Electric wagons under study for BYD

BYD’s local chief product officer Sajid Hasan has revealed to GoAuto that electric wagons are under study for the Chinese electrified vehicle brand based on customer inquiries made in the wake of the Seal 6 Touring launch earlier this year.

Back in July of this year, Mr Hasan revealed that more variants of BYD’s plug-in hybrid Seal 6 sedan and wagon – including a Premium version of the sedan, a base-model Essential wagon variant, and even a potential performance-focused model grade – could be on the cards should customer demand be sufficient.

When asked by GoAuto if any developments had been made in the intervening months regarding a Seal 6 line-up expansion at the Australian media launch of the BYD Atto 2 DM–i and Atto 3 EVO, Mr Hasan explained that there hadn’t been, but that powertrain options for future models are in-discussion.

“Not since the (Seal 6 launch) no, there hasn’t (been any developments). There have been other studies for future models, like in terms of what the powertrain direction is, BEV, plug-in hybrid, but in terms of the short term and those two variants, no,” he said.

When asked what these future powertrain studies entailed, Mr Hasan explained that these discussions referred to the future powertrain direction for the Seal 6.

“I’m just talking about the longer-term direction for Seal 6, like the next generation. What powertrain direction do we go? Do we persist with plug-in hybrid, or do we switch over to electric only, or do we try to offer the two alongside (each other), that’s a study that we’re looking at.”

Mr Hasan then revealed that battery electric wagons are “under study” for BYD, and while such a model won’t be hitting showrooms for some time, strong media, dealer, and customer feedback has prompted the discussion.

“(Electric wagons are) under study. (It) could be something that we do,” he reiterated.

“(It) won’t be for a while, but based on the feedback that we’ve received from the media at the Seal 6 media launch, and from our dealers and inquiring customers, it has given us something to look at.”

Currently, the two Seal 6 plug-in hybrid variants are sold alongside the battery electric Seal, the latter only being offered in a sedan body style.

Despite the overall decline of the traditional passenger car segment, a new offering BYD wouldn’t be alone in the electric wagon space, and would join a growing cohort of similar vehicles, offered at various points throughout the market.

For example, the first deliveries of the Zeekr 7GT wagon are slated for Q1 2027, shortly after the launch of the battery electric version of the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, expected in the fourth quarter of this year.

With the BMW i3 sedan recently priced for Australia and its wagon-bodied Touring counterpart’s launch expected sometime next year, a Bavarian challenger could also join the growing group Down Under.

While technically classed as SUVs, Toyota and Subaru launched the related bZ4X Touring and Trailseeker pair respectively in Australia earlier this year, which each feature wagon-styling.

At the top-end of the market, Porsche sells its Taycan Cross Turismo in 4, 4S and Turbo guises, with prices starting from $204,100 plus on-road costs.

Looking at BYD’s own portfolio, the Denza Z9GT shooting brake-style wagon is also expected Down Under soon.

According to the latest-available sales data (which is as of the end of August as of the time of writing), 3481 examples of the battery electric Seal have been sold in Australia.

Meanwhile, 654 Seal 6s have found local buyers.