BYD is simultaneously the world’s largest manufacturer of new energy vehicles and one of the most confusing brands to follow from outside China. The BYD model sold in the UK as the Dolphin Surf is called the Seagull in China, the Atto 1 in Australia and Indonesia, and the Dolphin Mini in some Southeast Asian markets. The Atto 3, BYD’s breakthrough European model, is the Yuan Plus in China.
None of this is accidental. BYD sells through separate dealer networks for its Dynasty and Ocean sub-brands even within China, and deploys a different naming strategy in each international market to suit local preferences. The result for anyone trying to follow the brand from the outside is a naming maze.
This guide cuts through it. Every BYD model currently on sale across the BYD brand itself (Dynasty and Ocean series), Denza, Yangwang, and Fang Cheng Bao is listed here with its Chinese name, its international export name (where different), its body type, powertrain, approximate price, and the markets where it is available. Models announced but not yet on sale are noted separately at the end.
BYD’s Five-Brand Structure
BYD organises its output under five distinct brands, each with a clearly defined price position and customer target:
BYD (Dynasty + Ocean series): This is the mainstream brand, covering city cars to executive sedans and family SUVs. Dynasty uses names from Chinese imperial history (Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Qin). Ocean uses marine creatures (Seagull, Dolphin, Seal, Sealion).
Denza: Denza is BYD’s premium tier, jointly founded with Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes’ stake was later reduced). The brand targets Lexus and Genesis buyers.
Fang Cheng Bao: While this sub-brand began with off-road SUVs, it is now expanding into performance sedans and sports cars. The English brand name is sometimes rendered as Bao or FCB.
Yangwang: According to the automaker, Yangwang represents ultra luxury. Every vehicle starts above ¥1,000,000 (~$138,000). The U8 is the first SUV with a certified emergency floating capability, while the U9 is a hypercar.
Linghui: Linghui is a fifth brand serving commercial fleet operators in China with bespoke vehicle configurations. It’s not yet available internationally and not covered in depth in this guide.
BYD sold 4.27 million vehicles in 2025 — more than the combined global sales of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.
The Name Problem: Quick Reference
Same car, different name by market:
| China name | Europe / UK | Australia | Note |
| Seagull | Dolphin Surf | Atto 1 | Also: Dolphin Mini in some SEA markets |
| Yuan Up | Atto 2 / Atto 2 DM-i | Atto 2 | — |
| Yuan Plus | Atto 3 Evo | Atto 3 | BYD’s first global breakthrough model |
| Sealion 06 / Sea Lion 06 | Seal 6 DM-i / Seal U (BEV) | Sealion 6 | BEV = Seal U; PHEV = Seal 6 DM-i in Europe |
| Hǎi Bào 07 / Seal 07 | Not yet available | Not yet available | Flagship Ocean fastback sedan |
| Tang L | Tang (Europe) | Atto 8 | BYD’s large Dynasty SUV flagship |
| Song Ultra | Not yet in Europe | Not yet available | Mid-size SUV, pre-sales open China |
Sources: BYD official websites (byd.com/eu, byd.com/au, BYD China), Wikipedia BYD vehicle list.
The Ocean Series: Marine Names for Younger Buyers
The Ocean series is BYD’s higher-technology, younger-skewing lineup, designed by former Volkswagen and Seat designer Wolfgang Egger and built on the dedicated e-Platform 3.0. Every name refers to a marine creature, and the series is sold through a separate dealer network in China from the Dynasty cars. Internationally, Ocean models are the ones most commonly available and they are BYD’s primary export vehicles.
Seagull: China’s best-selling EV
The Seagull is a micro hatchback that sold 529,537 units in China in 2025, making it one of the country’s best-selling cars outright, not just among EVs. Starting at ¥69,900 (~$9,700) in China with the 2026 update, it is the car that most conclusively demonstrates what BYD’s vertical integration and scale can produce: a five-door hatchback with decent fit and finish, a respectable WLTP-equivalent range and LFP Blade Battery safety, at a price that no European manufacturer can approach. The 2026 model, launched May 11, adds an optional LiDAR-equipped God’s Eye B driver assistance package, making it the first city car in the world to offer LiDAR.
Export name: Dolphin Surf (Europe, UK), Dolphin Mini (some markets), Atto 1 (Australia, Indonesia).
Available in: China, Europe, UK, Australia, Southeast Asia, Latin America. Starting from ~£18,650 in the UK.
