The BYD Seal (electric version) hit the Chinese market on September 28 with three trim levels and a price range of 1,325,000 – 1,599,000 (36,200 – 43,700 USD). After the launch event, Seal has gathered 1,104 orders in an hour. At the same time, BYD delivered the first 39 vehicles to owners.
BYD is the top-selling NEV brand in the Thai market. Its bestselling model is the Atto 3 (Yuan Plus), which sold over 14,000 units in 2023, accounting for almost 33% market share. In July 2023, BYD launched the Dolphin EV hatchback here. On September 4, the automaker sent a large batch of Dolphins to the Kingdom of Thailand. And on September 28, BYD continued strengthening its market position by launching the Seal electric sedan.
BYD Seal launch in Thailand
The BYD Seal for the Thailand market stays in line with the domestic version. It has a steering wheel on the right side. The Seal stands on the e-Platform 3.0 architecture that underpins Atto 3 and Dolphin. It also supports CTB (Cell-To-Body) architecture that turns the battery into part of the vehicle’s structure, increasing the torsional rigidity and safety. Speaking about the dimensions of the Seal, they are 4800/1875/1460 mm with a wheelbase of 2920 mm. So, it is seemingly larger than the Tesla Model 3.
In Thailand, the Seal is available in three trim levels: Dynamic RWD, Premium RWD, and Performance AWD. The entry-level car has a 61.4-kWh LFP Blade battery that powers a single e-motor for 204 hp. It can run up to 510 km on a single charge. It costs 1,325,000 baht (36,200 USD). The second trim level is equipped with a larger 82.5-kWh LFP battery pack (650 km of range) and a more powerful electric motor for 313 hp. Its price tag reaches 1,449,000 baht (41,000 USD). The third trim costs 1,599,000 baht (43,700 USD). For this price tag, the Seal has two e-motors for 530 hp and an 82.5-kWh battery for a 580-km range.
BYD Seal market success in Thailand
As mentioned, the Seal gained 1,104 orders one hour after the launch. At the same time, the first 39 vehicles were delivered to their owners. The key point of the Seal’s success in the Thai market is the brand power of the BYD, a relatively low price of the model, because of the governmental subsidies. Rever Automotive, the distributor of BYD cars in Thailand, collaborates with the local charging infrastructure provider to add 1,100 charging stations by the end of 2023. It is also a reason for the BYD’s success in Thailand.
The Seal in Thailand is affordable compared with other countries. For clarity, the Seal AWD costs 50,990 EUR (54,985 USD) in Europe and 296,800 Brazilian reals (60,685 USD) in Brazil. In China, the top-trim level Seal is available for 279,800 yuan (38,330 USD). So, the version for the Thai market is just 5,370 USD more expensive than the domestic market. It is the power of the Governmental support.
Source: Autolifethailand, Weibo
