From website:
BYD SEALION 6 comes loaded with technology, ranging from NFC card key access, keyless entry and start, heated and ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof with retractable shade and more.
BYD Sealion 6 Essential PHEV $44,400 Driveaway @ EV Dealer Group
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deanmoriarty on 15/08/2025 - 16:12 evdealergroup-byd.com.au (9280 clicks)
Last edited 17/08/2025 - 13:51 by 2 other users
Last edited 17/08/2025 - 13:51 by 2 other users
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Death, death, death.
Hint hint hint
EVDirect is dead.
As a consumer, I want a good product at the best possible price, so who cares whether it’s copied or not
we'll see in 6 years how any of these ev brands perform.
People used to say the same thing about Samsung phones when they were first introduced, and now they have a much larger market share than Apple.
@Frozensage: Apple introduce features years after most Android manufacturers. If only you had a clue.
you would if it was your product being copied.
Yes, who needs to innovate and spend on R&D because people like you will support the copycats and intellectual property thieves.
Tesla unfortunately very much stagnated.
Looking at the face-lift in Y gives us.. basically nothing new in terms of tech. In fact, almost regressing.. like putting fwd/reverse on screen - bleh.Meanwhile, Chinese brands have gone with 800V architecture, HUDs, massage chairs (yeah I know..), V2L, 360o camera, crazy charge times, air-suspension amongst other things..
The software and more extensive repair network are pretty much the only benefits with Tesla. Not small things obviously. We'll see how long that lasts.. because hardware wise, they're falling way behind.
where do BYD go for repairs with aami? if no choice of repairer
I agree. I won't even look at a Tesla until they get an instrument panel (behind the steering wheel).
And do they have Android auto yet?
Edit: Even one of my kids the other day said that Telas are looking boring.
They’ll never get Android Auto/CarPlay because Elon is stubborn and the fans insist that the software ecosystem is reeeeally worth indulging, for some reason.
$500 upgrade puts a small AA enabled screen behind the wheel that's wired into the vehicles ODBE port. Looks pretty good on YT videos:
I would happily pay a bit more than current pricing for a 3/Y performance if it had:
a gear lever/stick
indicator stalk (M3)
a behind wheel screen OR a HUD
CarPlayUntil then my money will keep going to China who are listening and building what people want (and as a bonus not charging heaps for it).
At least in the latest model Y they removed the dagger logo from the back of the cars that looks like it's about to puncture your tires.
But my electric merc is a better car regardless.
Economic round table in Canberra next week, productivity: work smarter not harder.
4 days work week and 2 days wfh is awesome i reckon
Or do what the Chinese does, copy everything and improve.
Chinese invented fireworks. Chinese did the research work and came up with a product, Europe copied the research and also came up with their own product…..
Tesla had a reason why certain parts are made the way they are
Yeah, cost, which why they're as crap as they are.
Tesla had a reason why certain parts are made the way they are
So why is the manual / emergency door release hidden at the bttom of a pocket under a cover that you need to remove before you can open the door?
That's safer somehow?china copied the research
Tesla opened up their patents to everybody.
Just my view. /flamesuiton
Looks like you left your BS shirt on under it.
All these smart mind think copying high tech is like copy and and paste in MS word.
Lots of downvotes, but does anyone actually have a proper response/refutation?
Late to the party but here's a factual answer for you.
BYD has been making EV and HEV for longer than Tesla. BYD's first vehicle was released before the first Tesla (Roadster designed before the company was bought by Elon).
BYD actually has been making, operating and maintaining a huge fleet of electric busses across China coming up on two decades soon. They are tried and tested and very reliable it seems by all reports online from western media (if assuming Chinese media is biased)
BYD also used to sell a lot of domestic and commercial solar batteries few years ago. Reports online of people using those batteries seem positive. Not sure why they aren't supplying these batteries anymore to the domestic market but also not surprised because there's so many brands in that space that provide cheap products these days.
BYD has high number of total EV running on the roads in the world than any other EV company.
It really is wild how ahead of the curve BYD is. I really do recommend you go to both BYD and Tesla dealers and take their cars for a test drive.
