Video: BYD Seal undercuts Model 3

BYD Auto New Zealand has undercut Tesla with its entry into the mid-size sedan market, the Seal.

But customers look like they will miss the end of the Clean Car Discount, pitched by the incoming government as being December 31, 2023, with deliveries not expected until early next year.

Starting at $62,990, the Seal is the first in a series of five new model introductions from BYD in 2024, and brings the total lineup in New Zealand to three.

The Seal is from the brand’s ‘Ocean’ series, like the Dolphin. It introduces the Cell-to-Body (CTB) technology, incorporating the BYD Blade Battery into the entire structure, enhancing safety. It also employs BYD’s latest EV platform 3.0.

The lineup begins with the Dynamic Model. Undercutting the Highland Tesla Model 3 by $5000 but lacking the same level of performance, it comes with a 61.44 kWh BYD Blade Battery, can reach 150 kW of power and 310 Nm of torque, and has a WLTP range of up to 460 km. It can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and offers fast charging at 110 kW.

Next, the Premium model at $72,990 + ORC brings an 82.56 kWh battery with a WLTP range up to 570 km, power of 230 kW, torque of 360 Nm, and can accelerate to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds. It features 19-inch premium alloy rims and fast charging at up-to 150 kW.

The crown jewel, the Performance AWD model, priced from $83,990 + ORC, is armed with the same 82.56 kWh battery as the Premium but brings a whopping 390 kW of power and 670 Nm of torque. This powerhouse can sprint from 0-100 km/h in a mere 3.8 seconds and boasts a WLTP range of 520 km.

Both the Premium and Performance get a full-leather interior, the Dynamic a synthetic alternative. All get a glass roof, with a snap-in shade supplied, an aftermarket option for Teslas. They also include heads-up displays, Frequency Selective Dampening (FSD), and Intelligence Torque Adaption Control (ITAC).

All models come in shades of Polar White, Atlantis Grey, Cosmos Black, and Arctic Blue, with the Seal Performance model offering an exclusive Shark Grey. All but Polar white cost $1595, the Shark Grey more at $3000.

Test drives will begin in December, with customer deliveries targeted before the end of Q1 2024. Orders are now being taken on the BYD NZ website.