BYD has launched the Sealion 08 as the new flagship model in its Ocean lineup, offering it in two versions: fully electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The launch coincides with BYD Semiconductor beginning mass production of a 4D millimeter-wave radar chip designed for driver-assistance systems in the company’s vehicles.
A Large Vehicle with Eight Configurations
The Sealion 08 is available in eight configurations combining different powertrain options, and it can also be ordered with five or six seats. Prices announced in China range from 229,900 yuan, or approximately $34,216, to 279,900 yuan, or approximately $41,657.
The PHEV versions equipped with the DM-i system have a claimed electric range of 400 kilometers in rear-wheel-drive models and 350 kilometers in all-wheel-drive models. The fully electric versions offer, depending on the configuration, a claimed range of 900 or 800 kilometers, with prices ranging from 239,900 to 279,900 yuan.
The vehicle includes a second-generation Blade battery, along with fast-charging capability that enables charging from 10% to 70% in five minutes, or from 10% to 97% in nine minutes, according to the information provided in the article. It also includes the God’s Eye B driver-assistance system, a 26-inch head-up display with augmented-reality integration, as well as a rear entertainment screen and reclining second-row seats.
BYD Semiconductor’s 4D Radar Chip
BYD says its semiconductor subsidiary has begun mass production of a new 4D millimeter-wave radar chip, built using a 28-nanometer automotive-specific manufacturing process. The chip is based on an architecture centered on BYD’s internally developed Xuanji A3 intelligent-driving chip.
4D radars differ from conventional millimeter-wave radars in their ability to provide elevation-angle data, which the company says helps perception systems handle complex urban-road conditions. The chip supports a high-speed MIPI CSI-2 interface and several common SerDes modules, enabling it to connect with multiple intelligent-driving chip platforms.
According to figures from BYD Semiconductor, the chip can detect objects at a distance of more than 400 meters, with a horizontal angular resolution of 0.8 degrees and a range resolution of up to 0.05 meters in parking applications.
Why Does This Launch Matter?
The development is not limited to adding a new model to BYD’s lineup; in-house production of a core sensing-system chip indicates that the company is expanding the scope of its vertical integration from batteries to driver-assistance components. In practice, this could give BYD greater control over system design and integration, but the article does not specify production volume or whether the chip will be used in other models, nor does it provide independent verification of the range figures or radar performance.
The prices and specifications mentioned remain tied to the Chinese market, while the article does not clarify when the Sealion 08 will become available outside China. The range and charging-speed figures also need to be considered in light of the testing conditions and standards used, details that are not mentioned in the source.