Dolphin
The Dolphin is the step above the Seagull, a proper compact hatchback at roughly the size of a Volkswagen Polo, with a 60.4 kWh battery and 265 miles of WLTP range in its top European configuration. Its interior received the most attention of any BYD model on launch: the dumbbell-shaped air vents, guitar-string door pockets and rotating 12.8-inch central screen made it immediately distinctive. It has earned five stars from Euro NCAP (83% adult occupant, 87% child occupant) and is one of BYD’s most widely distributed international models, available across Europe, UK, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Export name: Dolphin. Sold as Dolphin globally.
Available in: China, Europe, UK, Australia, Southeast Asia, Latin America. From ~£30,000 in the UK; from A$38,990 in Australia.
Seal / Seal 06 / Seal 07 / Seal 08
The Seal is BYD’s Tesla Model 3 rival. It is a fast-back mid-size sedan with rear-wheel drive, 800V architecture and a five-star Euro NCAP rating (87% adult occupant, 87% child occupant). It undercuts the Model 3 at every trim level in markets where both are sold. The Seal family has expanded significantly: the Seal 06 (called Sea Lion 06 / Sealion 06 in some markets) is a more family-oriented variant with a PHEV option; the Seal 07 is a larger four-door fastback just launched in China with the second-generation Blade Battery; and the Seal 08 is the forthcoming Ocean flagship, a five-metre grand saloon with quad-motor performance and a target range of over 1,000 km CLTC.
Export name: Seal (the original), Seal U / Seal U DM-i (the SUV variant in Europe), Seal 6 DM-i (Europe PHEV).
Available in: China, Europe, UK, Australia, Southeast Asia, Latin America. From ~£44,695 in the UK.
Sealion series
The Sealion name covers BYD’s Ocean-series SUV range: the Sealion 5 (PHEV compact SUV), Sealion 6 (mid-size PHEV, successor to the Song Plus), Sealion 7 (large BEV, Tesla Model Y rival) and the Sealion 8 (three-row PHEV flagship). The Sealion 7 is BYD’s most ambitious export SUV. At 4,830 mm long on a 2,825 mm wheelbase, it competes directly with the Model Y while undercutting it on price in most markets. The Sealion 8, newly available in Australia from A$56,990, is BYD’s first three-row SUV outside China.
Available in: Sealion 7 in Europe, UK, Australia, Southeast Asia. Sealion 5/6/8 progressively expanding. From €49,990 (Sealion 7, Europe).
The Dynasty Series: Heritage Names for Mainstream Buyers
The Dynasty series takes its names from Chinese imperial dynasties: Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan. This series carries BYD’s more traditional design language, described internally as ‘Dragon Face’ (now updated to ‘Loong Face’ for the latest generation). In China it sells through a separate network from the Ocean cars. Internationally, Dynasty models have historically been slower to arrive, but that is changing fast.
Yuan series (Atto 2 and Atto 3)
The Yuan name covers BYD’s compact SUV range in China. The Yuan Plus, sold internationally as the Atto 3, was BYD’s first major export model and remains its most widely distributed, available across Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia and parts of Latin America. Its 2026 European update, the Atto 3 Evo, shifts to an 800V architecture with a 74.8 kWh battery and 220 kW DC charging. The smaller Yuan Up is sold internationally as the Atto 2, a sub-compact SUV that launched in Europe in 2025 as BYD’s most affordable SUV on the continent, with a PHEV variant (Atto 2 DM-i) following shortly after.
Available in: Atto 3 / Atto 3 Evo across Europe, UK, Australia, Asia, Latin America. Atto 2 in Europe, UK, Australia. From £38,990 (Atto 3 Evo UK); from A$34,990 (Atto 3 Australia).
Han / Han L
The Han has always been BYD’s statement car, the one it pointed at when Western commentators called its products budget offerings. At 5,050 mm long with a 2,970 mm wheelbase, the 2025 Han L is a full-size executive saloon with up to 810 kW of combined output in AWD configuration, 800V architecture and a claimed 0–100 km/h of under 3 seconds on the performance variant. The Han L’s BEV range is comparable to the Mercedes EQE. It is available in select European markets and is confirmed for UK launch.
Available in: China (Han L), select European markets including Germany and Norway, expanding. From approximately ¥300,000 (~$41,000) in China.
Tang / Tang L
The Tang is BYD’s seven-seat large SUV, a persistent fixture in Dynasty dealerships and the model BYD used to prove it could compete with premium Japanese SUVs. The Tang L is the redesigned 2025 generation, 5,040 mm long, 800V, up to 500 kW in rear-wheel drive configuration, and has earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating. In Europe it is sold as the Tang; in Australia it was previously called the Tang and more recently badged as the Atto 8 in some trim documentation.
Available in: China, Norway, other European markets. Right-hand drive markets including Australia expanding. From approximately €59,990 in Europe.
