[BunnyPunia]

Saw it up close last week in Nepal. This is a stunning looking sedan from most angles. Yes sits low but that is what sexy sedans do right? BYD is very serious about the Seal in India. Should be driving it very soon in India!

Enjoy the images

[that_sedate_guy]

Originally Posted by BunnyPunia

This is a stunning looking sedan from most angles.

These pictures are wolf-whistle-worthy. Quite honestly, after the slew of CSUVs in the Indian market, it's refreshing to see other form factors still holding on and also managing to turn heads. The pictures don't give the perspective of how long the car actually is. Graceful is the word I would use to describe the shape.

If course a lot of differential calculus would be needed to drive it in our so-called highways with 150mm high speed breakers but hey, people do drive F-types, R8s, Z4s and what not, albeit with broken hearts maybe.

[Quicksilver85]

Originally Posted by BunnyPunia

Saw it up close last week in Nepal. This is a stunning looking sedan from most angles. Yes sits low but that is what sexy sedans do right? BYD is very serious about the Seal in India. Should be driving it very soon in India!

Hi Bunny! Wasnt aware of your presence here on TBHP. I have been following your videos on YT.
I am curious, why is that Seal (and also the Endeavour/Everest you reviewed) launching first in Nepal than such a BIG country such as ours? Is it related to tax or Govt policies? Could you clarify.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by BunnyPunia

This is a stunning looking sedan from most angles.
Enjoy the images

Very nice looking car indeed. And it appears that the Chinese cars are indeed as good if not better finished and more reliable than the traditional Western marques.

Twenty years ago, the luxe-fashion industry for example, learned to look East rather than West for the design inspiration as well as for strong sustainable lucrative markets.

Looks like this is very much happening now in the Automobile Industry too.

[poloman]

Very good looking car. But don't think this will sell in good numbers above 50L price. 40-45L may be the sweet spot. Indians are still skeptical about the future of Chinese products in India. So if some one is spending close to half a crore, don't think Seal will be even considered an option.

[Cresterk]

Originally Posted by aim120

Do people still buy sedans that much compared to a SUV/Crossover. As soon as Model Y was launched Model 3 sales fell.
BYD has the Seal U which is the SUV version, it would sell more then the sedan version.

Personally would love a high powered RWD sedan at a decent price. Don't really care for AWD or rotating screens

[volkman10]

BYD Seal India launch on March 5.

BYD dealers in India have already started accepting bookings unofficially for the all-electric sedan.

BYD Seal for India likely to get 82.5kWh battery with 700km range
Expected to be priced at about Rs 50 lakh (ex-showroom)
To rival Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Kia’s EV6

Link:

[speedmiester]

Originally Posted by volkman10

BYD Seal India launch on March 5.

BYD dealers in India have already started accepting bookings unofficially for the all-electric sedan.



Link:

I have made a booking yesterday. If the Seal is really as good as it is, I will take the plunge. While my ZS is just 18months old, getting in and out of the car is becoming a bit of a task for my Father. He loves the EV comfort. He also liked the Ioniq 5, I will decide on the Seal or Ioniq after a long test drive of Seal post launch.

[Vikram9193]

The Chinese market likes its sedans, hence the Seal. The Euro market likes its 4.3m family hatchbacks, hence the Dolphin. But I’m not seeing a CSUV below the Atto. Something like that and maybe the Seagull hatch should be exciting for India. This is all assuming the Indian govt allows it to happen.

[vinjosep]

Originally Posted by poloman

Very good looking car. But don't think this will sell in good numbers above 50L price. 40-45L may be the sweet spot. Indians are still skeptical about the future of Chinese products in India. So if some one is spending close to half a crore, don't think Seal will be even considered an option.

You echoed my thoughts.

40-42L would be the sweet spot for the Seal provided its fully loaded & at least has couple of options in terms of the interiors. The After-sales as such for BYD is wafer thin today. Then there is Ioniq 5 which is a crossover and comes from a market leader who has the trust of the masses. All the marketing propoganda by BYD about tech etc will cover up only so much of the shortcomings of a brand that's yet to be established in India (yes, I know BYD set shop in India a few years ago; but that was for another market category).

Case in point, the Atto 3 is a good car but not for the current price as is evident from the sales that's a damp squib. IMO 25-27L would have found many risk takers. Hopefully BYD will take cues from the Atto 3 sales..

E6 seems to have some sales thanks to a few of the startup mobility firms.

Full marks to BYD though in that they are bringing in another product. However if they are really serious about India, then they should show the intent also with regards to the pricing; abosrb a portion of the cost if need be.

[FourBanger]

Originally Posted by vinjosep

Full marks to BYD though in that they are bringing in another product. However if they are really serious about India, then they should show the intent also with regards to the pricing; abosrb a portion of the cost if need be.

Well they were kind of serious as they wanted to set up manufacturing here in India, but our government had different plans. Can’t expect a company to import a product and then price it aggressively at the same time.

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by speedmiester

While my ZS is just 18months old, getting in and out of the car is becoming a bit of a task for my Father. He loves the EV comfort. He also liked the Ioniq 5, I will decide on the Seal or Ioniq after a long test drive of Seal post launch.

The Seal seats are more comfortable than the MG for sure. I can't say the same for ingress/egress. The latter will be more difficult for your father. Also, if rear seat occupancy is going to be folks bordering on 6ft, you'll find headroom falling short.

Compare warranty between the brands. MG are pretty good at this.

Can't argue with the looks though. Is a stunner among all the other EV's on sale.

[84.monsoon]

Called the Chennai dealer to check when they would be expecting the display vehicles and when the deliveries would start. He said that display vehicles should reach by early March and delivery should begin a month thereafter. Booking amount of ₹50,000 would be fully refundable.

He was not sure if we were getting the lower powered rear wheel drive version or the whole Enchilada with all wheel drive and the full 570 HP. On hearing my concerns about the low ground clearance, He says "it should not be an issue, as the India specific model would be raised compare to what was offered globally". He didn't sound convincing about this last part. The one issue for those contemplating buying this car will be that the government is on the verge of cutting the current 100% import duties on CBU cars costing over USD 40,000 (Approx INR 32,00,000) and 70% duties on the cars below that value threshold. This may mean those rushing to buy cars such as the Seal may have to endure further price drops soon after launch.

Attaching the specification sheet form the Australian BYD Seal. The car is very well loaded. The PDF version is also attached.



Although the brands BMW and BYD are similar only in the sole fact that both start with "B", I think it is difficult to completely avoid comparisons of this car with the soon to be launched BMW i5 M60 which will cost 3 times as much, since BYD Seal delivers the same level of acceleration and most of the features as that car. Dynamics, of course, would be inferior in the BYD for sure!

[shiv11bhargava]

An i5 rival that looks drop dead gorgeous at 60 Lakhs? Tesla 3 who?

What a beautiful car the Seal is and after having understood why people are going gaga over her and the Atto 3! Surely looks so stunning! Taycanesque!

Take a bow, Build Your Dreams!

[kamalgaur]

Originally Posted by 84.monsoon

...government is on the verge of cutting the current 100% import duties on CBU cars costing over USD 40,000 (Approx INR 32,00,000) and 70% duties on the cars below that value threshold.
Attachment 2573448

What's the latest info we have around this? I hope this happens too, but not sure how to be sure it's happening...