First local pictures of new electric car to rival Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5, XPeng G6 and Deepal S05: BYD Sealion 7 caught testing in Australia ahead of early 2025 release

BYD’s newest Tesla challenger has been spotted testing in Sydney ahead of its launch in early 2025.

While BYD has hinted the Sealion 7, it’s new mid-size electric SUV, was likely, this appears to be final confirmation that it’s headed our way.

This Sealion 7 was spied in a shopping centre car park, covered in an all-black wrap and wearing Victorian number plates.

Seeing it in the metal confirms that it will fill a gap in BYD’s showroom, as it’s larger than an Atto 3 and more streamlined than the plug-in hybrid Sealion 6. It is also fully electric.

Back in May, BYD importer EV Direct’s CEO David Smitherman said this about its incoming new model: “The vehicle that is coming will be a real benefit to the business and the team. It is where the market opportunities in Australia are.”

The Sealion 7 has a pronounced swooping roofline, no doubt to help it cut through the air more smoothly to extend its range. In terms of size, it lines up very closely with the Tesla Model Y and the new Kia EV5, which puts BYD at the heart of the electric SUV market.

While EV Direct hasn’t confirmed local specifications we have a good idea what to expect from the Chinese market. There, the Sealion 7 is available in either a single-motor, rear-wheel drive or dual-motor, all-wheel drive format.

The RWD develops 230kW/380Nm, while the AWD is good for 390kW/690Nm. In terms of range, the former capable of 550km and the latter 619km, albeit on the more lenient CLTC testing protocols (the more real-world WLTP figures will likely be reduced).

We don’t know pricing either, but given its rivals we can take an educated guess where it will end up.

The most affordable Model Y is the RWD from $55,900, while the AWD Long Range starts at $69,990, and the Kia EV5 Air is priced from $55,770. So expect BYD to target a starting price below both of those, although getting below $50k will be a challenge as the Atto 3 Extended Range starts at $47,499, all before on-road costs.