I was 100% sold on a Tesla Model Y, then my mate told me to try out the BYD Sealion 7. I was genuinely impressed by BYD, it was a more comfortable ride and much better value. Since then I saw the PHEV and oh man, the Sealion 6 I reckon is the class leader in that space for value for money!
thanks for the response, but I don't think you're addressing the main point that was raised, which is specifically regarding the recent rise in market share of BYD being due to copying, as opposed to Tesla's rise previously due to innovation. I'm totally neutral on this and just want an objective perspective, however the main point that was initially raised still stands without rebuttal.
@ozbargain-pashim: Ah sorry didn't see your comment until now.
I cannot find a fair reference for "recent rise in market share of BYD being due to copying, as opposed to Tesla's rise previously due to innovation". If you can find a reference with actual evidence that they copied something from Tesla then please let me know.
I get what you mean by not arguing back about OP's points in a rebuttal format, but all I wanted to do with my original comment was to leave some factual information in the tread instead of the non-factual discussion I kept seeing.
Since you asked for a rebuttal, here it is:
BYD has been making their own batteries and the full vertical offering of associated products for a long time. They have been manufacturing, operating and providing maintenance on EVs for a longer time on a much larger scale. They have had a larger EV market share globally than Tesla across the entire time both companies have been in operation based on articles (happy to share links if you want but also would love to see links from the OP).
So what exactly did BYD copy from Tesla? "Tesla did the research work and came up with a product, china copied the research and also came up with their own product.".
BYD made EVs before Tesla, so the core vehicle and features set is something BYD have always been working through and innovating themselves. There's a really good Smarter Every Day video that is relevant here too - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZTGwcHQfLY. China has been making innovations across the board. You don't have to believe me, just watch the video and make your own conclusions.
This whole argument of BYD copying Tesla is like saying that iOS is copying features from Android, when in reality, they are both chasing the same trends in the market. It is a pretty big disservice to tech giants chasing trends and doing their own innovations along the way just because one entity/company has released their version of a feature before the other. (To be clear, iOS being BYD, and Android being Tesla in this analogy since BYD hit the consumer EV market first before Tesla did, same as how the iPhone entered the market first).
I understand that we don't really hear the news of BYD from the western media sources, so to us it feels like BYD came out of the blue and came with a stronger offering than Tesla by copying Tesla's hard work (like what the original OP to this thread feels). But that is only a feeling and not-factual when you dig into BYD as a full battery and EV services offering company and their contributions to the EV space.
Honestly, I was of the same opinion as the OP when I first heard of BYD lol.
@aaronsd: I was expecting better than this tbh. You just sound like a fanboy now.
Too many nonfactual claims it's hard to keep track. BYD being the first to produce commercial EV, BYD having a larger share than Tesla the entire time, etc..
Just laughable claims with all due respect.Further, your iOS/Android analogy is deeply flawed. Perhaps a more accurate analogy is as follows:
While there was touchscreen devices before the original iPhone, the iPhone single handedly caused the mass adoption of mutlitouch smartphones. Android devices "copied" the iPhone and proceeded to over take it in market share afterwards. iPhone being Tesla and Android being BYD in this analogy.
@ozbargain-pashim: Yikes that's pretty aggressive now… I thought you were completely neutral on this topic 🤷♂️… Maybe you aren't as neutral as you think.
Narrowing down on the statements that you considered laughable:
BYD's first EV-petrol plug-in hybrid was released in 2008 (F3DM) and pure EV 2009 (e6). Both vehicles to the US market too in those years. BYD made and sold 3284 F3DM over it's life (2008-2013). Tesla made and sold 2450 Roadsters in total over it's life span (2008-2012). I remember when Top Gear first showcased the Roadster, I remember thinking it was an absolute beast! Can't believe it was so long ago lol.
EV global market share at the start of 2025 is about 22% BYD vs 13% Tesla. With my deep dive just then, looks like I was wrong about one of my statements above, in 2021 Tesla had about 15% more than BYD in sales, but in other years I quickly glance and see here, BYD has had more sales than Tesla. So no, BYD hasn't been leading in sales very year, but instead ahead in almost all years. This tracks at the end of the day for BYD to have so much more market share than Tesla right now.
