BYD, a Chinese electric car maker, is quietly moving into North America
BYD is a name that is circulating more and more in North America. This Chinese company, which launched a major offensive in Europe last fall, is an important player in mobility in Asia. The manufacturer, which has sold more than 300,000 electric vehicles this year in its home country, has hinted at its interest in landing in North America.
Although nothing confirms the arrival of the automobile giant in Canada or the United States, BYD is now more than ever well established in Mexico. The company has just launched its Seal model in the country, a compact car that competes directly with the Tesla Model 3.
5 models offered
BYD has been established in Mexico for a few months. The company also celebrated its first 100 copies sold in August 2023 in the country. BYD is in the process of entering the Mexican market, and intends to do so with a mass-market compact automobile.
Nicknamed Seal, the latter will also be the most affordable of the lot. It joins the Han sedan, Tang SUV, Yuan Plus crossover and Dolphin sedan. BYD uses a network of dealerships in the country to serve the people, which seems to be paying off so far.
It should be noted that BYD does not sell any cars to individuals in Canada or the United States. The manufacturer, however, has big ambitions on a global scale and wants to open a production plant in Mexico to supply North America, which suggests that we could perhaps see the manufacturer land here in Canada.
The little news
The BYD Seal is therefore the brand new model to land in the country. The latter, sold in a rear-wheel drive version to begin with, comes with a 150 kilowatt (201 horsepower) electric motor mounted at the rear. The car is also equipped with a 61.44 kilowatt-hour lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery which allows a nominal range, according to the WLTP standard, of 460 kilometers.
An all-wheel drive version will also arrive in Mexico. Equipped with two electric motors producing a combined power of 390 kilowatts (529 horsepower) and a larger LFP battery of 82.56 kilowatt hours, the full BYD Seal offers a range, again according to WLTP criteria, of 520 kilometers.
This compact car, with the dimensions and performance of the Tesla Model 3, is interesting because of its price. The basic version costs approximately, after conversion, $60,000 Canadian, while the complete model costs $69,000. The amounts may not seem very advantageous, but you should know that, in Mexico, electric cars sell for more than in the United States or Canada.
In comparison, the standard rear-wheel drive Tesla Model 3, which is priced around $55,000 in Canada, sells for $69,000 in Mexico. This price difference is observable for all electric vehicles circulating in the country. This therefore suggests that if the manufacturer passes through Nordic customs, the price of its cars should be revised downwards, which would allow BYD to be very competitive.
The Seal has officially made its very first debut in Mexico. The latter was also the first car to be launched in Europe last fall. This confirms that BYD intends to establish itself on a global scale quite quickly.
