BYD Seal 5 DM-i PHEV Launched in Thailand – Malaysia Next?

The all-new BYD Seal 5 DM-i PHEV saloon debuts in Thailand as the fourth CKD model in the Kingdom. Malaysia next?

BYD has expanded its new energy vehicle (NEV) lineup in the Southeast Asia region by launching the new BYD Seal 5 DM-i in Thailand. This plug-in hybrid (PHEV) saloon is not only the second DM-i hybrid model to be sold there but also the fourth BYD model to be locally-assembled in BYD’s Rayong plant in Thailand.

Two variants of the Seal 5 DM-i are available for the Thai market, namely the entry-level Standard and the top-spec Premium. While the starting price is listed at THB 769,900 (RM100,373), the Seal 5 DM-i is now being sold at a limited-time promotion price of only THB 699,900 (RM91,247).

Not to be confused with China’s BYD Seal 05 DM-i, the Thai-spec Seal 5 DM-i is also known as the BYD Chaser 05 in its native market. And as its name suggests, the Seal 5 DM-i adopts BYD’s proprietary DM-i 4.0 platform featuring a 1.5-litre 4-cyl petrol engine rated at 97 hp and 122 Nm as its core.

Said engine is then mated to a 194 hp-rated electric motor to deliver a combined system output of 215 hp and 300 Nm, granting the Seal 5 DM-i a decent 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 7.5 seconds.

Battery-wise, the Standard variant gets a smaller 13.08-kWh LFP ‘Blade’ battery pack that is good for up to 80 km of EV-only range, while those opting for the Premium will get a larger 18.3-kWh pack for up to 120 km of pure electric range—both on NEDC standards. Not to forget, the Premium variant also supports the vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, transforming your saloon into a giant moving power bank.

In terms of design, the Seal 5 DM-i boasts a pretty sleek four-door saloon bodystyle, with several design cues inspired by or similar-looking to its all-electric siblings, most notably being the BYD Seal EV. Some key design features include sharp LED headlights flanking the front grille, through-type LED taillights, 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels, and many more.

Dimension-wise, the Seal 5 DM-i spans 4,780 mm long, 1,837 mm wide, 1,495 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,718 mm, making it slightly smaller than the Seal EV.

Onboard amenities are also quite comprehensive for the Thai-spec Seal 5 DM-i, especially if you opt for the Premium spec. Some key highlights include a 12.8-inch central infotainment screen with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, powered front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, an NFC key card with BYD digital key access, a wireless charging pad, an 8-speaker audio system, and many more.

The launch of the BYD Seal 5 DM-i also marks the first time this EV saloon has been sold in a right-hand drive (RHD) market, thus paving the way for its arrival to other key RHD markets in the region.

Closer to home, BYD Cars Malaysia recently put up a cryptic teaser of its upcoming model, featuring a couple of sea creatures that can be either sea lions or seals. While our early speculations point towards the updated 2025 BYD Seal EV with 800-volt architecture, there’s a slight chance that this mysterious model might be the Seal 5 DM-i, thus potentially making it the first PHEV model by BYD to debut here.