BYD drops its cheapest electric sedan in Australia

The BYD Seal electric vehicle (EV) range has been reduced from three model grades to two, with the entry-level Dynamic dropped from Australian showrooms following slow sales.

It comes despite record sales growth for the Chinese brand, and after EVs achieved their highest market share in Australia yet, accounting for 19.9 per cent – almost one in five new-vehicle sales – last month, led by the Tesla Model Y.

The Toyota Camry-sized Seal was introduced in 2023, with the Dynamic serving as the most affordable member of the three-tier lineup. Priced from $49,888 before on-road costs at launch, it sat below the Premium and Performance variants which featured a larger battery.

The Seal was BYD’s best-selling model in 2024, ahead of the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV and Atto 3 small electric SUV, but it slipped to fifth place in 2025 as the Shark 6 PHEV dual-cab ute became the brand’s top seller.

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BYD Australia told CarExpert the Dynamic was the slowest-selling Seal variant, despite its lower $46,990 before on-road costs price tag.

“Seal Dynamic volume no longer justifies keeping it in the lineup,” the spokesperson said. “We listen to our customers and streamline our offerings to make things easier for everybody. At the end of the day, the customer decides.”

The spokesperson confirmed the Seal Dynamic's discontinuation isn't due to the arrival of the cheaper but plug-in-hybrid-powered Seal 6 range.

The departure of the Dynamic leaves the Premium as the new entry point to the Seal range, priced from $52,990 before on-road costs. Despite the reduction in model grades, Seal sales have nearly doubled, rising 92 per cent during the first five months of 2026.

The discontinued Seal Dynamic was powered by a 150kW rear-mounted electric motor and a 61.44kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, delivering a claimed WLTP driving range of 460km.

The Seal Premium remains rear-wheel drive but increases outputs to 230kW and gains a larger 82.56kWh battery, with a claimed WLTP range of 570km.

The flagship Seal Performance adds a second electric motor for all-wheel drive, increasing total outputs to 390kW. It's priced from $61,990 before on-road costs.

The Seal lineup was expanded when the Seal 6 was launched in Australia earlier this year as the nation's cheapest PHEV, with the sedan priced from $34,990 before on-road costs, undercutting the Toyota Camry by $5000.

The wagon version of the Seal 6 is priced from $39,990 before on-road costs, making it cheaper than other PHEV wagons sold in Australia, including the larger Skoda Superb iV Wagon, which starts from $66,990 before on-road costs.

Toyota hasn't offered a Camry wagon in Australia since 2002.

BYD Australia has posted record sales growth year-to-date in 2026, with the Sealion 7 large electric SUV now its best-selling model, ahead of the Shark 6, which was recently expanded with two additional variants.

Its expanding lineup helped BYD rise to second place overall in Australia in April 2026 – behind only Toyota – a feat it repeated in May, aided by a tripling of vehicle shipments to Australia using its own fleet of car-carrying ships.

MORE: Explore the BYD Seal showroom