BYD Sime Motors, the sole distributor of BYD passenger vehicles here in Malaysia, has posted a video on its social media channels with the number “6” prominently featured in the video, followed by the words “coming soon”. It’s likely a teaser to yet another new model that will arrive in Malaysia soon, but what could this be?
Looking through BYD’s extensive lineup in search of anything with a “6” in its name, we think one of the biggest suspect is the BYD Seal 6 electric sedan, as the company would want to take advantage of the tax incentives for electric vehicles (EV) in Malaysia, which is set to expire for imported models by the end of the year, in a bid to keep their position as the top EV brand in the country.
Known as the BYD Seal 06 in China, the car is a slightly smaller sedan model compared to the the Seal that we currently have here in Malaysia, measuring 4,720 mm long, 1,880 mm wide, and 1,495 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,820 mm.
The Seal 06 is offered there in two variants, with the entry level model featuring a 46.08 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery capable of a CLTC range of 470 km. It supports 84 kW of DC fast charging and AC charging at 7 kW, and is fitted with a single rear-mounted motor producing 150 hp and 220 Nm of torque.
A higher-priced variant is also on sale, offering a larger 56.64 kWh LFP battery to give it up to 545 km CLTC range. Outputs have also been bumped up to 218 hp and 330 Nm, along with a faster 103 kW DC fast charging support, although AC charging remains the same at 7kW.
Revealed globally last year, the BYD Seal 06 also comes in a “hot hatch” guise, dubbed the BYD Seal 06 GT. This souped-up model is offered in two variants: a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) version with 218 hp and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) version boasting 421 hp from its dual-motor setup.
ALSO READ: Updated 2025 BYD Seal launched in Malaysia — 2 variants from RM172k, base Dynamic variant axed
Apart from the Seal 6, our next best guess is the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i, which has already been rumoured for Malaysia for a long time, given that it is already available in neighbouring markets such as Thailand, Singapore, and Brunei.
The plug-in-hybrid (PHEV) SUV competes in size with cars such as the Haval H6 and the Honda CR-V. Looks-wise, it takes on a very similar design to its fully electric Sealion 7 sibling, but with a slightly more rugged styling, and a slightly different front grille to accommodate air intakes for the internal combustion engine.
The BYD Sealion 6 DM-i is powered by a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine mated to a front-mounted electric motor, resulting in a total system output of 217 hp and 300 Nm. Power for the electric motor is sourced from an 18.3 kWh BYD Blade battery, allowing for a total driving range of 1,092 km range (NEDC) with a full tank of fuel and battery.
ALSO READ: BYD is top EV brand in Malaysia, 3 years in a row – more than 20,000 cars sold to date
In some markets, there’s also the BYD Seal 06 DM-i PHEV — a close sibling to the EV sedan above, but equipped with a PHEV powertrain instead. It uses the same mill as the Sealion 6 DM-i yet delivers a longer range – up to 2,100 km according to Chinese sources – thanks to its lower and more aerodynamic profile.
Of course, there’s also the BYD Shark 6 PHEV pickup truck, which has been previously hinted for our markets. That said, the model has been recently discontinued in Thailand due to low demand, and we’re unsure of its fate here in Malaysia at this point.
BYD Sime Motors will surely be dropping more information as we get close to the model’s launch date, so keep your eyes peeled as we bring you the latest information!
ALSO READ: Low demand sees BYD pull the plug on the BYD Shark 6 in Thailand
