Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD will discontinue production of its popular Song Plus SUV, marking the end of the only model in its Ocean series named after a Chinese dynasty, as it seeks to streamline its product lineup.
Reports of the model’s impending withdrawal recently surfaced on Chinese social media, prompting BYD to confirm the move. The company described the discontinuation as a normal product transition, noting that the newly launched Sealion 06 will serve as the Song Plus’s successor, according to a report by 21jingji on Friday.
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The Song Plus, a long-time bestseller with cumulative sales of 1.57 million units, will be gradually phased out domestically. The move also completes BYD’s Ocean series naming system, which follows a theme inspired by marine life and naval vessels.
BYD’s lineup currently consists of two major series — the Dynasty series, launched in 2012 and named after ancient Chinese dynasties such as Tang, Han, and Qin, and the Ocean series, introduced in 2021 with models like the Sealion and Frigate 07. The Song Plus DM-i hybrid SUV was initially incorporated into the Ocean series to broaden its offerings. In overseas markets, the Song Plus DM-i is sold as the Sealion 6 or Seal U DM-i.
The Song family, which spans both the Dynasty and Ocean series, has occasionally caused confusion in marketing and sales reporting. The Sealion 06, launched on July 24, comes in both hybrid (Sealion 06 DM-i) and all-electric (Sealion 06 EV) variants, priced between RMB 139,800 ($19,590) and RMB 163,800 — overlapping with the Song Plus’s RMB 135,800 to RMB 175,800 range. The shift also comes as sales dynamics change within BYD’s portfolio: the Qin family of sedans overtook the Song lineup in July as BYD’s top-selling models.