5 Upcoming BYD Electrified Cars: Next Generation Atto 3 To Sealion 6
BYD, one of the world’s leading EV manufacturers, currently sells four models in India- the eMax 7, Atto 3, Seal, and Sealion 7. The brand is also widely recognised for its Blade battery technology. In fact, several electric vehicles sold in India by other brand use battery packs sourced from BYD. This Chinese company sees India as a key growth market and has promising expansion plans in place. It is expected to introduce five electrified cars here, including all-new nameplates and updates to existing ones.
BYD has already been spotted testing the Atto 2 electric SUV in India. It is already on sale in multiple international markets and will become the company’s entry level e-SUV when launched here. The Atto 2 shares many of its styling cues with the Atto 3.
Like most BYD models, it will also come with a premium-looking cabin and features like a 12.8-inch rotatable central touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, powered and ventilated front seats, level 2 ADAS and more. Forming the base of this electric SUV is BYD’s E-Platform 3.0.
The international version is available with 51.1kWh and 45.1kWh battery packs. The electric motor makes up to 173hp and 290 Nm. The vehicle can do the 0-100kph sprint in 7.9 seconds and has a top speed of 160 kph. The WLTP range is about 312 km per charge. Similar specifications are expected on the India-spec as well.
In April, BYD revealed the next-generation Atto 3 at Auto China 2026. The new model has a range of 630km per charge. Two battery packs are offered- 57.5 kWh and 68.5 kWh. The smaller comes with a 272hp motor while the latter can be had with a 327hp electric motor. The new-generation Atto 3 also supports ‘flash charging’- it can be recharged from 10 to 97% in just 9 minutes, under ideal conditions.
The new-generation Atto 3 is larger than the model it replaces. The design has also evolved significantly. It adopts a more conventional approach to design. The cabin design remains familiar.
The e-SUV continues to have features like a large central touchscreen, 256-colour ambient lighting, powered front seats with a massage function, a panoramic glass roof, a powered ottoman for the front passenger, ADAS, a 16-speaker audio system, powered tailgate and more. This model is expected to launch in India in the near future.
The next-generation Seal, based on the e-Platform 3.0 Evo, is expected to launch in the coming months. The overall design feels like an evolution of the outgoing model’s styling. Details like the lighting and bumpers have been tweaked slightly. The cabin will have a two-spoke steering wheel, digital instrument cluster, floating touchscreen, wireless phone charging, seat ventilation and electric adjustment, electric sunroof, 360-degree camera, and many other features.
The new generation of the sedan is expected to come with a 69.07 kWh battery pack in place of the 61kWh unit on the outgoing car. The new unit will have a claimed range of 705km per charge.
BYD will also launch a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV in the near future. Called the Sealion 6, this will be a mid-size SUV powered by a plug-in hybrid setup. In global markets, BYD has two distinct versions of the Sealion 6 on sale- the Dynamic variant uses a 215hp, 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid powertrain and the Premium variant that uses a 321hp 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid turbo petrol engine. The latter comes with all wheel drive (AWD) and is more likely to be brought to the Indian shores.
The Sealion 6 borrows several of its styling cues from the Sealion 7 and rides on 19-inch wheels. It will also come with a premium interior design and features like a rotating 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 12.3-inch digital instrument gauge cluster, 10-speaker Infinity audio, dual wireless phone chargers, panoramic sunroof and more.
BYD is also expected to bring the Dolphin 8 electric crossover to India sometime in the near future. It will compete primarily with the MG Windsor. Two battery packs will be available: 44.9 kWh (340 km range) and 60.4 kWh (427 km range). The powertrain will have an output of 201 hp- much more than that of the Windsor EV.