with an electric motor on the front axle delivering 160 kW (218 hp). The lithium-iron-phosphate batteries have capacities of 71.8 kWh and 87 kWh respectively, allowing ranges of 420 kilometers and 500 kilometers under WLTP standards. The original list prices started at 42,990 euros for the Comfort version and 46,490 euros for the Design version.

In terms of charging technology, the Seal U does not belong to the faster electric SUVs in its class. The maximum DC charging capacity is 115 kW for the smaller battery pack and 140 kW for the larger one, according to the manufacturer. BYD states that it takes 42 minutes or 43 minutes respectively to charge from 10% to 80% capacity.

German registration figures show significant differences between the two powertrain variants. From January to September 2026, 1,187 fully electric Seal U vehicles were newly registered, according to data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority, while the Seal U DM-i achieved 11,291 new registrations during the same period. This means that around 90% of all combined registrations went to the plug-in hybrid version. In September alone, statistics recorded 1,867 Seal U DM-i units compared to 161 vehicles with purely electric drive.

The still available Seal U DM-i combines an internal combustion engine with an externally rechargeable 18.3-kWh battery system. Depending on the version, BYD claims an electric WLTP range of up to 125 kilometers and a combined range of up to 1,125 kilometers for the current model generation.

Among BYD’s fully electric SUV lineup is also the Sealion 7, which has a length of around 4.83 meters, similar to that of the previous Seal U. This model comes with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive depending on the version, and it offers more powerful engines than the discontinued electric Seal U. However, with its different positioning and higher regular starting price of 49,990 euros, the Sealion 7 is not a price-equivalent replacement.

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Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.

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