BYD Sea Lion 07: A Sea Lion Complements the "Ocean" Portfolio

In China, different prices apply: According to Carnews China, the "Sea Lion" is expected to enter the Chinese market in the first half of 2024 with prices ranging from 200,000 to 260,000 Yuan (equivalent to 25,000 to 33,000 Euros). This would place the most expensive Sea Lion below the cheapest Tesla Model Y with LFP battery, which starts at 263,900 Yuan. The cheapest VW ID.4 "Crozz" starts at 183,400 Yuan.

Smaller “Sea Lions” are reportedly already in the planning stages

The Sea Lion 07 also utilizes the 3.0 electric platform and the integrated cell-to-body battery technology with the so-called "blade batteries." Following the Seal U, it is the second SUV in the Ocean series. However, as new brands and sub-brands are constantly being invented in China—only a new brand is currently considered "fresh and innovative" there—the Sea Lion models are to be established as their own SUV series. Accordingly, it can be assumed that the Sea Lion 05 and Sea Lion 06 might already be in the planning stages to round off the product range at the lower end.

Which one to choose? Similar dimensions to the Seal U

Strangely, the Seal U, which was exhibited at the IAA in Munich, visually resembles the new Sea Lion 07 but is four centimeters shorter at 4.79 meters, while adding 18 cm to the wheelbase, offering 2.93 meters instead of 2.75 meters like the Seal U. This means that the Sea Lion should offer significantly more space inside.

Meanwhile, even some Chinese themselves seem to be annoyed by the dramatically expanding diversity of brands: "Car News China" also criticizes in the report that the model designations are becoming increasingly confusing for customers. BYD is therefore "following Geely's path with an endless array of new brands, sub-brands, series, and sub-series". Besides the Ocean series, there is also the Dynasty series, where the models are named after Chinese dynasties, including the Han and Tang, as well as Yuan, Song, and Qin, which are also offered in Germany. However, it is also conceivable that the "Ocean series" could replace the "Dynasty series" in the future, especially since the latter is harder to explain internationally.