BYD has confirmed the launch of the new Sealion 08 flagship SUV in China on 2 September 2026, drawing over 12,000 orders within 24 hours. The mid‑to‑large SUV will sit at the top of BYD's Ocean series and will be sold as both a plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) and a battery electric (BEV).
Size and design
- Dimensions: 5,115mm long, 1,999mm wide, 1,800mm tall, 3,030mm wheelbase.
- Styling follows BYD's Ocean Aesthetics theme, with wave‑style daytime running lights, vertically split headlamps, semi‑hidden door handles and full‑width connected tail‑lamps. The SUV features 132 high-capacity LED lights in the front. The Sealion 08 is inspired by the Ocean S concept, featuring split headlight, horizontal light bar, and a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor. Dynamic air channels are present on both sides of the bumper.
Cabin and features
Inside, the Sealion 08 uses a wraparound cockpit layout with a large central touchscreen and digital instrument cluster. The cabin includes a 17.3-inch central screen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 26-inch AR-HUD. Buyers can choose five‑seat or six‑seat configurations. The interior features Ocean Aesthetics 2.0 design with a light beige color scheme, soft leather, mother of pearl panel, and oval chrome AC vents.
The six‑seat versions add second‑row zero‑gravity seats with ventilation, heating and massage, plus a 21.4‑inch roof‑mounted screen, 25‑speaker Devialet audio, on‑board refrigerator and a folding table.
Powertrain options
- PHEV: 1.5‑litre turbo petrol engine with 115kW output, paired with single‑ or dual‑motor electric drive. The pure‑electric driving range is up to 400km (CLTC), with a total range of up to 1,650 km. It uses a 55.843 kWh battery.
- BEV: Single‑ and dual‑motor options with peak power from 320kW to 585kW.
The BEV uses BYD's second‑generation Blade Battery with 92.093kWh or 115.072kWh LFP packs. Depending on variant, CLTC range is 710km, 800km or up to 900km.
Technology
Key hardware includes flash‑charging, Cell‑to‑Body (CTB) battery integration, fifth‑generation DM hybrid tech, rear‑wheel steering, DiSus‑A intelligent body control, dual‑chamber air suspension and a road preview system. All variants are equipped with BYD's advanced DiPilot 5.0 intelligent driving assistance system, aiding in automatic parking and urban navigation.
In China, the Sealion 08 is available in 8 variants, priced from 229,900 yuan to 279,900 yuan. Nepal pricing and local launch plans for the Sealion 08 have not been announced yet.
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Editorial policy.
