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Changes across BYD's Australian line-up have coincided with price cuts on most models of up to $5900 – as well as new model grades up to $6900 cheaper than their predecessors.
BYD has slashed prices by up to $5900 in Australia as part of an updated Model Year 2025 (MY25) line-up that introduces specification changes for key models.
Among the changes to BYD's line-up are new 'Essential' model grades introduced with lower prices – starting from $29,990 plus on-road costs for the Dolphin hatch – and a refreshed Seal sedan.
The Dolphin Essential makes BYD the first brand to offer a sub-$30,000 electric vehicle in Australia, with the new entry-grade variant spelling the end for the previous Dynamic base model.
The range-topping Dolphin Premium receives the largest price cut for MY25, with the city hatch now available from $36,990 before on-road costs – down $5900 from its $42,890 price tag in 2024.
MY25 models introduce a digital NFC and Bluetooth mobile phone key, according to BYD, as well as rain-sensing wipers for the Premium grade.
The Chinese car maker has tweaked the Atto 3 small SUV – the country's fifth best-selling electric-car in 2024 – with the 'Standard' variant dropped and replaced by the Essential, which starts $4509 cheaper at $39,990 before on-road costs, with the same battery but less equipment.
The more popular Atto 3 Premium receives a $2509 price cut, with the car now available from $44,990 – about $500 more than the outgoing Standard grade ($44,499), for a 75km-longer range.
The panoramic sunroof, hands-free power tailgate, roof rails and 15.6-inch touchscreen are not available on the Atto 3 Essential variant – among other features removed, more details available here – but are featured in the Premium model.
The MY25 Atto 3 SUV sees an increase to its maximum unbraked towing capacity of 50kg to 750kg, while the braked towing capacity remains the same in 2025 at 750kg.
Pricing on the MY25 Seal sedan has been reduced by more than $3000, with the Seal Dynamic and Premium variants receiving a $2898 and $2808 discount respectively, the two models now available from $46,990 and $52,990 before on-road costs.
The top-spec Seal Performance has had its price cut by $3758, with MY25 pricing starting from $61,990 in comparison to its $65,748 sticker in 2024 – despite features such as adaptive suspension and coloured front brake calipers being added.
Other extras for 2025 include a power sunshade and sunglasses box, plus frequency-selective suspension for the Premium, a new wheel design for certain models, and a blue interior option for the Premium and Perforamnce.
The Seal is the Chinese marque’s best-selling model in 2024 – and the fourth most popular EV in 2024 – recording 6393 sales in 2024.
It is unchanged for MY25 bar the deletion of the Azure Blue paint colour.
Pricing on the hotly-anticipated Shark 6 PHEV dual-cab ute will stay the same in 2025 at $57,900 before on-road costs, with the Chinese manufacturer accruing more than 5500 orders for the pick-up since orders opened in October 2024.
As previously reported by Drive, the Sealion 7 is expected to start from under $60,000 before on-road costs.
David Smitherman, CEO of BYD's Australian distributor EVDirect, has said he expects the Sealion 7 to be the Chinese marque's best-selling all-electric model in its line-up once the car launches sometime in February 2025.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
