BYD Sealion 08 SUV Launches with 900km Range
BYD has launched the Sealion 08, a large electric SUV with a claimed 900-kilometer range, and begun mass production of an in-house 4D radar chip for its advanced driver-assistance systems.
BYD has launched the Sealion 08, a new large SUV available as a full battery-electric vehicle (BEV) or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and announced mass production of a proprietary 4D radar chip. The Sealion 08 is the new flagship for BYD's Ocean vehicle lineup. It is offered with either five or six seats. The company is aiming for the model to boost its sales performance for the remainder of 2026 after a period of year-over-year sales struggles.
Sealion 08 Pricing and Powertrains
The vehicle comes in eight total variations across its two powertrain types. Pricing for the plug-in hybrid versions starts at 229,900 yuan, which is approximately $34,216. The fully electric versions are priced between 239,900 yuan ($35,704) and 279,900 yuan ($41,657).
| Powertrain | Starting Price (Yuan) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) | 229,900 | $34,216 |
| Battery Electric (BEV) | 239,900 | $35,704 |
Electric Range and Charging
The reported electric range figures for the Sealion 08 are notably high. The plug-in hybrid, or DM-i, version is said to offer 400 kilometers (249 miles) of electric range for rear-wheel-drive models and 350 kilometers (217 miles) for all-wheel-drive models.
The fully electric versions offer even greater range. The report states the BEV models provide 900 kilometers (559 miles) and 800 kilometers (497 miles) of range, respectively. CleanTechnica's author called this an insane amount of range for a vehicle that costs under $35,000.
The SUV supports ultra-fast flash charging using BYD's second-generation Blade Battery. The system is claimed to charge the battery from 10% to 70% state of charge in five minutes, or from 10% to 97% in nine minutes.
Features and Technology
Standard equipment includes the God’s Eye B driver-assist system, which BYD describes as a nearly fully autonomous self-driving system. The cabin features a 26-inch augmented reality head-up display and a large rear entertainment screen. The second-row seats are described as ridiculous comfortable looking reclining seats.
BYD's In-House 4D Radar Chip
In a separate but related development, BYD Semiconductor, an arm of the company, has begun mass-producing a next-generation 4D millimeter-wave radar chip. The chip is required for the company's semi-autonomous driving technology.
Summarizing a report from CnEVPost, CleanTechnica states the chip uses an architecture centered on BYD's in-house Xuanji A3 smart-driving chip. The company claims conventional radar lacks elevation data, creating a perception bottleneck for advanced systems. The new chip is built on a 28-nanometer automotive-grade process and is designed for high-resolution radar systems. It features a high-speed MIPI CSI-2 interface and supports several mainstream serializers/deserializers (SerDes).
BYD Semiconductor states the chip enables stable detection at distances over 400 meters. It also provides a horizontal angular resolution of 0.8 degrees and a parking-grade range resolution of 0.05 meters. The author notes this vertical integration, which includes battery production, is a hallmark of BYD's strategy.
The company continues to advance its key technologies in-house as competition in the electric vehicle segment intensifies.
