Chinese automaker BYD has started accepting pre-order of its latest electric vehicle, the BYD Seal sedan in Malaysia. This new EV aims to compete with the popular Tesla Model 3 and may undercut it slightly on price.
The BYD Seal features the company’s advanced Cell-to-Body (CTB) technology which fully integrates the BYD Blade Battery into the car’s structure, enhancing safety. Its design takes inspiration from high-strength honeycomb aluminum panels.
Three trim levels will be offered – Dynamic, Premium and Performance. The Dynamic model has a 61.4 kWh battery delivering 510 km of range by NEDC estimates. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds.
Stepping up to the Premium variant increases battery capacity to 82.56 kWh for 650 km of range. The Performance model keeps the larger battery but turns up the power for 580 km range and a quick 3.8 second 0-100 km/h time. Both higher models are rear-wheel drive.
Pre-booking for the BYD Seal will begin soon in Malaysia with a RM 1,000 deposit. Official pricing is yet to be announced but BYD is targeting a base price around RM 180,000 making it over RM 9,000 cheaper than the RM 189,000 Tesla Model 3.
The combination of long range, safety focused design and attractive pricing could make the BYD Seal a popular choice in the electric vehicle market when it launches later this year.