BYD Seal: Tesla 3 competitor from China to launch in Germany in 2023

Manufacturer BYD (Build Your Dreams) is bringing its sedan to Germany from 2023. After having teased the BYD Seal with some visual parallels to the Tesla 3 already in April, numerous details now followed, which also confirm the market launch for Germany in 2023.

BYD Seal: mid-size sedan unveiled

It is obvious that the BYD Seal electric mid-size sedan from the Chinese manufacturer is based on the Tesla Model 3. The Seal has now celebrated its premiere on the Chinese domestic market, and the car is scheduled to be launched in this country in mid-2023. Germany and Sweden are to make a start.

Visually, the chic sedan is reminiscent of the Ocean Aestetics concept car, which BYD presented to the public around two years ago. However, the Seal is based on a completely new platform that enables electric cars with rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, which is exactly what the new sedan offers. Here, the battery is embedded in the structure of the vehicle as a supporting and connecting element.

The presentation in China now provides full details of the e-car, which is a 4.80-meter mid-size electric sedan. At the front, the vehicle relies on a double-wishbone independent suspension, while a five-link design is used on the rear axle.

All-wheel drive with up to 530 hp

The BYD Seal is offered in various versions. In the entry-level model, the e-limousine relies on rear-wheel drive with 150 kW or 204 hp and a 61.4 kWh battery, which is said to enable a maximum range of 550 kilometers.

The all-wheel-drive variant comes to a total of 390 kW or 530 hp and is composed of a 160 kW front-wheel drive and a 230 kW rear-wheel drive. In addition, the 82.5 kWh battery is significantly larger and should enable a range of up to 650 kilometers.

As the third model around the federal government, the long-range variant combines only the 230 kW rear-mounted engine with the large battery pack; the manufacturer does not provide a range specification for this. However, all three models can be charged quickly with a maximum of 150 kilowatts, which is not too great a charging speed.

The new battery is called Blade and is made of iron phosphate. Cobalt is dispensed with completely, and at the same time heat generation, longevity and range are said to benefit from this.

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High driving comfort

BYD is full-bodiedly calling the combination of battery and body in the manufacturer’s new 3.0 platform “cell-to-body” (CTB) technology. It is also said to have a positive effect on the sedan’s steering and driving dynamics while improving ride comfort.

One advantage of the composite solution is its torsional stiffness of 40,500 Nm per degree, putting it on a par with luxury class vehicles. In addition, the Seal promises a balanced axle load ratio of 50:50, as well as a particularly low center of gravity that keeps the car safely on the road.

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BYD Seal pricing and availability

While the BYD Seal is already launching in China, in this country we will have to wait until mid-2023. Here, the model will first be offered for sale in Germany and Sweden, but the manufacturer does not give a specific launch date. That might be better, since imports by sea are currently slow anyway.

The price for the entry-level model starts at 220,000 yuan, or about 31,860 euros, at least in China. The all-wheel-drive version costs 290,000 yuan (just under 42,000 euros).

This is largely in line with the teasers from April, which means that BYD is significantly undercutting its biggest competitor in the form of the Tesla Model 3 – one of the most popular e-cars in China. Demand for the BYD Seal is said to have been correspondingly high. The manufacturer is talking about more than 50,000 pre-orders, and the first vehicles are to be delivered this year.