BYD Seal News

Toyota Australia has issued a warning to Chinese carmaker BYD over its plans to be the number-one brand in Australia by 2030.

We've tallied the stats to see how the updated 2024 Tesla Model 3 will compare to its new and updated key rivals when it arrives early next year.

Ever wondered how Chinese brands like BYD and MG are able to price their electric cars so much more affordably than any other brand? We did and so we decided to investigate.

The second and third cars to be tested under new criteria in ANCAP's are both electric cars from China's increasingly popular BYD, and both have passed safety testing with flying colours.

Only two days after its sale launch, the BYD Seal electric car has undergone a pricing change. But for a good reason.

Rising Chinese brand BYD has launched its direct challenger to Tesla's popular Model 3, undercutting it by more than $12,000.

The countdown’s on with just two full months before the year ends, and in that time we’ll see some highly anticipated new models land in Australia.So here it is: our top 5 cars still come in 2023.Arrives: Mid-NovemberPrice: From $75,600There’s only one other series that’s been running as long as the 70 Series and that’s Neighbours. And just like the popular soap opera, the Toyota favourite will be getting a reboot this year.Expected in mid-November, the updated LandCruiser 70 Series will arrive with a new 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. The 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel from the previous 70 Series will also return.The new 70 Series will also boast improved safety tech and fresh(ish) looks.The list price of the new LandCruiser 70 Series starts at $75,600 for the 76 Series Wagon WorkMate (only available with the four cylinder engine). At the top of the range is the 79 Series double cab chassis which is $83,500 for the four-cylinder variant and $87,600 for the V8.When: Mid-NovemberPrice: From approx. $60,000Hyundai was way ahead of most in the electric race when it launched the first generation of the Kona Electric in 2019, and now the new gen is about to land.Expected to arrive in mid-November the new Kona Electric follows the launch of the petrol variant in July this year. Like the combustion version, the Kona Electric is bigger than the previous generation - it’s longer, wider and taller.You can also expect the Kona Electric to be offered in two battery sizes with a range of up to 420km.The current extended range Kona in the top of the range Highlander grade lists for $64,000.When: OctoberPrice: From approx. $55,000BYD has introduced Australia to two new things already - a very affordable electric vehicle in the form of the Atto 3; and the longest badge we've ever seen on a tailgate - Build Your Dreams.Now, launching this month in Australia is the BYD Seal - that’s right, as in the sea creature - only it’s a fully electric mid-sized sedan that’ll do battle with the likes of Tesla’s Model 3.Expect rear- and all-wheel-drive versions, a big 82.5kWh battery, and a range of between 520km and 570km depending on the motor - possibly two variants in the form of a 230kW output and one making 390kW.In terms of money, expect the Seal to undercut the Model 3 which starts at $57,400 and tops out at $83,400.Arrives: Early NovemberPrice: From approx. $95,000The world has been stunned by Kia’s rapid rollout of electric vehicles, but next to arrive will be the EV9 fully electric large SUV.Big, boxy and, we think beautiful, the EV9 will come with three rows to seat seven.Expect two battery sizes - a 76.1kWh standard range and a 99.8kWh long range version.Prices are expected to slide in under the $100K mark for the entry grade, but you could pay about $120,000 for the fancier versions.The Kia EV9 will arrive in early November joining the EV6 mid-sized SUV and little Niro SUV.Recently Kia revealed the EV3 SUV and EV4 saloon. A Sportage-sized EV5 SUV is also set to go into production.Arrives: Late DecemberPrice: From $79,990Arriving late in December but just in time for Christmas is Ford’s first Mustang SUV - and it’s fully electric - the Mustang Mach-E.You can actually build and order the Mach-E at Ford’s website now and you’ll see it comes in all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive.The entry grade rear-wheel drive Select has an output of 198kW/430Nm, the mid-grade aPremium produces 216kW/430Nm and the top of the range GT makes a whopping 358kW/860Nm.The Premium comes with the extended range battery offering 600km, Ford says.Prices start at $79,990 for the Select, the Premium comes in at $91,665 and the GT lists for $107,665.

The most credible rival to the dominance of the Tesla Model 3 in Australia has at last been given a launch date, with the hotly anticipated BYD Seal to launch on October 17.

Vehicle supply has arguably been the Australian new-car market’s hottest talking point in 2023, and one recent newcomer to local showrooms, EV specialist BYD, has seemingly conquered the issue thanks to strategic investments in dedicated production capacity established in the brand’s Chinese factories.

Fresh from disrupting the electric vehicle market with the Atto 3 and the incoming Dolphin, Chinese car maker BYD appears to be about to take aim at the petrol-powered giants of the mid-size SUV world, with a plug-in hybrid variant of the Seal U spotted i