Gqeberha plant gives Foton a base as Tunland PHEV, Galaxus arrive
Foton has started building vehicles in South Africa, and the first overseas vehicle manufacturing base of BAIC Group is now in Gqeberha.
- Industry News
- 4 November 2026
BYD has added another model to its line-up in South Africa. This time it is the Sealion 5, which slots in below the larger Sealine 6, which is also available locally.
What is it?
The BYD Sealine 5 is a medium-sized SUV, a plug-in hybrid, competing in terms of specs, size and price with the likes of, among others, the Chery Tiggo 7.
Exterior:
From the outside it boasts a typical SUV silhouette with a station-wagon look towards the back, an indication of good interior space.
From the side, the slope to the back has a distinct silver inlay in what resembles a boomerang shape towards the end bordering the boot.
For the rest, the lines are sculpted and in looks are more flowing than is the case of the Sealion 6.
Interior:
Both models have been launched, and the Comfort and the even more luxurious Dynamic boast high specification levels. The interior has a clean design with a minimalist approach and a large touch screen from which various functions and entertainment are run.
The Dynamic also boasts an electric driver’s seat, 360° surround camera and a sunroof and wireless phone charger to mention a few.
Like mentioned before, interior space is enough for five people and their luggage.
Powertrain:
The Sealion 5 is driven by a four-cylinder petrol engine. The engine’s output is 72kW and 122Nm but the 12.96kWh battery adds another 145kW and 300Nm to the vehicle and it can travel for up to 50km on pure electric power. The power is transferred via a CVT to the front wheels.
Prices:
At launch, the BYD Sealion 5 was priced at R499 900 for the Comfort and R569 900 for the Dynamic. (The prices have not been confirmed to us by BYD officially.)
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