I never understood Apple vs iOS, I own and use both devices. One for work and other for my personal phone, both do the job equally just fine, and both have their own frustrations for me. The analogy of them both chasing the same trends and making their products better side by side is still valid.
The couple of articles I grabbed the above statements from are here:
Some early days background info: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/05/how-byd-grew-from-a-phone-ba…
Market share: https://autovista24.autovistagroup.com/news/what-are-the-glo…
BYD's sales numbers per year here: https://tridenstechnology.com/byd-sales-statistics/
Tesla's sales numbers per year here: https://www.statista.com/statistics/502208/tesla-quarterly-v…
BYD F3DM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BYD_F3DM
You've asked for a lot of burden of proof from me without putting anything up yourself… I really am neutral on this, I think Tesla's are fun cars and have enjoyed them each time I've been in them, and the same with BYD's. I don't even own an EV lol. I am just too stuck to my petrol cars atm.
Please only provide a response with references for the facts and don't be like the OP of this thread.
I'm genuinely curious to find out whether I have a one sided bias on this, so am looking forward to learning more if you have evidence.
@aaronsd: I am neutral, I have no horse in this race, but I could easily spot that your responses are disingenuous.
Tesla is a pure EV company, so the comparison is strictly about pure EVs only. Take away PHEV and the two main tenants of your argument (BYD market share and first commercial vehicle) fall apart entirely.
I'm not gonna play the "references" game. I'm making very broad factual claims that are indisputable. You can put my claim into AI/Google search and dozens of "references" will show up if you wish.
Additionally, the rest of your comment proves that you're still confused about the argument being made.
- BYD having a higher market share right now proves my point. You seem to think that it serves you instead.
- Android/iOS are both chasing trends, sure, but that's not the point. The point is how Apple started the smartphone/multitouch revolution, Android came shortly after and proceeded in overtaking it in the following years. Almost a one-to-one comparison to BYD/Tesla as I explained in my analogy. If you find any flaws in this reasoning I'd be happy to hear it.
Overall, perhaps the biggest critique of this narrative is how it hinges on the stereotype that China "copies" and US "innovates".
Now I'm no US fan, and the stereotype is not accurate all the time, but it sure does have some truth to it in many cases. And up until this point in this conversation, I don't see why it doesn't apply to Tesla/BYD.
@ozbargain-pashim: I gave you proof to back my statements because you were laughing away specific facts, and now you've gone back to the same broad stereotype that China "copies" and US "innovates".
You're entitled to your opinion but I recommend the Smarter Everyday video: https://youtu.be/3ZTGwcHQfLY it's still a great video and a fun watch tbh.
I'm not getting the dozens of factually accurate references like you're saying comparing BYD to Tesla making the claims you and the OP are, which is why I asked you to prove that with who copied what and when… There just is no evidence to that, and that's more an anecdotal feeling 🤷♂️. I'm genuinely still curious if there is something specific here I've missed.
Do I believe that Tesla is the reason we are seeing such a large uptake in EV? Absolutely that's the truth, but what I'm saying is BYD has always been there with it's massive market share and less sexy marketing appeal. There's no denying that Tesla was the trendsetter for a long while there with BYD having to chase tends to break into the western market even though they had the larger global market share.
I've proven my claims with numbers - if you can't see how the 2025 market share along with BYD having more yearly sales per year since both companies released their first EV in 2008 (apart from a blip in 2021 you can see in the tables and charts) means BYD was always around with a bigger EV market share right from the start (gave you the sales numbers of both their first electric cars as well) - I dunno how to explain it any better without you waving away references again.
You're proving the point of what I said about Android and Apple chasing trends. First ever smartphone was the IBM Simon, and the second The BlackBerry, both released well before the iPhone. First multitouch phone was the LG Prada (KE850), released a year before the first iPhone. The first official Android came a year after iPhone did. Development and mass production cannot be done within a year for one to copy the other.