Song Lineup
The Song name covers BYD’s most commercially important range. The Song series sold 788,003 units in 2025, BYD’s best-selling model by total volume, combining Dynasty (Song Pro DM-i, Song L DM-i) and Ocean (Song Plus, now discontinued and replaced by the Sealion 06) variants across BEV and PHEV powertrains. The Song Ultra EV, pre-sold from ¥155,000 at the March 2026 Technology Day, positions as an affordable mid-size BEV SUV for export markets. The Song Max is a seven-seat MPV variant. Most Song models remain China-focused; the Song L DM-i has appeared in selected Southeast Asian markets.
Available in: Primarily China. Song L and Song Ultra expected in export markets from late 2026.
Qin series: China’s PHEV pioneer
The Qin is the car that established BYD’s PHEV dominance in China. The Qin Plus DM-i starts at ¥79,800, one of the cheapest PHEVs available anywhere, and offers 80–100 km of electric-only range with a fuel consumption of under 4L/100km in hybrid mode. It is emphatically a China-market product; no version has been sold through official BYD channels in Europe, Australia or the UK. Its continued relevance in China is enormous: for buyers who cannot charge at home, it is the most cost-effective new car on the market.
Available in: China. Not available internationally through official channels.
Denza: BYD’s Premium Sub-Brand
Denza was founded as a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz in 2010. Mercedes has progressively reduced its involvement, and Denza is now effectively a BYD premium brand with design direction shaped by Wolfgang Egger and engineering from BYD’s top-tier platforms. It has found its footing through two clear propositions: the D9 MPV, which has led China’s premium MPV segment for over two consecutive years, and the Z9 GT estate, which is one of the longest range Chinese EVs with 1,036 km.
Denza D9
Before the D9, the Toyota Alphard was the default choice for premium Chinese buyers who wanted a luxury MPV, the vehicle of choice for business travel, airport runs and family moves. The D9 arrived in 2022 with both BEV and PHEV variants, second-row captain chairs, and a starting price that was meaningfully below the Alphard’s. By 2024 it had claimed over 40% of China’s ¥300,000–500,000 MPV segment.
Available in: China, Thailand, select Southeast Asian markets. From approximately ¥339,800 (~$47,000) in China.
Denza Z9 and Z9 GT
The Z9 is Denza’s flagship executive saloon and BYD’s answer to the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class at domestic price points. The Z9 GT is the estate/shooting brake variant, launched with the second-generation Blade Battery in March 2026 and currently the only production car in the world to carry that platform, with 1,036 km CLTC range on its top BEV trim. Its tri-motor Performance variant reaches 0–100 km/h in 2.7 seconds. European launch with Flash Charging is confirmed, with the Z9 GT as the first Denza model to reach European buyers.
Available in: China, European launch confirmed. From ¥269,800 (~$37,000) for Z9 GT in China; European pricing not yet announced.
Denza Z
Revealed at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, the Denza Z is BYD’s electric supercar. It comes with over 1,000 horsepower from a tri-motor configuration, a carbon fibre body, 0–100 km/h in under two seconds, and styling described by BYD as ‘Pure Emotion’ under the direction of designer Wolfgang Egger. A convertible variant with a fabric roof was also displayed. Production is confirmed; pricing and delivery timeline are not yet announced.
Status: Production confirmed. On sale in China late 2026.
Yangwang: BYD’s Models Above ¥1,000,000
Yangwang translates to ‘look up’ in Chinese, a deliberate positioning statement. Every Yangwang starts above ¥1,000,000 (~$138,000), and the brand competes against Range Rover, Bentley and Lamborghini rather than against BYD’s own mainstream lineup. It exists to prove a specific point: that Chinese engineering can produce ultra-premium, ultra-performance vehicles without compromising on either dimension.
Yangwang U8
The U8 is BYD’s most technically audacious production vehicle. A 1,100 hp quad-motor EREV with 800V architecture, it features a certified emergency floating mode, the sealed battery and drive system allow it to float on water for approximately 30 minutes, with the wheels able to propel it at low speed.
It can also drive on three wheels if one loses traction, perform a pivot turn in its own footprint, and execute a diagonal crab-walk manoeuvre. With the 2026 update’s second-generation Blade Battery, its pure-electric range reaches 230 km and combined range 1,205 km. The Dingzang Edition adds a four-seat luxury interior variant.
Available in: China. Middle East and Southeast Asian markets in limited supply. From ¥1,008,000 (~$139,000).
Yangwang U7
The U7 is a 4,999 mm long executive saloon with quad-motor AWD producing 960 kW (1,287 hp), a 0–100 km/h time of 2.9 seconds, and 1,006 km CLTC range from its 150 kWh second-generation Blade Battery, the longest BEV range of any saloon in the world at the time of its March 2026 launch. It sits above even the Denza Z9 in BYD’s hierarchy, occupying a price tier equivalent to a Porsche Taycan Turbo S.
