BYD Sealion 7 EV challenges luxury brands in Europe
BYD is continuing its global expansion efforts, this time challenging the best of Europe's luxury brands with the midsize Sealion 7 electric SUV.
BYD’s sales are surging in its homeland, but the new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer isn’t limiting itself to China. With momentum on their side and legacy automakers struggling around the world, BYD is setting its sights on Europe’s luxury brands. The BYD Sealion 7 EV has launched in several European countries, including Germany and Norway, with more yet to come.
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The BYD Sealion 7 is entering new markets at a rapid pace
The BYD Sealion 7 launched in China back in May with a price tag of around $26,000. From there, the midsize EV made its European debut at the 2024 Paris Motor Show and quickly stole the show. Less than six months later, the Sealion 7 officially hit European roadways in Germany. BYD Sealion 7
In late November, the midsize electric SUV arrived in Norway, where the vast majority of new vehicle sales are EVs. BYD plans to launch its electric models in more European countries in the near future. The Sealion 7 will be produced at BYD’s new production facility in Hungary.
The BYD Sealion 7’s pricing varies according to each individual market. In Germany, for example, the midsize electric SUV will cost you around $50,000. Meanwhile, in Norway, that same model will cost you around $42,000.
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The BYD Sealion 7 is comparable to the Porsche Macan Electric and Tesla Model Y
Taking on the likes of Porsche is no easy task, but that’s exactly what the BYD Sealion 7 does. The base Comfort model arrives with a single electric motor and accelerates to 60 MPH in just 6.7 seconds, while upper-level trims come with AWD and a 0-to-60 MPH time of 4.5 seconds. The Porsche Macan Electric hits 60 MPH in 5.4 seconds and starts at just over $75,000, far exceeding the Sealion 7's sub-$60,000 price tag.
The Porsche Macan Electric is a fantastic example of a luxury SUV with plenty of power, and that’s exactly what BYD had in mind when designing the Sealion 7. When it comes to size, comfort, and quality, the two EVs are pretty similar. That makes complete sense considering BYD Global Design Director Wolfgang Egger, formerly a designer at Audi and Lamborghini, had a hand in the Sealion 7’s creation.
Inside, the BYD Sealion 7 features a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen display, as well as a 10.25-inch driver display. The midsize EV includes BYD’s DiPilot 100 ADAS safety system that consists of 12 ultrasonic radars, 11 cameras, and five mm-wave radars.
BYD sets new precedents in battery and motor technology
The BYD Sealion 7 is the first of BYD’s vehicles to ride on the company’s e-Platform 3.0 and comes equipped with a class-leading safety, durability, and performance Blade battery. The Blade battery uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and is completely free of cobalt. That composition means the battery is less sensitive to extreme temperatures and can undergo more charge-discharge cycles. On top of that, the Sealion 7 features the world’s highest-speed electric motor.
“Besides its Blade Battery, cell-to-body construction, and our LFP battery chemistry, [the Sealion 7] is equipped with the world’s highest-speed electric motor in mass production, with a speed of 23,000RPM and 400 revolutions every single second. We are the only company to achieve such a record,” said Michael Shu, BYD European Managing Director, at the 2024 Paris Motor Show.
Thanks to its battery composition and new platform, the BYD Sealion 7 boasts a range that rivals that of the Tesla Model Y and Porsche Macan Electric. Whereas the base Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD offers 337 miles, the base BYD Sealion 7 Comfort RWD comes in at 299 miles. The Sealion 7 closes the gap at higher trim levels, with the top-spec Excellence AWD offering 312 miles, while the Model Y Long Range AWD has a 311-mile range.
The Porsche Macan Electric comes in four trim levels, topping out at a 308-mile range on the lower trim levels. The upper trim levels start at around $85,000 and trade range for performance, with the 4S Electric and Turbo Electric racing to 60 MPH in 3.9 and 3.1 seconds respectively. Both models offer a 288-mile range.
Final thoughts
Chinese products typically carry a stereotype that they’re cheaply made, but that doesn’t seem to apply here. BYD has proven they make solid vehicles. Don’t forget that the CEO of Ford imported a BYD model earlier this year and reviews of the Sealion 7 typically put it on par with luxury models from mainstream automakers. BYD has thrown down the gauntlet, and it’s time for legacy automakers to answer their challenge.
