A year after showcasing it at the 2023 Auto Expo, the BYD Seal sedan will finally be launched in India. This is BYD’s third product for the Indian market and is expected to be offered here as one fully-loaded model as was showcased at the car show.
On the outside, the Seal gets a fastback design with a rear-sloping roofline and a lip spoiler. The 18-inch wheels give it a sporty stance while the full LED light package adds to the car’s futuristic image. The cabin of the Seal is shared with Atto 3 and will thus get the same layout, colour scheme and feature list as the SUV. This was an expected step given BYD’s plans to assemble both cars at their Chennai facility.
Globally, the Seal is offered in two battery pack options including a 61.4kWh unit and an 82.5kWh pack. The former has a claimed range of 550km while the latter has a claimed range of 700km. No specs have been announced for the India-spec Seal but we expect the former as it will share this with the Atto 3.
The Seal sedan is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 60 lakh putting it in competition with the BMW i4 but also ICE-powered cars like the Mercedes GLB and the Audi Q5.
2023 was a quiet year for BYD with little fanfare after the Expo showcase. The Seal was expected to arrive in the previous CY but got delayed due to various external factors and is now finally being launched just as the FY is wrapping up. The Seal has a solid challenge on its hands as it has to make a name for itself in a completely new but expanding segment that is dominated by the Germans. The product looks solid and BYD will need to work on expanding its service and support network to draw in buyers in this price category.