All phone companies have always been chasing the trends. Apple got a big hit first and became the market leader for a short while before Android completely boomed. This is what I'm trying to say, chasing trends and getting a hit first will always make others coming in later with popularity look like they are copying something, when it's more fair to consider it as many companies always chasing the next big hit and doing their own innovations along the way.
I think Apple is still a trendsetter/catalyst that moved us towards the world of smartphones we have atm, but it doesn't make everything else a copy.
I think everyone and everything innovating and moving forwards across the board is what we're seeing, not the old "China is just 1:1 copying everything" sentiment which was probably the truth back in the early 2000s before they became the economic behemoth they are now. Maybe they did fake it until they make it? Haha, that's probably the most fair way to summarise China's current global economic and production position.
Chinese aggression and human rights issues are scary AF, but that's a whole different thing lol.
Anyways, good chat.
@aaronsd: I don't think you're actually reading my comment lol.
No point continuing this convo tbh.
Good luck mate.
@ozbargain-pashim: I did read and provide specific responses lol.
If this is about PHEV vs EV, then PHEV has both EV and ICE systems and a more complicated drivetrain to achieve it allow it to drive in hybrid mode OR EV-only mode… So that's a weird box to not allow a PHEV to be considered an EV since it can work as an EV.
This is all without considering that BYD has been running their fleet of EV buses since 2009 too, those numbers weren't even included in their passenger vehicles sales numbers references I showed.
Agree no point continuing the convo though, it is pretty clear this is not going anywhere lol.
Good luck to you too mate.
Take another $412 off and make the price $43988, you will sell at least twice as fast.
Isn’t this just retail pricing?
not even the cheapest retail pricing apparently. More tesla vs byd than the price
Mate that sort of comment will get u labelled as a Elon fanboi
if you cant afford it just say so. dont have to be a sour puss
Nobody wants these cheap Chinese electronic washing machines.
I think that's not entirely factually correct
The Australian new car market just posted its best July on record with 103,097 showroom-fresh vehicles delivered, thanks in part to a rampant surge in the popularity of Chinese vehicles.
According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ latest round of VFacts data – which doesn’t include EV specialists Tesla, Polestar or XPeng – sales of Chinese vehicles were up 53 per cent last month compared to in July 2024
OzBargain posts show many deal posts with 100+ upvotes for BYD cars. Clearly there is demand, and popularity for them. They aren't going to immediately shoot up to top 5 models sold in Australia in barely a year, but overtime I am pretty confident that they will keep taking away market share from other brands.
I would give another Chinese EVs a go. If the market has a IM5 with blade battery and buttons (basically taking the best from the BYD Seal, and the IM5), I am sold. No ICE car that I can afford can do a sub 3 seconds 0-100.
Keen on a Seal, but would love a wagon style.
There are other EV options, another one that is on the agenda is the i5 M60 wagon, but BMW has a very sketchy history with EVs in which their Chinese made iX1 has various issues.
Will see how it all goes and will be keen to replace the Atto 3 as a daily before the FBT exemption gets scraped in 2027. (yes, they call it a consultation, but i am certain it will be scraped and significantly changed).
I feel good about not paying FBT on EVs cause u just know the government is gonna make their money back in some other form.
Except you get screwed more than once before the breadcrumb lands on you.
Shame not full EV, shill have high maintenance and need to go to fuel stations…
I’ve had mine for 6 weeks and have used less than 1L of petrol
That is great 👍 1L is nothing.
I suppose this is ideal for people with you circumstances, not people who may go months on EV only for 95% of the time and engine for 5%, still needing the higher maintenance cost and having to run on the engine just because it has not been used for a month.This is my biggest reason for removing PHEV's from my next car list, the idea of still having to service an ICE and rely on petrol. The hedge of a PHEV to have the best of both world's and the extended range is a positive but I'm so over ICE maintenance and high petrol prices which are seriously annoying me, plus free charging with my solar panels and the savings using FBT exemption for a full EV are the main attractions. Top of my list is the MG S5 EV but lately I'm seriously considering a used Tesla 3 between $35k - $42k with around 50k km.