Available in: China. From ¥658,000 (~$91,000).
Yangwang U9 / U9 Extreme
The U9 Extreme, production-named ‘The Dawn,’ was revealed at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show as a full production hypercar delivering 2,977 hp, making it the most powerful production road car in the world at announcement. The standard U9 produces a comparatively modest 1,287 hp. Both use BYD’s DiSus-X adaptive body control system, which demonstrated at launch the ability to drive on three wheels and execute a standing jump. It holds a track record at 496.22 km/h, verified by Yangwang as a closed-course speed run. Production volume is extremely limited.
Available in: China. Extremely limited production. Price on application.
Fang Cheng Bao: Adventure and Performance
Fang Cheng Bao launched in 2023 as BYD’s off-road and personalisation brand, initially with two SUVs. The 2026 Beijing Auto Show marked a significant pivot: the brand revealed its first sedan lineup (Formula S series) and a sports car concept (Formula X), effectively repositioning from an off-road niche into a broader luxury performance proposition. The name is sometimes shortened to Bao in English usage; BYD has also used the acronym FCB.
Bao 5 and Bao 8
The Bao 5 is a mid-size off-road SUV and the Bao 8 is a large one, both designed with serious off-road capability alongside urban practicality. The Bao 8 targets the Land Rover Defender market: it has a 1,200 mm wading depth, a solid rear axle, and is available as a PHEV with electric-only range sufficient for daily urban use alongside genuine off-road credentials. The Titanium 3 (Tai 3) and Titanium 7 (Tai 7) sit alongside these as more family-oriented models within the FCB lineup.
Available in: China, Thailand, select Southeast Asian markets. From approximately ¥239,800 (~$33,000) for Bao 5.
Formula S series: new sedan range
Revealed at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, the Formula S brings Fang Cheng Bao into the performance sedan market. Three body styles are offered under the Formula S name: a traditional sedan, a Formula S GT shooting brake, and a larger Formula SL. All share an 800V platform with tri-motor AWD delivering 1,000 hp and 1,000 Nm, and use BYD’s DiSus-M magnetic ride control. At over 5,000 mm long on a 3,100 mm wheelbase, these are large performance sedans. Chinese dealerships are the target for late 2026.
Status: Revealed April 2026. On sale China late 2026.
Launching in 2026 — What Is Coming
Models announced, pre-sold or confirmed for 2026 delivery that are not yet available to order everywhere:
BYD Seal 08 — Ocean flagship sedan. Targets 1,000+ km CLTC, quad-motor option. On sale China Q3 2026.
BYD Sealion 08 (Hǎi Bào 08) — Ocean flagship SUV. Same platform as Seal 08. On sale China Q3 2026.
BYD Great Tang (Dà Táng/Datang) — Dynasty flagship SUV. 100,000 pre-orders in China within two weeks of announcement at Beijing Auto Show. BEV range target 950 km CLTC. H1 2026.
BYD Han 9 — Dynasty flagship sedan, paired with Great Tang. First half 2026.
BYD Shark 6 (Europe / UK) — BYD is testing right-hand drive PHEV utes in the UK. Australian-spec trucks confirmed for testing. European launch TBC.
Denza Z (production) — Sports car. Delivery late 2026.
Fang Cheng Bao Formula X — Sports car concept described as ‘80% production-ready.’ On sale 2027.
Editor’s Take
The scale of BYD’s model portfolio is genuinely difficult to convey in a single guide. This article covers over 30 models across five brands, and it is not comprehensive. There are regional-only variants, fleet-spec versions and models that were discontinued mid-2025 that have been omitted for clarity. What it does convey is the strategic logic. BYD is not a car company that found one successful model and scaled it. It has built a tiered ecosystem: the Seagull at one end captures buyers who cannot yet afford a conventional EV; the Yangwang U9 Extreme at the other demonstrates that Chinese engineering has no performance ceiling it is unwilling to challenge.
For international buyers, the most practically important section of this guide is the naming table. The single most common confusion we see in reader questions — in emails, on social media, in comments — is buyers not realising that the Dolphin Surf they saw reviewed in a British magazine is the same car as the Atto 1 they saw on an Australian comparison site, which is the same car the Chinese cousin calls a Seagull. BYD’s international marketing teams have made different naming decisions in different markets, and the result is an informal barrier to purchase research. Resolving that confusion is the most useful thing this guide can do.
Sources: BYD.com
Hillary started his automotive writing journey at HotCars, and has written for CarNewsChina, GlobalSUV, and many other top auto blogs.
He loves to read, play chess, and supports Liverpool during the weekends