BYD’s rival to the Tesla Model Y caused quite a stir in December, setting a new monthly sales record and almost breaking the first three nameplates in the process.
The mid-size electric SUV only came onto the market in February 2025, but has performed well in a highly competitive market. Last month it recorded 2,547 registrations, placing it fourth overall, just behind the Toyota HiLux (2,622) but ahead of the popular Ford Everest (2,149).
This also meant the Sealion 7 was well ahead of its nemesis, the Model Y (1998), although the Tesla ended the year as Australia’s most popular electric vehicle (EV) with 22,239 units in total – compared to the BYD’s 13,410 units.
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The Sealion 7 was BYD’s second best seller behind the plug-in hybrid dual-cab Shark 6 (18,073), and together they led the Chinese brand’s record year-end tally of 52,415 units in 2025 and an eighth place in the manufacturer’s sales race.
BYD beat Isuzu Ute (42,297) and MG (41,298), which rounded out the top 10, and was just 400 units (52,809) behind seventh-placed GWM. In December, BYD ranked fourth overall with 6,743 units.
The Chinese electric vehicle specialist hopes to continue this momentum through 2026 and launch a range of new models. The fully electric Atto 1 city SUV and the small SUV Atto 2 are just coming onto the market. The Sealion 5 and Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid SUVs are set to hit the Australian market in the coming months.
After its official release in November, Atto 2 had already recorded 896 registrations by the end of December.
Beyond the confines of the BYD stable, the Sealion 7 performed very solidly in the broader medium SUV segment – ​​which is undoubtedly the most competitive new car category in the Australian automotive market.
After only launching in February, the Sealion 7’s 13,410 unit sales in 2025 surpassed the GWM Haval H6 (13,217), Honda CR-V (5,595) and Volkswagen Tiguan (3,664), and wasn’t too far behind segment favorites like the Nissan X-Trail (15,708) and Subaru Forester (15,179).
The BYD Sealion 7 is currently offered in two variants in Australia. Prices start from $54,990 (excluding on-road costs).
MORE: VFACTS 2025: Another record year for new car sales in AustraliaMORE: Explore the BYD Sealion 7 showroom
