BYD locked in around 65,000 orders for its new range-topping Seal 08 just 30 hours after going on sale in China.

The Seal 08’s sales figures are yet another milestone for the Chinese automotive giant, which is now the world’s largest EV manufacturer. During Q2 2026, BYD sold 557,090 all-electric cars, compared to Tesla’s 480,126 units.

Based on data from the stock market-focused Chinese social media network, Xueqiu, BYD researcher Andy Ding claimed that the brand took 40,000 blind orders since June 12, then over 25,000 when the car debuted.

BYD Seal 08 pricing

According to Ding’s information, the all-wheel-drive (AWD) model was the most popular among buyers. Its twin-motor setup delivers a supercar-worrying 695bhp and a 0-62mph time of just 3.3 seconds. A rear-wheel-drive (RWD) version is also available.

Priced from 196,900 yuan – around £22,000 – each version of the Seal 08 comes with BYD’s Blade Battery 2.0, which is compatible with its dedicated ultra-rapid Flash Charging system.

Battery, range, and charging

Promising speeds of up to 1,500kW (1.5 megawatts), the setup will dwarf Tesla’s Supercharger network when it’s rolled out across the UK over the next 12 months.

Using Flash Charging, BYD Seal 08’s 800-volt electrical architecture means it can hoover up 248 miles’ worth of electrons in just five minutes. In RWD guise, it delivers 562 miles worth of range, while the AWD drivetrain manages slightly less, at 487 miles.

It is worth noting, however, that these numbers are taken from China’s CLTC efficiency cycle, which is more generous than Europe’s WLTP system.

Dimensions

The BYD Seal 08 measures 5.1 metres in length, 1.9 metres in width, and 1.9 metres in height. Its 3m wheelbase makes it slightly larger than the now-defunct Tesla Model S, placing it firmly in full-sized luxury saloon territory with the Mercedes EQS, the BMW i7, and the Lucid Air.

In line with Chinese consumer tastes, the Seal 08’s cabin gets a 15.6-inch central floating infotainment screen and an augmented-reality driver’s head-up display.

Adding to the tech fest are LiDAR and BYD’s in-house developed ‘God’s Eye B’ ADAS system, which introduces navigation on autopilot (NOA) and automatic remote parking.

Up front, the Seal 08 gets zero-gravity front seats, while BYD’s Disus-A dual-chamber air suspension is an optional extra. Using the official press images issued by BYD, a two-tone paint scheme is also available, presumably as an option.

Will the BYD Seal 08 make it to the UK?

BYD has yet to confirm whether the Seal 08 will join its line-up of UK EVs, which includes the regular Seal, the Dolphin, the Dolphin Surf, the Atto 2, the Atto 3 Evo, and the Sealion 7.

If it does make its way to UK shores, then expect pricing to carry a significant premium over its asking price in China.