►Shop for merchandise: autogefuehl.shop/ ►Subscribe here: th-cam.com/users/autogefuehl ►Also subscribe to our TH-cam shorts channel: www.youtube.com/@thomasautogefuhl?sub_confirmation=1 ►Follow us on Facebook / Instagram / TikTok @autogefuehl ►Sustainability in the automotive industry documentary: th-cam.com/video/-8gNXlRGngA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=bCdeJZORRHNcVmV2 This is our in-depth review of the BYD Sealion 7. We're taking a look at Exterior, Interior and the driving experience. 00:00 BYD vs Tesla 00:49 Length, wheels, power 01:36 Battery kWh and charging 03:32 Frunk and indicators 04:03 Interior quality 06:18 Cockpit 09:17 Features while driving 09:54 Driver POV 12:54 Rear seats 14:44 Trunk / boot 16:14 Acceleration Autobahn 20:15 Driving fun and comfort 25:10 Difference Model Y 27:05 Price 27:28 Real-world range
@@hellothere4342 Tariff protects European car companies from being destroyed by China's unreasonable practices. They stole the know-how from European companies, didn't spend anywhere near the same on R&D, and now make good cars from knowledge taken for free from Europe, while their government is basically paying for half of every car they sell in Europe, making the car unrealistically cheap, and undercutting the competition, which in long terms would destroy the competition and put them out of business, leaving only Chinese cars on the market. That's what's happening. If you have any common sense, you wouldn't buy a Chinese car if you live in Europe. In the long terms it's like cutting the branch you're sitting on because you're saving a little bit of money in the short term. But most people are now very smart, and will do it anyway. And that's why Europe is done for.
Way better than model y in EVERY SINGLE WAY, previous owner of 2 Model Y Performance 2020 and 2022 respectively... Now owner of a Sealion 6 DM-i AND NO REGRETS AT ALL. Not missing the 0-100 in 3.9 secs in dense traffic México city. Greetings!
@@autogefuehl Big difference. TESLA usef to pay around 2000 mxn pesos EVERY 2 months, with Sealion 6 dm-i reduced to half. Way better IN MEXICO at least, to have a PHEV rather than a full EV.
Nobody would thought the Chinese would come this far or further, when more than 10 years ago their cars were really a joke. Today, they just rocketed ahead with nice looking, well built, decent quality cars! With just every new introduction of new models of BYD, I can basically see details improving. Got to say BYD is going to be the "Toyota" of the EV future.
*How it beat when it is banned (in many people's view when the decision to ban it is made it already won in the mind of decision makers) oh even it is banned it still have better overall sales*
Hi, if you look at the Model 3 battery chemistry, it's similar to this BYD, right? Tesla is going to update the battery composition in the new year, so it should be on the same level as this one. Correct?:)
@Autogefuhl, You can change the temperature by swiping 3 fingers on the screen up/down, and change the fan speed by swiping them right/left. Thanks for the video, it was excellent as always 👍
If there is one reason that I have been following this channel for years now, is the non-biased approach into every review. Thomas calls it as he sees it. And I appreciate that. Can't wait to see what BYD is going to come up with next. They can't do no wrong at the moment. As for the prices in Europe and the States, I believe there are more than obvious reasons as to why this is the case...
Data & facts: BYD Sealion 7 4,83 m 190“ length 19“ or 20“ wheels Frequency adaptive dampers RWD 6,7 s 0-100 km/h AWD 4,5 s 0-100 km/h Max 215 km/h 134 mph Battery LFP 82,5 kWh RWD 11 kW AC 230 kW DC, 10-80 % in 32 Min 91,3 kWh AWD 11 kW AC 230 kW DC, 10-80 % in 24 Min Heat pump standard 10,25“ instruments HUD 15,6“ infotainment horizontal or vertical Interior color black or blue-grey Leatherette (comfort and design trim) or animal skin (excellence version) 60 l frunk 520 l trunk German entry 48.000 Euro (535 leasing), top trim 59.000 Euro (589 leasing) Model Y: 45.000 Euro, AWD LR 55.000 Euro (so 3.000-4.000 Euro difference) #byd #bydsealion7
You should mention the Battery size difference in the price.... Model Y starts 45k with the 60kWh battery... Thats over 20kWh difference... So you need the LR RWD and this is 50k then with 77kWh battery vs. 48k with 82,5kWh ;=) And the AWD is then also somewhere between the Tesla AWD (55k) and Performance (61k) but with 15kWh more Battery.... So BYD hit price wise exactly what it need. The most important point at any price: LFP don't explode :P
I’m just glad they removed the “BUILD YOUR DREAMS” badge on the backside for international markets. I always cringe when visiting China and see that 😅 may as well say EAT PRAY LOVE 😂
I love the subtle dynamic you and your partner have in the reviews. Youre the “star”. But obviously only because you have the right presets(your partner) Great review. The chinese are shaking up the industry which is a good thing
@@tomoh160keep drinking that western kool-aid. Chinese cars are years ahead in battery technology, they've moved away from using cobalt which European and Americans are stuck with, they're way less dangerous and less flammable. Your comment might have hold a lot of truth years ago, but not in 2024.
When I tested the BYD Seal it fell short mainly due to the impracticality of the saloon boot despite the Excellence model being so much fun to drive. The Sealion 7 looks to have solved this problem and I like the LFP power as a more stable and easier to charge technology. Certainly worth keeping an eye on in future but for now I have my alternative EV on order.
When Tesla first came out the complaints by car reviews was that the car was just to stiff and uncomfortable due to the structural design caused by the integrated battery. The Chinese have balanced that with a more user-friendly ride dynamics, I think Chinese vehicles are more appealing to the mass market due the ride comfort and ergnomic environment and of course price point even when their cars are heavily tariffed.
