Latest news with #BYDSealion8
7NEWS
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
BYD Australia appoints ex-Honda director as new operating chief
Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. 'I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey,' Collins said in a statement. 'The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) 'With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value.' BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla -like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. 'Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future,' Mr You said in a statement. 'Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle.'
Perth Now
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
BYD Australia appoints ex-Honda director as new operating chief
Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. 'I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey,' Collins said in a statement. 'The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) 'With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value.' BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla-like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. Supplied Credit: CarExpert In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. 'Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future,' Mr You said in a statement. 'Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle.' MORE: Everything BYD
The Advertiser
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
BYD Australia appoints ex-Honda director as new operating chief
Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. "I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey," Collins said in a statement. "The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) "With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value." BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla-like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. "Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future," Mr You said in a statement. "Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. "I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey," Collins said in a statement. "The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) "With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value." BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla-like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. "Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future," Mr You said in a statement. "Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. "I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey," Collins said in a statement. "The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) "With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value." BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla-like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. "Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future," Mr You said in a statement. "Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. "I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey," Collins said in a statement. "The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) "With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value." BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla-like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. "Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future," Mr You said in a statement. "Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2025 BYD Sealion 8 will be Chinese brand's first seven-seat SUV in Australia
The BYD Sealion 8 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms with a choice of two plug-in hybrid powertrains, and the brand's first three-row large SUV is to arrive here in the first quarter of 2026 (January-March). The Sealion 8 joins the BYD Atto 2 small SUV – also confirmed for Australia today – as the first new models confirmed for this market since the Chinese automaker announced it will take over local distribution of the brand on July 1. Pricing and equipment levels are yet to be announced for the first seven-seat BYD to be sold here, where it will rival existing large plug-in hybrid SUVs including the Kia Sorento PHEV and Mazda CX-80 PHEV. The Sealion 8 will also compete with the Chery Tiggo 9, which is due here in September, and MG QS seven-seat SUV – if MG decides to import the PHEV version in addition to pure petrol power. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its size and seat count, the Sealion 8 is not expected to take over from the five-seat BYD Sealion 7 mid-size electric SUV (priced from $63,990 plus on-road costs) as the most expensive BYD offered in Australia. Sitting on the brand's new 5.0 platform, the Sealion 8's exterior design will introduce the brand's newer 'Loong Face' [sic] front-end styling to Australians, replacing the 'Dragon Face' theme seen on the pioneering BYD Atto 3 medium SUV and the BYD Seal mid-size sedan. The BYD Sealion 8 – sold as the BYD Tang L in China – rivals the Toyota Kluger in terms of size, measuring 5040mm long, 1996mm wide and 1760mm high. Its wheelbase is 2950mm – 100mm longer than a Kluger's and 244mm longer than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV's. There's also more boot space, with Chinese-market specs claiming 675 litres of cargo capacity, expanding to 960L with the third-row seats folded and 1960L behind the front seats. It's offered in six- and seven-seat configurations in China, but BYD Australia has confirmed the Sealion 8 will be sold here as a seven-seater in a traditional 2+3+2 layout. Two PHEV powertrains will be offered in Australia from launch, with the standard Sealion 8 using a 'DM-i' set-up, which sees a 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a single front-axle electric motor producing 200kW/315Nm. The Sealion 8 will be the first BYD launched here with its 'DM-P' – which stands for 'Dual Mode Performance' – plug-in hybrid powertrain, which uses the same petrol engine but adds a second 141kW/360Nm rear-axle motor in