Louth Motoring: BYD Seal U launched and it’s taking no prisoners

In what appears to be a cart before the horse sequence BYD have just launched their 4th vehicle in Ireland in just 18 months.

Typically, cars come to market with their petrol and diesel models first, followed by their PHEV/Hybrid offerings and then the all-electric model. Not BYD.

In these current, (like that?) changing times they came with their all-electric cars first and now we get this petrol hybrid model.

I don't think they will complete the hat trick and offer petro/diesel cars as that's not what the BYD brand is about.

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They recently hit a milestone of building 9 million NEVs (another new term to get to grips with that means New Energy Vehicles) and whilst they are relatively new to Ireland they have been in the EV and PHEV space quite a while.

This new car, the Seal U will, I predict, be transformational for BYD in Ireland and Europe.

Above: Interior of the BYD Seal U Super Hybrid

It’s a PHEV which should appeal to those still reluctant to go all-in on all-electric, it has a range of 80 kms and has the shape we all want - an SUV.

I see flashes of other cars in its design like the Lexus RX, the Hyundai Santa Fe last model, the Porsche Macan and the back of some BMWs.

BYD looks like they are copying the Dacia business model when they first came to Ireland and are using the tactic of hitting competitors hard with their keen pricing.

The Seal U starts at a truly startling price of €41,150. That’s not a small chunk of change I know, but to see just how keen it is the Seal U has more or less the same proportions as the new Honda CR-V which will cost you €67,995.

That’s a €26k difference that's not easily visible in terms of quality and finish or performance and will be a huge factor in swaying buyers. Seismic even.

I’ve been saying for a long time that the arrival of BYD and other brands from China is putting serious pressure on mainstream European brands and unless they find a way to combat these very attractive prices there will be demise casualties for sure.

I get to test the BYD Seal U soon here in Democrat Motoring for a more in-depth report.