Latest news with #BYDSingapore
AsiaOne
6 days ago
- Automotive
- AsiaOne
BYD Sealion 6 rolls into Singapore, Lifestyle News
Think BYD only makes electric cars? You might want to reconsider that assumption. After first embarking on a 1,300km-long teaser road trip from Singapore to Kuantan and back down, the plug-in hybrid BYD Sealion 6 DM-i has officially been launched in Singapore. Its splashy local launch event saw more than 400 guests in attendance at Shangri-La Singapore on Wednesday afternoon (July 16), where they were reminded of BYD's growing market dominance in Singapore. But back to the main headline this time. While the Sealion 6 DM-i sports a similar visual outlook to the Sealion 7 with its bracket-like head lights, it swims into uncharted waters for BYD in Singapore by marking its first model ever to have a combustion engine under the hood. 'DM-i', which stands for 'Dual Mode - Intelligent', references the car's plug-in hybrid powertrain, which can switch seamlessly between a highly-efficient 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine and a 145kW electric motor fed by an 18.3kWh Blade Battery (or rely on both together). The latter gives the car an electric-only range of up to 80km, and impressively, supports DC charging. Combined peak output from the DM-i Super Hybrid system stands at a healthy 160kW (215bhp) and 300Nm. If you're wondering how exactly the Sealion 6 DM-i stands out within the BYD family, driving range is most certainly its calling card when stacked against all of its other fully-electric siblings. BYD Singapore states that under local driving conditions, the SUV is capable of a "long cruising range" of more than 1,200km when fully refuelled and with its battery fully charged. As demonstrated in its cross-border jaunt earlier in July 2025, its marathoning capabilities make it perfect for longer road trips, with BYD referring to it as a "vehicle that adapts to your lifestyle, and not the other way around". Another quality worth highlighting about the Sealion 6 DM-i's powertrain is that it enables the car to behave more like an EV than an ICE car. With the car operating by default on an 'electric-first' basis, its electric motor is tasked exclusively with powering the front wheels at low to medium speeds, allowing owners to drive about in a silent and emissions-free manner. At medium to high speeds, its 1.5-litre engine is then awoken in the capacity of a generator to feed the battery. Thereafter, it's only when the car is being pushed to its limit that the engine comes in fully to propel the car directly in tandem with the electric motor. As we noted on our first drive with the car, smoothness and refinement are amplified as a result, allowing the Sealion 6 DM-i to boast "creamy" power delivery. Intriguing powertrain aside, the Sealion 6 DM-i excels on the practicality front. While residing within the same mid-sized SUV segment as the Sealion 7, its boxier shape and flatter roofline provides rear passengers with slightly more headroom, with seats that can be reclined for extra comfort. Its 574-litre boot is also generous for its size, and can be further expanded to 1,700 litres with the 60:40 second row folded flat. What's more, as we've come to expect from BYD, standard equipment levels are generous. Front occupants won't have to fight over who gets to charge their phone, thanks to a dual-wireless charging tray, while all on board will get to savour road-trip playlists to the fullest on long drives with the car's premium Infinity by Harman Kardon sound system. Amidst these creature comforts, a full-digital dashboard, consisting of a 12.3-inch curved instrument cluster and 15.6-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, adds a good dose of modernity. Furthermore, the Sealion 6 DM-i comes with a full suite of safety assistance systems, including the likes of Emergency Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Detection, and Intelligent Cruise Control. All of these are sure to take some of the stress out of long road trips (as mentioned, this is already a certified border-crosser). Speaking at the launch, James Ng, Managing Director of BYD Singapore and the Phillipines, highlighted the brand's enduring popularity among Singapore buyers, revealing that the 840 units sold in June 2025 had marked the brand's best month for the year so far. The Chinese carmaker has seen its lineup of models steadily increase in recent times, with the Sealion 6 DM-i following hot on the heels of the Sealion 7 that launched in January's 2025 Singapore Motor Show. Within the last 12 months, BYD has also fielded a Cat A-friendly compact electric MPV in the form of the M6, and a full-sized electric MPV with its luxury sub-brand: The DENZA D9. Additionally, the BYD Seal, Atto 3, and Dolphin all received recent updates for the 2025 model year. (In tandem, BYD Singapore has continued to grow its retail network with the latest addition of Jack Cars as an authorised dealer.) And this family is set to grow even bigger still. Soon to be launched in Singapore — as revealed by Ng at the event — is the BYD Atto 2, another compact electric crossover that will sit beneath the Atto 3 in terms of positioning and size. The Sealion 6 DM-i is now on sale in Singapore, and launches with a special price of $212,888 (inclusive of a guaranteed COE) — which places it slightly above the single-motor Sealion 7. The plug-in hybrid SUV also retails with a six-year car warranty, 10-year battery warranty, and 10 years worth of free servicing*. *Terms and conditions to apply Car model Price as of press time (including COE) BYD Sealion 6 DM-i Plug-in Hybrid $212,888 [[nid:719528]] This article was first published in sgCarMart .
Business Times
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid becomes first car with a petrol engine that BYD brings to Singapore
[SINGAPORE] For the first time, China auto giant BYD has launched a car with a petrol engine in Singapore, joining its current range of full electric vehicles (EVs) here. Set to be launched on Wednesday (Jul 15), the Sealion 6 DM-i large sport utility vehicle is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that runs on petrol, but can also cover short distances on electricity alone. It is priced from S$212,888 including a Certificate of Entitlement. BYD said the aim is to capitalise on Singapore's expanded charging facilities and greater acceptance of EVs, while still appealing to customers who worry about range. BYD Singapore managing director James Ng told The Business Times: 'We feel it is timely to introduce our Sealion 6 to Singapore now as the charging network is quite widespread, (yet) there are still a handful of customers who want to drive further, such as to Malaysia, but have concerns about chargers.' Conventional hybrid EVs have a petrol engine, electric motor and battery. They recover energy from braking or slowing down, and can cover very short distances on full electricity, typically less than 1 km. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Unlike conventional hybrids, PHEVs have larger batteries that can be charged from an external source – the same as EVs – and can therefore travel further on full electric power. BYD's PHEVs combine the strengths of battery EVs and an internal combustion engine, said Ng. 'With the electric range, you can charge every two or three days and drive it like an EV, but also go further without worry.' Less range anxiety The Sealion has a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, with a maximum combined output of 216 kilowatts (kW). The car is capable of 18 kW direct-current fast charging, meaning its 18.3 kW-hour battery pack can be charged in around 80 minutes. BYD estimates the car's electric range at around 80 km and its total maximum range at 1,100 km. BYD began operating in Singapore in 2014, and previously sold only EVs here. Fuelled by aggressive sales tactics and government EV incentives, the Chinese brand has risen to the top of the Republic's market, with 3,827 cars registered in the first five months of 2025. It aims to sell 10,000 cars by the end of the year. PHEVs have been available in Singapore since 2013, but have not seen widespread adoption as they are typically more expensive than both conventional hybrids and EVs, due to the higher cost of larger batteries and lesser incentives. Incentives for EVs go up to S$40,000, but the maximum incentive for a PHEV is S$2,500. In the first five months of 2025, 159 PHEVs were registered, compared to 7,838 EVs. But PHEVs make up a big chunk of its sales elsewhere. Of 380,000 passenger vehicles that BYD sold across all markets in June, 45 per cent were PHEVs. In China, where most of BYD's sales are, the same incentives apply to EVs and most PHEVs. In Singapore, PHEVs have mainly come from more luxurious brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, with mainstream manufacturers like GAC, Jaecoo and Mazda introducing PHEV models here only this year.
