Overview
- BYD officially showcased its DM‑i plug‑in hybrid technology in India on Tuesday, June 9, and confirmed the Seal U (also sold globally as the Sealion 6) will arrive in the market by late 2026.
- DM‑i uses an electric‑first architecture with a 1.5‑litre turbo petrol engine, dual electric motors and an 18.3 kWh Blade battery; BYD says the setup can run about 70 km on battery power alone and more than 1,200 km on a full tank and charge.
- The company published specific technical claims including a 43.04% thermal efficiency for the Xiaoyun engine, electric motor efficiency near 97.5%, a stated fuel use of about 4.8 L/100 km, and strong acceleration figures for higher‑output variants.
- Indian outlets are publishing provisional pricing around Rs 45 lakh (ex‑showroom) for the Seal U but BYD has not released India‑spec equipment lists, confirmed prices or independent real‑world test results ahead of the launch.
- BYD’s DM‑i arrival brings its long experience selling plug‑in hybrids to India and could give buyers an alternative to full BEVs by reducing range anxiety, while positioning BYD against established hybrid models from Toyota, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Kia.