BYD Seal reveal at Fieldays

BYD New Zealand unveiled its Tesla Model 3 competitor at the National Fieldays on June 14, adding that three models of the Seal EV sports sedan will be in customer hands before Christmas 2023.

Final prices and specification have yet to be confirmed, says local brand manager Warren Willmot, with BYD New Zealand already taking 12 deposits from customers.

Willmot says all New Zealand-bound Seal models will feature a black interior, a 60:40 split folding rear seat and the top spec model will offer a head-up display. 

The BYD Seal sedan will be available in Dynamic (150kW) and Premium (230kW) rear-wheel-drive specification with a 61kWh and 82kWh Blade battery pack respectively.

The top spec Seal Performance is offered with a 390kW all-wheel-drive powertrain and a 82kWh Blade battery pack.

Range is quoted at 460km, 570km, and 520km (WLTP) respectively for the three grades.  

Tauranga-based Kia EV6 owner Richard Eaton was the first customer to place a deposit. 

Eaton says he’s a sedan lover at heart and has been following the Seal’s development for a year, watching all the videos. He says he was particularly struck by the Seal having heated seats and heat pump air-conditioning as standard.

“I love my EV6 Air but it doesn’t have heated seats, and my wife complains about being cold.” 

The Seal is a more premium alternative to the BYD Atto 3 and is the third new BYD EV to launch here following the Dolphin which is also on the BYD Fieldays stand.

A variety of EVs feature at Fieldays, including the Mitsubishi EK X EV.