The BYD Sealion 08 received 12,000 orders in 24 hours. A large SUV that can charge from 10% to 70% in 5 minutes.
BYD announced the start of sales for its new flagship SUV from the Ocean series. The Sealion 08 received over 12,000 orders within 24 hours of going on sale on September 2, 2026, with prices in China starting at 229,900 yuan, or about 121,000 złoty.
On paper, it appears to be a mix of a family cruiser and a technological showcase. But in China, BYD is capable of achieving such sales figures.
Two powertrain options and highly ambitious specifications
The Sealion 08 is available as a BEV and PHEV, in 5- or 6-seater configurations, with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. All versions are expected to feature the Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging technology.
BYD claims a charge from 10% to 70% in 5 minutes and from 10% to 97% in 9 minutes. This sounds very impressive, but these are the manufacturer’s factory specifications under ideal conditions that are usually difficult to replicate outside such perfect scenarios.
The electric version starts at 239,900 yuan, which is around 126,000 zł. It has a battery with a capacity of 115.072 kWh and, according to China’s CLTC standard, it can travel up to 900 km in the RWD version or 800 km in the AWD version. As usual, CLTC figures need to be adjusted accordingly. In Europe, such numbers would be significantly lower.
The PHEV variant uses a battery with a capacity of 55.843 kWh. BYD claims an electric range of up to 400 km per CLTC standard, along with a total range of 1,650 km. This is already at a level where the plug-in hybrid begins to resemble an EREV, though it isn’t officially one.
Dimensions like Hyundai IONIQ 9, interior like a lounge
The car has a length of 5,115 mm, a width of 1,999 mm, and a height of 1,800 mm, with a wheelbase of 3,030 mm. For comparison, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 is 5,060 mm long, 1,980 mm wide, and 1,790 mm high, but it has a larger wheelbase of 3,130 mm.
The BYD cabin doesn’t skimp on features. It includes a 17.3-inch central screen, 12.3-inch displays, a 26-inch AR-HUD, and a 21.4-inch screen for rear passengers that drops down from the ceiling. There’s also a refrigerator, zero-gravity seats, and Devialet audio with 25 speakers.
The standard equipment also includes the DiSus-A air suspension with dual-chamber tires and the God’s Eye B driver assistance package with God’s Eye 5.0 system.
Zhang Zhou, the sales head of BYD’s Ocean division, posted a video noting that production is “at full speed” with deliveries across the country. This isn’t accidental, as BYD previously had a similar launch with the Great Tang, which received over 30,000 orders in 24 hours and more than 100,000 orders in two weeks. In August alone, 11,010 units were sold, bringing the total since its launch in mid-June to 27,212 cars.
The European story is simple. If BYD ever decides to bring the Sealion 08 to the EU, it likely won’t be under a budget brand but as a model showing how far the Chinese have come in the large family car segment. The question is only how much of these claims about charging will hold up against reality.
And you, would you prefer such a large BYD as a pure BEV or rather a PHEV with a 55.8 kWh battery?
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