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The Citizen
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
South Africa next? BYD unwraps flagship three-row Sealion 8
Penned-in for Australia from the first quarter of 2026, the plug-in hybrid Sealion 8 could well become BYD's range-topper in South Africa should approval be given. Known as the Tang L in China, the rebadged Sealion 8 has been approved from key right-hand-drive markets. Image: Its profile in South Africa gradually starting to grow, BYD has released details of the export market Tang L that will be sold as the Sealion 8. Changing dynasties Sharing its name with the standard Tang that went on-sale in its current second generation guise in China five-years ago, the Tang L is, however, of a completely different design as it rides on BYD's Super e-Platform offering both electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains. ALSO READ: BYD Sealion 7 priced as brand's new flagship EV crossover Although part of BYD's Dynasty range of products at home, the Tang L will adopt the nameplate used by its Ocean series of products for markets outside China, which currently also comprises Seagull/Dolphin Mini, Dolphin, Seal and Shark. The fundamentals Shown as the Tang L in January, and set to be offered with five, six or seven seats as per the 'L' suffix, the Sealion 8 measures 5 040 mm long, 1 996 mm wide and 1 760 mm tall, with its wheelbase stretching 2 950 mm. Practicality-wise, the Sealion 8 has a boot capacity of 675-litres, which increases to 960-litres with the third row folded down. Dropping the middle row sees space increase further to 1 960-litres. Plug-in hybrid for export only On the power front, the Sealion 8 will only offer plug-in hybrid powertrains in contrast to the Tang L, which also comes with a fully electric powerplant. Marketed as DM-i in China, the initial setup combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with BYD's 29.5-kWh Blade battery pack. Powering a single motor mounted on the front axle rather than the rear, the setup produces a combined 200kW/315Nm, which BYD claims will result in 0-100 km/h taking 8.6 seconds. Interior gets BYD's trademark rotating infotainment display. Note: Interior of the BYD Tang L depicted. Image: The claimed all-electric range, based on China's CLTC regulations, is a supposed 175 km. Wearing the DM-p badging – the 'p' denoting performance – the range-topping Sealion 8 retains the same 1.5-litre turbo engine, but in combination with a second electric motor on the rear axle plus a larger 35.6-kWh Blade battery pack. The result is a combined output of 400kW/670Nm, 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and a claimed CLTC electric-only range of 215 km. Spec sheet In terms of spec, the Sealion 8 will come standard a panoramic glass roof, a rotating 15.6-inch infotainment system, wireless smartphone chargers, an augmented reality Head-Up Display, fragrance dispenser, BYD's latest LiDAR system, including autonomous driving, and a 21-speaker sound system. Watch this space Penned-in for Australia, but, according to only from the first quarter of 2026, an announcement regarding the Sealion 8 for South Africa remains to be made. However, given the availability of the plug-in hybrid Sealion 6 and the all-electric Sealion 7, don't be surprised if approval for the local market is granted not long after its arrival Down Under. Additional information from and NOW READ: Plug-in hybrid BYD Sealion 6 lands in South Africa
Globe and Mail
18-03-2025
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
BYD Just Took Another Shot at Tesla Stock. How Should You Play TSLA Here?
Tesla (TSLA) shares are slipping again this morning after rival BYD (BYDDY) announced a new charging technology that it claims is miles ahead of the U.S. electric vehicle maker. BYD says its 'Super e-Platform' can charge its EVs for up to 400 kilometers in just five minutes. In comparison, Tesla vehicles get a 270-kilometer range after a 15-minute charge. The announcement is adding to the continued selloff in Tesla stock that's already lost more than 45% since mid-January. Why BYD News Is a Headwind for Tesla Stock BYD's new charging technology could make its EVs more appealing to global consumers. This comes as Tesla is grappling with a slowdown in all three of its key markets: China, the European Union, and the United States. In February, the EV maker's sales were down 6% in its homeland, 46% in Europe, and an alarming 49% in China. Plus, its rivals in Beijing are fully committed to dominating the robotaxis market as well. Such concerns made RBC analyst Tom Narayan lower his price target on Tesla stock today. Narayan also expects the company's FSD pricing to decline from $100 per month this year to $50 a month in 2026, further adding to pressure on its share price. Is It Worth Investing in TSLA at Current Levels? Investors have bailed on Tesla in recent weeks amidst a broader selloff in the U.S. tech stocks on fears that tariffs will push the economy into a recession in the second half of 2025. Tesla has been losing its mojo with consumers due to CEO Elon Musk's involvement in politics as well. While all of that contributed to RBC lowering its price target on Tesla stock today, it's worth mentioning that the firm's downwardly revised price target of $320 continues to indicate potential upside of about 40% from here. Analyst Tom Narayan remains convinced that fears of sales decline are 'overblown' given that China and Europe 'represent a small portion of Tesla's total sales' while numbers in the U.S. are not that alarming in the first place. Wall Street Sees Tesla Share Price Decline as Overblown RBC is not the only firm that continues to see the year-to-date pullback in Tesla shares as a buying opportunity. The mean target on TSLA currently sits at about $346, which indicates potential upside of more than 50% from current levels.
