BYD Sealion 8 PHEV now on DOE's list, launching in PH soon?

The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) market in the Philippines continues to expand, with several models now available in the country. One of those is BYD, which now has the Seal 5, Sealion 5, Sealion 6, Tang, eMAX 9, and the Shark 6 as its PHEV offerings.

In the future, we might see another PHEV model from BYD to make its Philippine debut, and it could serve as the brand's newest plug-in hybrid flagship. It's called the BYD Sealion 8 DM-p (Dual Mode – Performance), and it's big in almost every aspect.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has just officially recognized the BYD Sealion 8 DM-p as a 2026 model year vehicle and even listed some of its specifications. For starters, the three-row PHEV measures 5040mm long, 1996mm wide, and 1760mm tall. It also has a 2950mm wheelbase and 190mm of ground clearance. Besides having large dimensions, the Sealion 8 DM-p is quite heavy, with a curb weight of 2580 kg and a gross vehicle weight of 3265 kg.

The Sealion 8's DM-p powertrain consists of a 1.5L turbocharged engine that makes 150 PS with 220 Nm of torque and provides extra oomph for the electric drivetrain, as well as recharging the battery while on the go. It also has dual electric motors that deliver sports car-like performance and AWD capability. Both the front & rear electric motors generate a total system output of 359 kW or 488 PS, which makes it one of the most powerful plug-in hybrids from BYD.

A 35.6 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack gives the Sealion 8 DM-p an electric range of up to 152 km, which beats the Tang DM-i's 110 km EV range. With a full tank of gas and a fully charged battery, BYD says the Sealion 8 can cover up to 1200 km, which also beats the Tang DM-i's combined range of over 1,100 km.

With the BYD Sealion 8 DM-p already being recognized by the DOE, we're hoping we're only a few months away from the official launch.