Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) are poised to become a real threat to European and American automakers. They already are if we look at where some popular cars are made. But set aside well-known brands because BYD – once a Warren Buffett favorite – might just have what it takes to become an international favorite.
Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Renault, and even old Top Gear's darling Dacia have connected with China in one way or another. The latter auto brand, for example, imports an affordable EV based on the Dongfeng Nano Box from the Asian country.
Tesla is also relying on Giga Shanghai production. It exports Model 3 and Model Y EVs from China to various other markets, including North America.
But it's no surprise that's happening. Major automakers have invested billions in China and employed locals who have gained a lot of useful knowledge about the automotive industry. Now, they take advantage of the country's natural resources and their expertise to create cars that aren't just copycats but have their own identity and might even be better than some rivals.
Don't forget: six of the world's largest high-voltage battery manufacturers are Chinese companies.
The BYD Seal, for example, is part of China's homegrown cars that want to convince Europeans they can look at more than just what's made in the US or on their continent.
The Seal is a four-door, all-electric sedan that rivals the Tesla Model 3, the BMW i4 (because the i3 isn't yet here, but exists in China), and the upcoming zero-emission Mercedes-Benz C Class. BYD's EV comes in two flavors – the single-motor rear-wheel-drive Design and the dual-motor all-wheel-drive Excellence. Both use the same 82.5 energy storage unit.
The Seal Design puts out 308 hp (313 ps) and has a WLTP range of 354 mi (570 km), while the Excellence trim ups the power figure to 523 hp (530 ps) and drops the range to 323 mi (520 km).
Pricing starts from €46,990 ($49,695) for the single-motor unit, while the all-wheel-drive version incurs an extra cost of €5,000 ($5,287). Both variants are more expensive than their Model 3 equivalents.
Photo: Euro NCAP on YouTube
But apart from being a bit longer and featuring an increased wheelbase, the Seal doesn't have much going for it. Compared to the Model 3, the Chinese EV charges slower, is less efficient, heavier, less powerful, and does not benefit from access to a native and comprehensive charging network.
However, the differences are minimal and are not enough to automatically disqualify the Seal as a non-buy. And now that the Euro NCAP test results are in, things get even more complicated.
The BYD Seal secured a five-star rating with the following individual results:
89% for adult occupants;
87% for child occupants;
82% for vulnerable road users (i.e., pedestrians, cyclists);
76% for safety assist systems.
The Seal misses an active bonnet, a knee airbag, and a child presence detection system that works correctly all the time. However, it's overall great when it comes to the Euro NCAP testing procedure.
It's worth noting that the 2019 Model 3 scored better in almost all safety categories, except for vulnerable road users. It remains to be seen if the refreshed Tesla sedan that doesn't have ultrasonic sensors or radar will outperform its predecessor and the BYD.
For now, China proves that it can make somewhat affordable cars that are up to exigent European safety standards.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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