a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing a combined 400kW/670Nm. Despite being a family-focused SUV, the Sealion 8 PHEV DM-P comes with an official 0-100km/h acceleration claim of just 4.9 seconds where the DM-I manages it in 8.6 seconds. Official China-market fuel consumption is 5.6L/100km, while a 35.6kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery provides an electric-only range of 150km under the lenient CLTC (China Light Vehicle Test Cycle) test standard. The entry-level Sealion 8 DM-I will use a 19kWh Blade battery, but will share the DM-P's 71kW DC (Direct Current) fast-charging capability enabling a 30 to 80 per cent battery top-up in 30 minutes. The Sealion 8 also features BYD's DiPilot 300 autonomous driving suite, which employs one LiDar, five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 12 cameras to operate its adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and lane-centering systems, among other driver assist features. The cabin includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen which, like in other BYDs sold in Australia, can be rotated between landscape and portrait orientations, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display. Leather-trimmed seats are standard in Chinese versions, and Australian vehicles are also expected – but not confirmed – to come standard with leather upholstery. China-market versions also offer a panoramic glass roof measuring 2.39m – covering all three rows – as well as 11 airbags and a 21-speaker surround-sound stereo in top-spec versions. While the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab ute is responsible for the lion's share of BYD's sales growth so far in Australia, significant contributions from the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV five-seat SUVs have boosted the brand's ongoing sales momentum. All three models have been launched here in the last 11 months, with slower sales of the battery-electric BYD Dolphin hatchback, Seal mid-size sedan and Atto 3 medium SUV not stopping the brand from posting a near-95 per cent year-to-date sales increase. Content originally sourced from: The BYD Sealion 8 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms with a choice of two plug-in hybrid powertrains, and the brand's first three-row large SUV is to arrive here in the first quarter of 2026 (January-March). The Sealion 8 joins the BYD Atto 2 small SUV – also confirmed for Australia today – as the first new models confirmed for this market since the Chinese automaker announced it will take over local distribution of the brand on July 1. Pricing and equipment levels are yet to be announced for the first seven-seat BYD to be sold here, where it will rival existing large plug-in hybrid SUVs including the Kia Sorento PHEV and Mazda CX-80 PHEV. The Sealion 8 will also compete with the Chery Tiggo 9, which is due here in September, and MG QS seven-seat SUV – if MG decides to import the PHEV version in addition to pure petrol power. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its size and seat count, the Sealion 8 is not expected to take over from the five-seat BYD Sealion 7 mid-size electric SUV (priced from $63,990 plus on-road costs) as the most expensive BYD offered in Australia. Sitting on the brand's new 5.0 platform, the Sealion 8's exterior design will introduce the brand's newer 'Loong Face' [sic] front-end styling to Australians, replacing the 'Dragon Face' theme seen on the pioneering BYD Atto 3 medium SUV and the BYD Seal mid-size sedan. The BYD Sealion 8 – sold as the BYD Tang L in China – rivals the Toyota Kluger in terms of size, measuring 5040mm long, 1996mm wide and 1760mm high. Its wheelbase is 2950mm – 100mm longer than a Kluger's and 244mm longer than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV's. There's also more boot space, with Chinese-market specs claiming 675 litres of cargo capacity, expanding to 960L with the third-row seats folded and 1960L behind the front seats. It's offered in six- and seven-seat configurations in China, but BYD Australia has confirmed the Sealion 8 will be sold here as a seven-seater in a traditional 2+3+2 layout. Two PHEV powertrains will be offered in Australia from launch, with the standard Sealion 8 using a 'DM-i' set-up, which sees a 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a single front-axle electric motor producing 200kW/315Nm. The Sealion 8 will be the first BYD launched here with its 'DM-P' – which stands for 'Dual Mode Performance' – plug-in hybrid powertrain, which uses the same petrol engine but adds a second 141kW/360Nm rear-axle motor in a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing a combined 400kW/670Nm. Despite being a family-focused SUV, the Sealion 8 PHEV DM-P comes with an official 0-100km/h acceleration claim of just 4.9 seconds where the DM-I manages it in 8.6 seconds. Official China-market fuel consumption is 5.6L/100km, while a 35.6kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery provides an electric-only range of 150km under the lenient CLTC (China Light Vehicle Test Cycle) test standard. The entry-level Sealion 8 DM-I will use a 19kWh Blade battery, but will share the DM-P's 71kW DC (Direct Current) fast-charging capability enabling a 30 to 80 per cent battery top-up in 30 minutes. The Sealion 8 also features BYD's DiPilot 300 autonomous driving suite, which employs one LiDar, five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 12 cameras to operate its adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and lane-centering systems, among other driver assist features. The cabin includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen which, like in other BYDs sold in Australia, can be rotated between landscape and portrait orientations, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display. Leather-trimmed seats are standard in Chinese versions, and Australian vehicles are also expected – but not confirmed – to come standard with leather upholstery. China-market versions also offer a panoramic glass roof measuring 2.39m – covering all three rows – as well as 11 airbags and a 21-speaker surround-sound stereo in top-spec versions. While the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab ute is responsible for the lion's share of BYD's sales growth so far in Australia, significant contributions from the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV five-seat SUVs have boosted the brand's ongoing sales momentum. All three models have been launched here in the last 11 months, with slower sales of the battery-electric BYD Dolphin hatchback, Seal mid-size sedan and Atto 3 medium SUV not stopping the brand from posting a near-95 per cent year-to-date sales increase. Content originally sourced from: The BYD Sealion 8 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms with a choice of two plug-in hybrid powertrains, and the brand's first three-row large SUV is to arrive here in the first quarter of 2026 (January-March). The Sealion 8 joins the BYD Atto 2 small SUV – also confirmed for Australia today – as the first new models confirmed for this market since the Chinese automaker announced it will take over local distribution of the brand on July 1. Pricing and equipment levels are yet to be announced for the first seven-seat BYD to be sold here, where it will rival existing large plug-in hybrid SUVs including the Kia Sorento PHEV and Mazda CX-80 PHEV. The Sealion 8 will also compete with the Chery Tiggo 9, which is due here in September, and MG QS seven-seat SUV – if MG decides to import the PHEV version in addition to pure petrol power. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its size and seat count, the Sealion 8 is not expected to take over from the five-seat BYD Sealion 7 mid-size electric SUV (priced from $63,990 plus on-road costs) as the most expensive BYD offered in Australia. Sitting on the brand's new 5.0 platform, the Sealion 8's exterior design will introduce the brand's newer 'Loong Face' [sic] front-end styling to Australians, replacing the 'Dragon Face' theme seen on the pioneering BYD Atto 3 medium SUV and the BYD Seal mid-size sedan. The BYD Sealion 8 – sold as the BYD Tang L in China – rivals the Toyota Kluger in terms of size, measuring 5040mm long, 1996mm wide and 1760mm high. Its wheelbase is 2950mm – 100mm longer than a Kluger's and 244mm longer than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV's. There's also more boot space, with Chinese-market specs claiming 675 litres of cargo capacity, expanding to 960L with the third-row seats folded and 1960L behind the front seats. It's offered in six- and seven-seat configurations in China, but BYD Australia has confirmed the Sealion 8 will be sold here as a seven-seater in a traditional 2+3+2 layout. Two PHEV powertrains will be offered in Australia from launch, with the standard Sealion 8 using a 'DM-i' set-up, which sees a 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a single front-axle electric motor producing 200kW/315Nm. The Sealion 8 will be the first BYD launched here with its 'DM-P' – which stands for 'Dual Mode Performance' – plug-in hybrid powertrain, which uses the same petrol engine but adds a second 141kW/360Nm rear-axle motor in a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing a combined 400kW/670Nm. Despite being a family-focused SUV, the Sealion 8 PHEV DM-P comes with an official 0-100km/h acceleration claim of just 4.9 seconds where the DM-I manages it in 8.6 seconds. Official China-market fuel consumption is 5.6L/100km, while a 35.6kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery provides an electric-only range of 150km under the lenient CLTC (China Light Vehicle Test Cycle) test standard. The entry-level Sealion 8 DM-I will use a 19kWh Blade battery, but will share the DM-P's 71kW DC (Direct Current) fast-charging capability enabling a 30 to 80 per cent battery top-up in 30 minutes. The Sealion 8 also features BYD's DiPilot 300 autonomous driving suite, which employs one LiDar, five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 12 cameras to operate its adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and lane-centering systems, among other driver assist features. The cabin includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen which, like in other BYDs sold in Australia, can be rotated between landscape and portrait orientations, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display. Leather-trimmed seats are standard in Chinese versions, and Australian vehicles are also expected – but not confirmed – to come standard with leather upholstery. China-market versions also offer a panoramic glass roof measuring 2.39m – covering all three rows – as well as 11 airbags and a 21-speaker surround-sound stereo in top-spec versions. While the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab ute is responsible for the lion's share of BYD's sales growth so far in Australia, significant contributions from the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV five-seat SUVs have boosted the brand's ongoing sales momentum. All three models have been launched here in the last 11 months, with slower sales of the battery-electric BYD Dolphin hatchback, Seal mid-size sedan and Atto 3 medium SUV not stopping the brand from posting a near-95 per cent year-to-date sales increase. Content originally sourced from: The BYD Sealion 8 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms with a choice of two plug-in hybrid powertrains, and the brand's first three-row large SUV is to arrive here in the first quarter of 2026 (January-March). The Sealion 8 joins the BYD Atto 2 small SUV – also confirmed for Australia today – as the first new models confirmed for this market since the Chinese automaker announced it will take over local distribution of the brand on July 1. Pricing and equipment levels are yet to be announced for the first seven-seat BYD to be sold here, where it will rival existing large plug-in hybrid SUVs including the Kia Sorento PHEV and Mazda CX-80 PHEV. The Sealion 8 will also compete with the Chery Tiggo 9, which is due here in September, and MG QS seven-seat SUV – if MG decides to import the PHEV version in addition to pure petrol power. