Local production of BYD's Seal 5 DM-i hybrid sedan commences in Thailand
BYD Expands Presence in Southeast Asia with Launch of Seal 5 DM-i in Thailand
Chinese automobile manufacturer BYD has entered a new phase in its Southeast Asian expansion, launching the locally produced Seal 5 DM-i plug-in hybrid sedan in Thailand on August 8, 2025. The model, known as the Chaser 05 in China, marks BYD’s fourth locally produced model in Thailand and the first right-hand drive vehicle made at BYD’s Rayong plant.
The Seal 5 DM-i is available in two variants, Premium and Standard. The Premium variant’s promotional price starts at 699,900 Thai baht (roughly $23,730), with the regular price set at 769,900 Thai baht. The price for the Standard variant will be set after competitors’ prices are announced.
The Seal 5 DM-i has already shown strong market acceptance in China, where the Chaser 05 sold 10,303 units in July 2025, indicating promising potential for the Thai market as well.
BYD’s local production of the Seal 5 DM-i signifies the company’s recognition and confidence in Thailand’s manufacturing capabilities. The company aims to create over 9,000 local jobs and drive the development of Thailand’s new energy vehicle (NEV) industry. As of the latest company statement, BYD has sold over 90,000 vehicles in Thailand.
The factory began production on July 4, 2024, and last month, the first batch of mass-produced Seal 5 DM-i vehicles rolled off the assembly line. The Seal 5 DM-i is the first right-hand drive model produced at BYD's Thai factory.
Regarding competitors and pricing, the Standard variant price of the Seal 5 DM-i will be adjusted following competitor pricing strategies in Thailand’s midsize sedan segment. The early promotional price for the Premium model positions BYD competitively as Thailand’s first mid-size plug-in hybrid sedan, a segment with limited direct competition.
In summary:
- Model name (Thailand): Seal 5 DM-i
- Model name (China): Chaser 05
- Launch date (Thailand): August 8, 2025
- Production locale: BYD Rayong plant, Thailand (right-hand drive)
- Variants available: Premium, Standard
- Premium variant price: 699,900 THB (promo), 769,900 THB (regular)
- Standard variant price: Pending competitor pricing
- Sales in China (July 2025): 10,303 units
- BYD sales in Thailand: Over 90,000 vehicles total
- Local job creation: >9,000 jobs
- Competitive position: First midsize plug-in hybrid sedan in Thailand, priced competitively against incumbents
This launch underlines BYD’s strategic expansion in Southeast Asia and signals growing competition in the Thai midsize sedan market, particularly in hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
[1] https://www.byd.com/en-us/news/2025/08/10/byd-launches-seal-5-dm-i-plug-in-hybrid-sedan-in-thailand [2] https://www.byd.com/en-us/news/2024/07/04/byd-begins-production-of-seal-5-dm-i-at-thai-factory [3] https://www.byd.com/en-us/news/2023/03/10/byd-breaks-ground-on-thai-factory [4] https://www.byd.com/en-us/news/2023/03/01/byd-brings-compact-suv-yuan-up-to-malaysia
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