BYD unveils first PHEV in South Korea at Busan Mobility Show

BYD Korea unveiled its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for the South Korean market, the Sea Lion 6 DM-i, at the 2026 Busan Mobility Show on Friday, opening pre-orders at the event. The company is targeting the domestic hybrid market with its proprietary DM-i hybrid system, developed on the foundation of its electric vehicle manufacturing technology.

Jo In-cheol, head of BYD Korea's passenger vehicle division, said at the show at BEXCO in Busan that "what consumers want is not simply automation, but the freedom to move without burden." He added that the Sea Lion 6 DM-i "can run like an electric vehicle on weekdays and travel long distances like a combustion-engine car on weekends."

Jo said the automotive industry is undergoing a major shift toward electrification, but that BYD does not believe the answer lies in a single approach. "In everyday urban driving, the DM-i delivers the quiet ride and instant acceleration of an electric vehicle," he said. "On long-distance trips, the engine steps in to enable efficient driving."

The Sea Lion 6 DM-i is BYD Korea's first PHEV in South Korea. BYD launched the world's first mass-produced PHEV in 2008 and has since logged sales of more than 8 million units and over 30 billion kilometers of driving data. The Sea Lion 6 DM-i is a core model in the SUV lineup, with more than 1.1 million units sold globally.

The DM-i is an EV-based hybrid system in which the motor handles propulsion while the engine supports efficiency — delivering a driving feel closer to a pure EV than conventional hybrids. It combines an Electric Hybrid System (EHS) with a Xiaoyun 1.5-liter gasoline turbo engine and a lithium iron phosphate (LFP)-based Blade Battery.

Equipped with an 18.3 kWh Blade Battery, the vehicle can travel up to 70 kilometers on electric power alone (combined cycle). It also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) output of up to 3.3 kW and 18 kW DC fast charging, which can bring the battery from 30 percent to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.

The interior comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch touchscreen, along with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and over-the-air (OTA) software updates. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) — including intelligent cruise control, lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring — and seven airbags are also standard. The vehicle earned scores of 90 percent for adult occupant protection and 86 percent for child occupant protection in Euro NCAP safety assessments.

The front-wheel-drive model is priced at 37.5 million won ($24,300). BYD Korea began accepting pre-orders through its nationwide showrooms on Friday.

Meanwhile, BYD Korea is running its exhibition at the Busan Mobility Show under the theme "Power of Duality." On display alongside the Sea Lion 6 DM-i are the Seal electric sedan, the Sea Lion 7 electric SUV, the Z9GT from premium brand Denza and the U9 electric supercar from high-performance brand Yangwang. The company is also showcasing core electrification technologies including the DM-i platform and e-platform. Test drives and interactive events are available for show visitors.