How low can they go? Sub $60,000 price promised for 2025 BYD Sealion 7 SUV as Chinese firm’s latest Aussie arrival squares up to Tesla Model Y
The 2025 BYD Sealion 7 will feature highly competitive pricing that’s been promised to start below $60,000 as the Chinese brand leaves no stone unturned to ensure it has what it takes to steal sales from the Tesla Model Y.
The question now is, how far below $60,000?
Declaring the BYD Sealion 7 will become the brand’s best-selling EV, BYD importer EVDirect’s CEO David Smitherman said the mid-size battery-electric SUV will have “really competitive pricing” when it goes on-sale mid-February.
That’s pretty clear hint it will at least come close to matching the $55,900 (plus on-road costs) charged for the entry Tesla Model Y.
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Other rivals in BYD’s sights will be Kia EV5 ($56,770 drive-away) and the XPeng G6 ($54,800 plus ORCs), although it’s not expected the Sealion 7 will undercut the Leapmotor C10 that costs just $45,888 (plus ORCs) Down Under.
But who knows? With its agenda-setting pricing for the Shark 6 PHEV ute and the recently announced $29,990 start for the new Dolphin Essential, BYD and EVDirect have demonstrated a willingness to cut price tags to achieve their ambitious sales objectives.
When it lands, BYD is expected to offer two grades – a base Premium model and a fast Performance grade capable of a 0-100km/h dash of just 4.5 seconds.
Local buyers will miss out on the largest 91.3kWh battery offered in China but will still be able to cover up to 500km on the standard 82.5kWh battery.
Equipment levels are expected to be high, with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, 360-degree camera, Nappa leather seats and a panoramic roof all available.
Four colours will be offered – Cosmos Black, Atlantis Grey, Shark Grey, and Aurora White.
Full details will be released in the coming weeks, with buyers now able to register an expression of interest on the brand’s website.
Commenting on the sub-$60,000 pricing, Smitherman said the BYD Sealion 7 “sets a new standard for innovation and technology, and I challenge anyone to find a vehicle designed with comfort and performance like this one”.
BYD has high hopes for the new Sealion 7 that is primed to outsell the impressive 6393 registrations the Seal sedan wracked-up in 2024.
But that figure is miles off the 21,253 deliveries achieved by the Tesla Model Y, which is Australia’s best-selling EV.
The Sealion 7 is the first of what is expected to be up to seven new model launches in 2025 as BYD and EVDirect aim to more than double annual Aussie sales to 50,000.
Apart from the updated Dolphin, other new arrivals are expected to include the Atto 3 Up small SUV and a large seven-seat SUV, which could be the recently updated Han.
I can’t understand why they are not offering the larger battery.
Is it a cost issue?
Is it so they can offer it in 12 months time as some sort of bonus or upgrade?
We have had an Atto for 2 years now and I know that the offered battery will be enough for “most of the people, most of the time” but surely the bigger battery could be optional for those who have a genuine need.