Lineup expanded beyond pure EVs with plug-in hybrid SUV
18.3 kWh Blade Battery; up to 70 km in EV-only mode
V2L and 18 kW DC fast charging supported
GS Global takes delivery of Korea's first unit
BYD has begun its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) deliveries in South Korea, expanding its domestic passenger car lineup beyond pure electric vehicles to broaden its foothold in the country's electrification market.
BYD Korea announced Thursday that it has started domestic deliveries of the Sea Lion 6 DM-i, a PHEV sport utility vehicle, and handed over the first unit to GS Global.
The handover ceremony was held at the BYD Auto Gangseo showroom, operated by BYD Korea's official dealer Harmony Automobile. Executives from BYD Korea and GS Global attended, along with Harmony Automobile CEO Ma Rin-young.
GS Global was named BYD's official domestic import partner for commercial vehicles in 2020 and has since handled the supply and sale of electric buses. It is now the first domestic customer for BYD's passenger PHEV.
The Sea Lion 6 DM-i is a midsize SUV that made its Korean debut at the Busan Mobility Show in June. It uses BYD's proprietary DM-i plug-in hybrid system.
The system relies more heavily on the electric motor than a conventional hybrid. Under normal conditions, the vehicle runs primarily on electric power, with the combustion engine engaging based on battery level or driving conditions — reducing the need to stop and charge on long trips.
The vehicle is equipped with BYD's 18.3 kWh Blade Battery. Under Ministry of Environment certification standards, it can travel up to 70 kilometers in EV-only mode. The setup handles short daily commutes on electric power while drawing on the engine for longer journeys.
The Sea Lion 6 DM-i also supports 3.3 kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) output for powering external devices and up to 18 kW DC fast charging, making it suitable for camping and outdoor activities.
The model completed registration under the eco-friendly vehicle public notice on Monday and customer deliveries began this week. BYD Korea also displayed the Sea Lion 6 DM-i alongside the pure-electric SUV Atto 3 Plus at EV Trend Korea 2026, held at COEX in Seoul from Tuesday through Thursday.
"It is meaningful to deliver the first Sea Lion 6 DM-i in Korea to GS Global, a long-standing partner," a BYD Korea official said. "We will continue to introduce a diverse range of electrified models to the Korean market."
BYD is also rapidly growing its sales in South Korea's passenger car market. According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), the company sold 11,675 units in the first half of this year, ranking fourth among imported car brands — behind Tesla, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The best-selling BYD model in the first half was the Sea Lion 7, with 4,477 units sold.
kwater@heraldcorp.com
