BYD said its latest flagship SUV has become an instant best-seller. Within 24 hours of launching, the new Sealion 08 secured over 12,000 orders.
BYD Sealion 08 orders surge upon launch
BYD launched the Sealion 08 earlier this month, its flagship SUV in the Ocean lineup. The SUV is available in fully electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants, starting at 229,900 yuan, or about $34,000.
According to Zhang Zhou, head of sales at BYD’s Ocean division, the flagship SUV is already off to a strong start.
Zhou said the Sealion 08 received over 12,000 orders within 24 hours of going on sale on September 2.
The Sealion 08 comes in five- or six-seat configurations with rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive powertrain options.
All Sealion 08 variants are equipped with BYD’s latest Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging tech. As such, the vehicle’s battery can charge from 10% to 70% in 5 minutes. A full recharge (10% to 97%) takes just 9 minutes.
The EV version starts at 239,900 yuan ($35,500). It’s powered by a 115.072 kWh battery, providing up to 900 km (599 miles) of CLTC range for RWD models. AWD configurations offer up to 800 km (497 miles) of range.
The Sealion 08 PHEV uses a 55.843 kWh battery that provides a pure electric CLTC range of up to 400 km (248 miles) and a combined range of 1,650 km (1,025 miles).
Inside, the flagship SUV features BYD’s latest tech and software. The setup includes a 17.3″ floating central infotainment screen, a 12.3″ instrument cluster, a 26″ augmented-reality head-up display, plus a 21.4″ rear entertainment screen that drops from the roof.
Other premium extras include a built-in refrigerator, zero-gravity seats, and a 25-speaker Devialet sound system.
All Sealion 08 variants come with standard features including BYD’s DiSus-A dual-chamber air suspension system and God’s Eye B driver-assistance with God’s Eye 5.0 intelligent drive system.
The Sealion 08 is 5,115 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, and 1,800 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,030 mm, or about the size of the Hyundai IONIQ 9. The IONIQ 9 measures 5,060 mm long, 1,980 mm wide, and 1,790 mm tall, with a 3,130 mm wheelbase.
Zhou posted a video of the new flagship SUV on Friday with the caption “Full steam ahead, production at breakneck speed,” adding that it’s now being shipped nationwide.
The initial success follows the Great Tang (Da Tang in China), BYD’s flagship electric SUV under its Dynasty lineup, which secured over 30,000 orders in its first 24 hours on the market. Within two weeks, it had received more than 100,000 orders.
Last month, BYD sold 11,010 Great Tang SUVs, bringing the cumulative total to 27,212 since it went on sale in mid-June.
While BYD is best known for lower-priced EVs like the Seagull, sold overseas as the Dolphin Surf and Dolphin Mini, the company has quickly expanded into new segments, including full-size luxury SUVs, pickup trucks, off-roaders, electric supercars, super SUVs, and more.
The Chinese automaker is expanding globally, launching its luxury sub-brand Denza in Europe, the UK, and other overseas regions to drive growth.
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