BYD Sealion 8 goes EV in Paris with 650km of range

The BYD Atto 8 electric SUV has debuted at the Paris motor show, and will serve as the new flagship for the Chinese brand in Europe when it launches there early next year.

Look familiar? That's because the Atto 8 is an EV version of the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) large SUV already sold in Australia.

Headline specs include up to 651km of WLTP-certified driving range from its 115kWh LFP 'Blade' battery, and it's the first BYD in Europe to offer the brand's 1500kW Flash Charging capability.

It means the Atto 8 can be charged from 10 to 70 per cent "in just 5 minutes", and 10 to 97 per cent in "only 9 minutes" – hence the company's tagline "ready in 5, full in 9, cold add 3".

The all-electric Atto 8/Sealion 8 will be available in Europe with rear- or all-wheel drive electric powertrains with up to 570kW of power and 775Nm of torque in flagship trim, boasting a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 4.6 seconds.

For reference, the most potent Sealion 8 DM-P PHEV outputs 359kW/675Nm from its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid system, quoting a 4.9-second 0-100km/h sprint time.

As with the local PHEV version, the Atto 8 offers seats across three rows, though the model depicted in the European press imagery has a different steering wheel to Australian versions.

Externally, not much separates the two, other than the BYD badge on the tailgate being integrated into the LED light bar – and illuminated.

BYD says it plans to roll out 3000 Flash Charging stations across Europe by the end of 2027.

The ultra-fast charging tech actually debuted in Europe with the Denza Z9 GT from BYD's premium arm, and the electric shooting brake will launch the tech in Australia when it arrives here later this year.

Phase one will see the first three chargers in Australia at Denza dealers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide up and running between October and December 2026, following first deliveries of the Z9 GT.

Phase two will see the chargers expand to BYD dealers – and open to drivers of all makes of EVs – with phase three expected to include partnerships with suppliers to further expand the rapid-charging availability.

CarExpert has reached out to BYD Australia regarding local prospects for the Sealion 8 EV, and is awaiting a response.

Stay tuned for an update, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

MORE: Explore the BYD Sealion 8 showroom