BYD India is set to expand its product strategy beyond pure battery-electric vehicles with the launch of the Sealed U plug-in hybrid SUV later this year, marking the company’s entry into India’s plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) segment.
The announcement was made by Rajiv Chauhan, head of electric passenger vehicle business at BYD India, during the unveiling of the company’s DM-i (Dual Mode Intelligent) technology in India.
“Within this year we will have our first car on this platform, DM-i technology and that car will be Seal U,” Chauhan said.
The launch marks a significant milestone for BYD India, which has focused exclusively on electric vehicles since it began passenger vehicle operations in the country in 2021. The company currently offers four electric models in the Indian market – Atto 3, Sealion, eMax 7 and Sealion 7.
According to Chauhan, the move to plug-in hybrid technology complements BYD’s broader new-energy vehicle strategy rather than signaling a move away from electrification.
“Since then, over the last five years, we have introduced five products built on fully electric platforms. Today, we are choosing the second path, and this is a first for India,” he said.
BYD is pitching its DM-i technology as an electric-first mobility solution, designed to provide the benefits of electric driving while addressing concerns related to long-distance travel and charging infrastructure. Unlike conventional hybrid systems, which rely primarily on the internal combustion engine, DM-i vehicles operate primarily on electric power, with the petrol engine supporting the system when needed.
“The simplest way to define this category is that it is the first electric vehicle. You essentially run on electricity,” Chauhan said.
BYD’s DM-i technology is backed by nearly two decades of plug-in hybrid development. The company introduced the BYD F3DM in 2008, which it describes as the world’s first mass-produced plug-in hybrid vehicle. Since then, BYD has sold more than 8 million vehicles based on its plug-in hybrid technology, and has established itself as one of the world’s largest PHEV manufacturers.
Chauhan emphasized that the introduction of DM-i aligns with BYD’s mission to expand access to electrified mobility and encourage more consumers to experience electric driving.
He said, “This is not the path we are deviating from. It is completely in line with our philosophy of new energy vehicles. The aim is to bring more customers into the circle where they can experience electric-first driving.”
BYD currently assembles its vehicles in India from semi-knocked-down (SKD) kits at its manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The upcoming launch of Seal U DM-i is expected to strengthen the company’s presence in the rapidly growing Indian new-energy vehicle market.