BYD Co. Ltd., a major Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, has entered the Swiss passenger car market as part of its ongoing expansion into Europe. The company officially announced its market entry during a brand launch event held in Switzerland from April 1 to April 2, 2025.
Initially, BYD is offering three models in Switzerland: the all-electric sedan Seal, the electric SUV Sealion 7 EV (previously known as Sealion 07 EV), and the hybrid SUV Seal U DM-i (formerly Song Plus DM-i). The Seal electric sedan is available in two trims, each featuring an 82.5 kWh battery and a WLTP range of up to 570 kilometers. The Sealion 7 is offered with two powertrains and three trim levels, providing a WLTP range of up to 502 kilometers. The Seal U DM-i comes in three interior trim levels and boasts a combined WLTP range exceeding 1,100 kilometers when paired with a full gasoline tank.
In collaboration with dealer Harmony, BYD has opened its first Swiss store located at Uraniastrasse 31 in Zurich’s city center. Additionally, BYD is partnering with Automotive Suisse to establish stores in Lugano and Bellinzona. These two showrooms are set to begin trial operations in April, with official openings planned for the third quarter of the year. By year-end, BYD aims to operate 15 sales points across Switzerland.
“At BYD, our mission is to make our sustainable technologies as accessible to as many consumers as possible, so every new market in Europe is extremely important to us,” said Stella Li, executive vice president of BYD.
Since shifting its focus away from combustion engine vehicles to plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in March 2022, BYD has seen significant growth. In March 2025 alone, the company sold 377,420 NEVs, representing a 24.78 percent increase year-over-year and a 16.90 percent rise from February. Of these, 72,723 vehicles were sold internationally, marking an 89.22 percent year-over-year increase and an 8.50 percent rise from the previous month.
BYD’s expansion into Switzerland is a strategic move to enhance its presence in the European market, leveraging its growing portfolio of electric and hybrid vehicles to meet increasing demand for sustainable transportation solutions.
Source: CNEV Post
