Automotive News Europe — 2024-10-15
Automotive Industry
The coupe-styled midsize UV will compete with the Tesla Model Y.
BYD said it will "dramatically" extended its reach into the European car market with the launch of the Sealion 7 battery-electric car.
The coupe-styled midsize SUV is a direct rival to the Tesla Model Y, which was Europe’s biggest selling electric vehicle through August with 126,628 units, according to figures from market researcher Dataforce.
BYD gave the Sealion its European debut at the Paris show auto show on 14 October 2024. Deliveries will begin in the fourth quarter, the company said. BYD did not disclose European pricing.
"The Sealion 7 shows how BYD is reacting to customer demand and tastes in the region as we extend our reach," Stella Li, head of BYD in Europe, said in a statement.
The Sealion 7 is BYD’s eighth model launch in Europe and will be its flagship model, showcasing the Chinese company’s latest battery and manufacturing technology.
The SUV is built on BYD’s latest version of the 3.0 electric platform that includes fast charging capability of up to 230 kilowatts on top models.
BYD builds the lithium iron phosphate battery pack into the structure of the car, a process it calls ‘cell-to-body.’ This approach has the advantage of reducing excess material usage, with the top of the pack becoming the floor of the car’s cabin.
BYD also claims the method lowers the center of gravity, increases cabin space, and improves handling due to the greater shell rigidity.
BYD said it will disclose European specifications in November during the car’s market launch. It said it had made some changes from the China market version.
In China, the Sealion 7 is on sale with either a 72 kilowatt-hour or a 81 kWh battery pack. The larger battery gives a range of 610 km (379 miles) measured using the China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle.
The entry model in China has a 230-hp electric motor mounted to the rear, while a higher power version makes 308 hp.
An all-wheel-drive model adds a second electric motor to the front axle for a combined output of 523 hp. BYD says this model can accelerate to 100 kph (62 mph) in 4.5 seconds.
Technology features include the ability to unlock the car with a smartphone using NFC (near field communication) technology.
In China, the Sealion 7 also has a ‘dual-gun’ technology that enables two chargers to be plugged in at the same time, doubling the charging speed to almost 500 kW. BYD did not say whether the European car will be equipped with the technology.
The EV also has what BYD claims is the highest speed electric motor reaching 23,000rpm.
The Sealion is 4830 mm long, 1925 mm wide and 1620 mm tall. The car is 80 mm longer than the Tesla Model Y and 89 mm longer than the Leapmotor C10 midsize SUV, another electric competitor.
BYD is the world’s second largest seller of electric cars after Tesla with sales of 1.17 m through September, according to the company’s own figures.
The automaker's European sales were 24,779 in the first eight months, up 219% on the year before, according to market researchers Dataforce.