@buzzliteyear: I have had a Tesla for 2 years now and all of my charging has been free for excess solar. I have been very impressed with the technology.
Shame not full ICE as you still need to charge it up and find recharge stations
You must not know 99% of people charge their EV at the convenience of their own home.
source?
A survey from April 2025 shows 92% of EV owners can charge at home, with 80% using solar panels. Multiple sources including https://electricvehiclecouncil.com.au/media-releases/ev-surv…
@Brick Tamland: I suppose why would you not charge at home it you could? It is cheaper and convenient.
@PerthectDeal: Maybe can charge means running an extension cord out of the first story and down a tree. Just because it’s possible doesn’t mean it’s convenient or practical
@Brick Tamland: I am not sure Brick but we are lucky in Australia where the majority of us can park outside our home compared to other countries where they need to park on the street away from their home
Shame not full ICE
Shame not full horse.
I cant keep a horse because my backyard isnt big enough.
Shame not full H₂O as you still need to charge it up and find recharge stations
I am glad someone understands the joke. Funny follow up too.
Shame not full U235.
not sure about this Chery but BYD is generally considered has better phev tech
Tempting but sticking with my Falcon
AU forte?
EF XR8 ploise
AU series 3 pursuit Ute the GOAT
FG Turbo
On gas.
ppl really like picking sides with these EVs feels like Im reading some footy forum
Pretty much. Its just personal bias manifesting as tribal silliness.
Most people getting hot under the collar couldn't even tell you which wheels are being driven on their current car.
ultimately, the only thing that matters is the price, if u sold them for 20k a pop and they had a chance of it exploding driving on the freeway, ppl here would still take up that offer.
just from statics being reported, BYD EV fire incidents reported in 2023 was 0.96 per 10,000 cars https://carnewschina.com/2024/09/10/are-chinese-nevs-a-fire-…
compare to 1530 per 100,000 ICE cars (globally) https://www.evengineeringonline.com/did-you-know-ice-vehicle…article suggest that ICE cars pose fire risks way higher than EVs
Tesla's have caught fire too
Driveaway
To where ?
LOL
e-waste centre or maybe the burn unit if you’re unlucky.
Try not to say the word China in the thread. I DARE U
CHYNA
PRC.
you seem to care a lot about BYD
You seem to care a lot about comments on BYD posts
Mate, you don't talk about the great leader , the great country or the great people on Ozbargain. I dare you LOL
Sweet, I hope they bring some of those unsold cars here. There's a big waitlist at the moment.
Don't know why I'm bothering if your only references are YouTube videos but… you should google how much debt Microsoft and Apple carry and then compare that to BYD debt level.
Apple isn't shutting down its factories. Its largest shareholders aren’t offloading their stock. They are not closing their retail stores. They are not overproducing just to drain government subsidies while warehouses sit full of unsold iPhones and MacBooks. Their products aren’t spontaneously catching fire either.
The videos I shared are from China, a country where open criticism of major companies, especially domestic ones, is tightly controlled. The fact that these videos even exist speaks volumes. If this kind of footage is surfacing there, it suggests the situation is more serious than it appears on the surface.
Wow all this compelling youtube evidence! But one quick look at actual financial performance metrics from last quarter and I see Revenue - up, Net income - up, Net profit margin - up. BYD sells more cars than Tesla in most countries now and yet the way you write one would think they were on the verge of collapse.
@icarus255: These guys are dumbs never can understand the "complicity" of how company investments works.
@icarus255: If you bothered to watch this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvyb9Mp69ew you would learn how they artificially get everything "up". And not just BYD, all of them. It's a bubble, a ponzi scheme, it will fail.
I don't know where you're getting your information from, probably PRC government website, or how old the information is, but every reputable source says they've lost billions in the last few months, they are slowing down production, dealerships closing…
But hey, don't believe Forbes https://fortune.com/2025/06/08/byd-ev-industry-competition-p… (or any other Business analyst), I don't care, I didn't buy or plan on buying a PRC EV.
444? Are they serious?