BYD Sealion 08 Pre-Orders Open in China With Hybrid and EV Options

BYD Sealion 08 Pre-Orders Open Ahead of Ocean Flagship Launch

BYD Sealion 08 pre-orders have opened in China, marking a major step toward the launch of the Ocean lineup flagship SUV. Zhang Zhuo, head of sales for BYD’s Ocean lineup, announced the pre-order move on Weibo on Thursday, although he did not disclose official pre-order prices. The SUV will be available in DM-i plug-in hybrid and all-electric EV versions, with both five-seat and six-seat configurations. Information displayed in BYD’s mobile application lists pre-order prices of 230,000 yuan to 260,000 yuan for the DM-i version and 250,000 yuan to 280,000 yuan for the EV version.

Chinese customers can reserve the Sealion 08 with a 2,000-yuan deposit, which provides benefits including priority placement in the production queue. The deposit remains refundable at any time. The model made its public debut at the Beijing Auto Show on April 24, while the DM-i version introduces BYD Company Limited’s first plug-in hybrid SUV equipped with the company’s flash charging technology. BYD uses the flash charging name for its ultra-fast charging system, which received a new-generation upgrade in March. The latest system can deliver peak charging power of up to 1,500 kW from a single charging gun.

According to BYD, vehicles equipped with the second-generation Blade Battery can charge from 10% to 97% in nine minutes when using flash charging. The Sealion 08 measures 5,115 millimeters in length, 1,999 millimeters in width and 1,800 millimeters in height, with a 3,030-millimeter wheelbase, based on its regulatory filing. Its equipment package includes the second-generation Blade Battery, DiSus-A closed dual-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering and the God’s Eye 5.0 assisted driving system. These technologies position the SUV as a flagship product combining electrified propulsion, fast charging, chassis technology and advanced driver-assistance features.

The interior of the Sealion 08 was revealed for the first time by Zhang on July 31. The six-seat configuration shown includes a ceiling-mounted display for second-row passengers and second-row zero-gravity seats, reinforcing the model’s premium positioning. The Sealion 08 is the second of two flagship models planned for the Ocean lineup. Its related Seal 08 sedan entered the Chinese market on July 2 with a starting price of 196,900 yuan. Together, the two models form part of BYD Company Limited’s broader effort to strengthen the premium end of its product portfolio while expanding the Ocean lineup with higher-positioned vehicles.

BYD Sealion Series Monthly Sales Show Strong 2026 Momentum

The Sealion series has become one of BYD’s fastest-growing product lines. It recorded 49,057 units in July, while cumulative sales during the first seven months of the year reached 227,415 units. That total represented 10.21% of BYD Group’s overall sales, with the company’s data showing growth from the corresponding period of the previous year. The monthly sales table below highlights the expansion of the series across 2024, 2025 and 2026, with 2026 monthly volumes already reaching 47,624 units in June and 49,057 units in July. The trend provides important context for the expected market role of the new flagship SUV.

BYD Sealion Series Monthly Sales, 2024–2026

In addition to the Sealion series’ sales growth, the new SUV strengthens BYD’s strategy of building a broader premium portfolio. The Sealion 08 follows the Seal 08 sedan within the Ocean family and brings multiple powertrain and seating configurations to the flagship range. Its combination of DM-i plug-in hybrid and EV versions allows the company to address customers seeking either electrified combustion-assisted mobility or a fully electric vehicle. The model’s technology package, premium interior features and high-speed charging capability further distinguish it from lower-positioned products within the wider Sealion range.

BYD is also reshaping its premium lineup around four flagship models across its Ocean and Dynasty families. Alongside the Ocean lineup’s Seal 08 and Sealion 08, the Dynasty lineup introduced the Da Tang SUV in June and is scheduled to unveil the Da Han sedan at the Chengdu Auto Show next week. The Sealion 08 therefore represents more than a single new SUV launch: it is part of a broader product strategy aimed at expanding BYD’s premium offerings through multiple body styles and powertrain choices. Its combination of plug-in hybrid and EV variants also gives customers greater flexibility within the same flagship model family.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BYD Sealion 08?
The BYD Sealion 08 is a flagship Ocean lineup SUV offered with plug-in hybrid and all-electric powertrains for Chinese customers. BYD has opened pre-orders for the model with five-seat and six-seat configurations, while its mobile application lists prices of 230,000 yuan to 260,000 yuan for the DM-i version and 250,000 yuan to 280,000 yuan for the EV. Customers can reserve the vehicle with a refundable 2,000-yuan deposit that also provides priority in the production queue. The model combines fast charging, advanced suspension, rear-wheel steering and assisted-driving technology.

What technology does the Sealion 08 offer?
The Sealion 08 stands out through a combination of ultra-fast charging, advanced chassis hardware and driver-assistance technology in its premium SUV strategy. The DM-i version is BYD’s first plug-in hybrid SUV with the company’s flash charging technology, while the wider model family uses the second-generation Blade Battery. BYD says compatible vehicles can charge from 10% to 97% in nine minutes using flash charging. The SUV also features DiSus-A closed dual-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering and the God’s Eye 5.0 assisted driving system, supporting its positioning as a premium flagship product.

How are BYD Sealion series sales performing?
The Sealion series reached 227,415 units during the first seven months of the year, representing 10.21% of BYD Group’s total sales. July alone contributed 49,057 units, following 47,624 units in June. The series has therefore become one of BYD’s fastest-growing product lines and provides an established sales base for the new flagship SUV. The Sealion 08 expands the lineup with both plug-in hybrid and EV choices, while BYD is simultaneously strengthening its premium portfolio through additional flagship models across the Ocean and Dynasty lineups.