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its size and seat count, the Sealion 8 is not expected to take over from the five-seat BYD Sealion 7 mid-size electric SUV (priced from $63,990 plus on-road costs) as the most expensive BYD offered in Australia. Sitting on the brand's new 5.0 platform, the Sealion 8's exterior design will introduce the brand's newer 'Loong Face' [sic] front-end styling to Australians, replacing the 'Dragon Face' theme seen on the pioneering BYD Atto 3 medium SUV and the BYD Seal mid-size sedan. The BYD Sealion 8 – sold as the BYD Tang L in China – rivals the Toyota Kluger in terms of size, measuring 5040mm long, 1996mm wide and 1760mm high. Its wheelbase is 2950mm – 100mm longer than a Kluger's and 244mm longer than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV's. There's also more boot space, with Chinese-market specs claiming 675 litres of cargo capacity, expanding to 960L with the third-row seats folded and 1960L behind the front seats. It's offered in six- and seven-seat configurations in China, but BYD Australia has confirmed the Sealion 8 will be sold here as a seven-seater in a traditional 2+3+2 layout. Two PHEV powertrains will be offered in Australia from launch, with the standard Sealion 8 using a 'DM-i' set-up, which sees a 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a single front-axle electric motor producing 200kW/315Nm. The Sealion 8 will be the first BYD launched here with its 'DM-P' – which stands for 'Dual Mode Performance' – plug-in hybrid powertrain, which uses the same petrol engine but adds a second 141kW/360Nm rear-axle motor in a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing a combined 400kW/670Nm. Despite being a family-focused SUV, the Sealion 8 PHEV DM-P comes with an official 0-100km/h acceleration claim of just 4.9 seconds where the DM-I manages it in 8.6 seconds. Official China-market fuel consumption is 5.6L/100km, while a 35.6kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery provides an electric-only range of 150km under the lenient CLTC (China Light Vehicle Test Cycle) test standard. The entry-level Sealion 8 DM-I will use a 19kWh Blade battery, but will share the DM-P's 71kW DC (Direct Current) fast-charging capability enabling a 30 to 80 per cent battery top-up in 30 minutes. The Sealion 8 also features BYD's DiPilot 300 autonomous driving suite, which employs one LiDar, five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 12 cameras to operate its adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and lane-centering systems, among other driver assist features. The cabin includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen which, like in other BYDs sold in Australia, can be rotated between landscape and portrait orientations, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display. Leather-trimmed seats are standard in Chinese versions, and Australian vehicles are also expected – but not confirmed – to come standard with leather upholstery. China-market versions also offer a panoramic glass roof measuring 2.39m – covering all three rows – as well as 11 airbags and a 21-speaker surround-sound stereo in top-spec versions. While the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab ute is responsible for the lion's share of BYD's sales growth so far in Australia, significant contributions from the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV five-seat SUVs have boosted the brand's ongoing sales momentum. All three models have been launched here in the last 11 months, with slower sales of the battery-electric BYD Dolphin hatchback, Seal mid-size sedan and Atto 3 medium SUV not stopping the brand from posting a near-95 per cent year-to-date sales increase. Content originally sourced from:
NZ Autocar
3 days ago
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
BYD Sealion 8 seven-seat PHEV SUV coming here
BYD New Zealand has confirmed that the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid, a three-row SUV, will arrive locally by early 2026 or even late this year. EVs and Beyond talked with BYD NZ country manager, Warren Willmot, who said: 'We're hoping to get it slightly ahead of Australia for December,' said. 'But definitely Q1 2026' at the latest. The BYD Sealion 8 is the brand's largest SUV for export markets, joining the smaller Sealion 7 EV. Built on BYD's latest DM (Dual Mode) 5.0 hybrid platform, it offers two drivetrain options at launch. The entry-level will be DM-i (front-wheel drive) and a dual-motor AWD DM-p variant will also be available. Read our review of BYD Sealion 7 Premium here. Both models use a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine (110kW/220Nm) paired with a front-mounted 200kW electric motor. The DM-p version adds a 141kW rear motor for all-wheel drive and enhanced acceleration. Expect the Sealion 8 DM-p to reach open road speed in a claimed 4.9sec, while the DM-i should manage it in 8.6 seconds. The DM-i uses a 19.0kWh Blade battery while the DM-p comes with fa 35.6kWh unit. These lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries are part of BYD's cell-to-body integration strategy. The result is improved efficiency and structural strength. Pure electric range estimates are pending but should exceed 80km (WLTP) in the DM-p. 'Yes, we'll be taking both drivetrain options — DM-i and DM-p,' Willmot confirmed. 'BEV is probably 12 months after initial launch.' Inside, the BYD Sealion 8 offers a three-row layout for up to seven passengers. Expect also dual digital displays, and climate control across all rows. In DM-p trim, heated and massaging seats in the first and second rows will be standard. Safety items includes adaptive cruise, lane centring, blind spot detection, and autonomous emergency braking. Expect announcements of the BYD Sealion 8's price and specifications for New Zealand closer to launch. It will sit above the Sealion 7 in BYD's local line-up, offering a new electrified option for larger families and fleet buyers.
