BYD Sealion 08 and Seal 08 revealed as new flagship EVs for 2026

BYD has confirmed plans for two new flagship electric vehicles – the Sealion 08 large SUV and the Seal 08 sedan – both due to launch in China in early 2026. They showcase new technology and a more upmarket direction for the rapidly expanding brand and at least one of them is all but certain for Australia.

China’s most recognisable car brand, BYD, has teased two new models recently, confirming them for production imminently.

First up: the Sealion 08 large SUV has been teased by BYD. Not the Sealion 8 hitting Oz mid-2026 (confused yet?) but a bigger, meaner beast aimed squarely at luxury Chinese rivals like Zeekr.

The Sealion 08 will sit at the very top of BYD’s SUV line-up as the brand’s largest and will be pitched as a premium electric SUV designed to take on high-end rivals rather than mainstream brands.

It’s been previewed in the form of the Dynasty D SUV (pictured).

It remains to be seen how BYD will price the new model or whether it will potentially wear Denza badges in Australia, in a bid to fight Lexus and Audi. And if is not branded Denza, will it harm the burgeoning brand's launch with the B5 and B8? Time will tell.

Alongside the Sealion 08 large SUV, BYD will launch the Seal 08 sedan effectively a bigger and more luxurious evolution of the current BYD Seal, which has been a strong seller for the brand.

At more than five metres long, the BYD Seal 08 is expected to target the upper end of the electric sedan market with a stronger focus on comfort, technology and performance.

It is believed the BYD Ocean S concept car (pictured) previews the Seal 08 design.

Both vehicles will debut BYD’s latest ultra-fast charging technology, capable of up to 1 megawatt DC charging, and these 1000kW chargers are confirmed for Australia.

The system first appeared on the Tang L EV earlier this year and promises dramatically reduced charging times compared to current-generation EVs.

BYD has also teased unspecified ‘high-performance features’ for both models, though full technical details remain under wraps ahead of their official debut.

While the Sealion 08 and Seal 08 are currently locked in for China only, BYD’s Australian expansion is gaining pace.

The brand has already launched the budget-focused Atto 1 and Atto 2 locally, while the Sealion 5 plug-in hybrid and the three-row Sealion 8 are due to arrive in mid-2026.

BYD is currently the eighth-best-selling brand in Australia, but its aggressive product rollout suggests bigger ambitions.

That said, recent carsales research data shows that more than a third of new car buyers are excluding BYD from new vehicle searches.

Nevertheless, a steady stream of new electric and plug-in hybrid models on the way should see the Chinese car-maker's fortunes continue to rise, as it targets established players such as Kia and Ford. And these upcoming flagship EVs show BYD is not afraid to push into premium territory as part of that strategy.

We expect the BYD Sealion 08 to come to Australia in due course, but the Seal 08 large sedan is less likely given the low volume in that particular market segment. Watch this space.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au