BYD unveils premium Sea Lion brand, mid-sized, full-electric SUV, in challenge to Tesla in China’s luxury car market

BYD, the largest electric vehicle maker in the world, has introduced a new high-end brand called Sea Lion. They showed off their new SUV, the Sea Lion 07, which is set to compete with Tesla's Model Y. The Sea Lion 07 was unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China. This SUV is equipped with BYD's own DiSus body control system to prevent rollovers during fast turns. While BYD has traditionally targeted more affordable price ranges, the Sea Lion 07 is positioned in the higher end, costing between 200,000 to 260,000 yuan. BYD has surpassed Tesla in sales, becoming the top EV producer globally. Their manufacturing costs are lower than Tesla's, especially for their Seal EV model, which is a direct competitor to Tesla's Model 3. Earlier this year, BYD also launched a very luxurious car, the Yangwang U8, which has been compared to the Range Rover and boasts impressive performance features. Tesla, on the other hand, is facing stiff competition from Chinese EV startups like Li Auto, Xpeng, and Nio, all of which are vying to create the best electric cars with advanced autonomous driving and digital features. Tesla's sales in China have seen a significant drop in recent months, according to the China Passenger Car Association.