Chinese automaker BYD has expanded its European footprint with the launch of its electric vehicles in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, marking a shift in its regional market strategy. The company is debuting two models — the all-electric Sealion 7 and the plug-in hybrid Seal U DM-i — as it seeks to strengthen its presence in Central Europe.
The move diverges from BYD’s earlier approach, which focused on launching the Atto 3, Han, and Tang models in European markets. Last week, the automaker announced a similar entry into Switzerland with the same two models now offered in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
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In Slovakia, BYD has opened its first retail location in collaboration with Auto Impex and plans to expand to 20 outlets by the end of 2024. “We’re incredibly proud and excited to be opening our network in Slovakia,” said Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD. “At BYD, our mission is to make our sustainable technologies accessible to as many consumers as possible, so every new market in Europe is extremely important to us.”
In the Czech Republic, the company has partnered with Auto Louda and plans to establish 30 stores across the country by the end of 2025. The first showroom is opening in Prague 9, a growing district of the capital city.
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The Sealion 7, an electric SUV, is being offered with two drive variants and three trim levels: Comfort, Design AWD, and Excellence AWD. It features a 91.3 kWh battery and offers a WLTP range of up to 502 kilometers, with DC fast-charging capabilities of 230 kW.
The Seal U DM-i is a plug-in hybrid using BYD’s proprietary DM-i technology, and provides an estimated all-electric range of up to 115 kilometers. The company phased out internal combustion engine-only vehicles in 2022, focusing exclusively on electric and hybrid technologies.
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BYD stated that additional models — including the compact all-electric Atto 2 SUV — will be introduced in the Slovak and Czech markets in the future. In Switzerland, the company has also added the all-electric Seal saloon to its offerings.