Rever Automotive, the authorized distributor of BYD cars in Thailand, has started accepting bookings for the BYD Seal U DM-i, a C-segment SUV powered by a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

DM-i, short for Dual Motor–Intelligent is BYD’s name for plug-in hybrid models. DM-i plug-in hybrids are aimed at consumers who are not ready for a fully electric battery EV (BEV).

The 5-seater Seal U DM-i measures 4,785 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, 1,668 mm tall, with a 2,765 mm wheelbase. For comparison, a Honda CR-V measures 4,691 mm long, 1,866 mm wide, 1,681 mm tall, with a 2,701 mm wheelbase.

The 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder makes 137 hp and 135 Nm. Combined with an electric drive motor, the Seal U DM-i makes a combined system output of 318 hp / 435 Nm. It has an electric-only driving range of 85 km when tested under a Chinese variant of WLTP (WLTC). The more lax NEDC test method puts the pure electric driving range at 110 km.

The Seal U DM-i has a claimed fuel consumption of 5.3-litre/100 km (WLTC).

Unlike earlier generation PHEVs, this Seal U DM-i also supports DC fast charging, just like a BEV. Details on charging capacity was not shared by Rever, but the Chinese market model, which is sold there as the Song Plus DM-i, supports 3.3 kW of regular AC charging, and 18 kW of DC fast charging.

Prices have yet to be announced but it is estimated to be around 1.6 to 1.8 million Baht (~RM 207k to RM 233k), which is the price range of a Honda CR-V e:HEV hybrid (1.589 million Baht to 1.729 million Baht).

This also means that the Seal DM-i will be more expensive than the flagship Seal sedan (1.325 million Baht to 1.599 million Baht), because PHEVs in Thailand don’t enjoy subsidies and reduced import tax as BEVs.

In China, subsidies for electric vehicles – now mostly given by provincial governments, as subsidies by the central government has been rolled back – are given equally for plug-in hybrids and battery EVs. Chinese policymakers treat PHEVs as equal to BEVs, grouping them under New Energy Vehicles (NEVs). The idea is to accelerate demand for public charging services.

In China, the pricing hierarchy between the Seal and Seal U DM-i is reversed. The BYD Song DM-i is sold in China from 129,800 Yuan to 169,800 Yuan (~RM 85.1k to RM 111.2k).

In comparison, the higher range fully electric Seal sedan is priced from 179,800 Yuan to 249,800 Yuan (~RM 117.8k to RM 163.7k).