2023 Tesla Model 3: BYD Seal begins pre-orders in China, starting under $32K, as a Tesla Model 3 competitor
Chinese automaker BYD Auto has officially started taking pre-orders for its long-teasing Seal sedan. The new EV model, anticipated by many to be a competitor to the Tesla Model 3, comes in four different trim models and will be the first from BYD to include its new cell-to-body (CTB) technology. BYD Auto is a subsidiary of BYD Co. Ltd. and stands for “Build Your Dream.” The automotive division will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year as one of the largest auto manufacturers in China. In 2021 alone, BYD produced more than 320,000 BEV, second in the country after SAIC. BYD Auto has been shipping electric vehicles since 2008 when a plug-in hybrid version of its F3 sedan debuted. Since then, BYD has found much success in PHEV as well as full electric vehicles for passengers as well as fleets including trucks and buses. To support the next generation of EVs, BYD Auto is launching e-Platform 3.0 in 2021 – a compact and modular platform to power BEVs and PHEVs in the new Ocean Series ve