This Sealion 7 is by far the best looking car that both on exterior and interior from BYD group except Yang Wang, their luxury brand, in my opinion. And I have to say, I respect BYD very much, they really do listen to their customers and accept all kinds of feedback, which many brands nowadays are incompetent of doing so.
Design language of Tesla cars has always been focused on cost-efficiency resulting in plain and unexciting design compared to premium brands like Mercedes-Benz which have richly appointed cabins with intricate materials and detailed controls. Compared to Tesla, even BYD has more interesting designs nowadays.
Tesla is beating itself......and any serious observer should see that doing nothing more than surf on your superiority for years is going to end badly. Since when did stripping out content attract more customers to one old vehicle. Be brave.....tell the awful truth about the missing CEO who now manages failure..
Wow, well done BYD, this is a serious contender, I like the Sealion a lot (not enamoured with the name). It's a breath of fresh air compared to what we're told is the future from the South African Billionaire. If I were in the market for a new car, this would be on my short list, there's no doubt. It ticks a lot of boxes for me and I don't even like SUVs in general. It's a sensible reaction to the ultra minimalist look and feel and I'm here for it. The worry for me is whether BYD can rise above quality, integrity and financial stability issues that plague many native Chinese EV makers at the moment, a lot of whom are going bankrupt left, right and center.
In my county BYD Sealion 7 cost is half that of Tesla Y Performance. And any BYD have poor shock absorber tuning, be it FSD or not. The ride is bouncy non-stop and it provides no confidence in high speed lane change. The way to fix it once and for all is to replace shock absorbers with after market. I used TEIN Enduro Pro Plus on Seal and now it is much better to handle.
Why do European car brands just not make cars like these? Why crazy cars like the VW ID3, Jaguar Type 00 or ugly BMW iX, Mercedes EQs.. list goes on. Thomas mentioned it in the video; this byd does look European and sells great; why did European brands derailed and went with crazy and ugly designs? ? They are loosing it or have already lost it
Funny EU prices, at "home" the BYD starts RMB 190k and tops at 240k for the 4WD presented, the model Y starts at 250k up to 290k for the 4WD (non performance)
@@ttusko3132 Tesla is kind of forced to due to the extremely competition in the Chinese car market. Just wait until Xiaomi launches the YU7 next year. Demand for that thing is gonna be INSANE, and Tesla will be forced to drop Model Y price even further just to maintain their current sales levels, because Xiaomi is directly targeting Tesla's golden goose with the YU7.
Very good review. Thank you. Still too much focus on the highway driving experience. 90% of (my) driving is around city streets, turning circle, reverse parking, car parks. Also, what is the audio system like? It's like an alarm clock. The smallest details you use every day are the things that matter most. How it drives is something you just get used to.
As a model 3 owner, I'm jealous of: their stalks, digital driver's display, heads-up display, android auto, top sun cover. Not too crazy about their OS and screen reaction time.
You can swipe up and down with three fingers for temperature adjustment and right and left for fan speed adjustment. Same across all BYDs from my understanding.
Great looking car. Good balance between comfort and performance. Seems packed with features. Classy cabin. This will be the one I'd buy one if I want an EV mid-size SUV.
I love the idea of owning a hybrid car, but my main concern is that, since there's no engine in the front to absorb certain impacts, what exactly absorbs the force during a collision?
You are really prolific car reviewers! You have made careers out of this channel. I am trying to work out what EV to buy as my first EV. This is helpful.
Chinese domestic version, I remember you can use three finger motion to tune the AC temperature, not sure if the same goes to export version. Another big difference is the central infotainment system/panel, it seems that Chinese domestic version is much richer in performance and functionalities, e.g., smoother and quicker response, more on-borad internet or entertainment apps (you can login with the same account of those apps on you phone), you will never want to connect your phone, I believe very few Chinese people still use carplay with their smart EV/PHEV cars now (not sure if there is still such carplay app inside)
yes indeed we also discussed that in the comments where this one guy accused me of being bought by BYD because I said that the design is European (which is obviously the case and also intended to be)
@@autogefuehl Egger must be the hardest working man in the entire automotive industry at this point. I've lost count of how many cars (different TYPES of cars too) he's been tasked with designing in the 7 or so years since he took over BYD's top design job. I'm just imagining his first meeting with BYD Chairman about future directions for BYD design: I can't wait to get started Mr. Wang! I have so many ideas on the kinds of cars BYD can build in the future. Any particular types of cars you have in mind? Sedans, hatchbacks, and compact crossovers of course! But maybe also urban ultracompact, or shooting brake station wagon, or hardcore offroad SUV, or a full sized MPV, or small MPV just for ridesharing service. Maybe we go crazy and think of designing stuff like pickup trucks, full size luxury sedans, crazy luxury SUVs with quad motors that can drive on water! Maybe even an electric hypercar which fully active suspension powerful enough to jump the entire car into the air! So what do you think, which ones should we focus on first in the next few years so we can get these cars on the road in 2022 and beyond? Wang: Yes. I would like one of each of those model all ready for mass production by 2024 please.
The G6 is more minimalistic, the Sealion 7 more classic automobile in the user interface. Both very good offers for sure. Would need a head-to-head test in same conditions also to really compare efficiency.
Very impressive quality/price ratio, so much better interior and equipment than Tesla. Also very nice ride quality and it pushes hard when needed. So yes, other automakers should be worried. I’m just not sure about reliability though.
Actually, it doesn’t matter for efficiency how u trigger the recuperation, it’s just a different way of doing it. Tesla has great aerodynamics and efficient motors
Good review, thanks. Thinking about getting this vehicle, so this helps. I would expect a 2025/26 version with the updated battery, and some tweaks based on user feedback. Since I'm looking to get a new vehicle next year, don't know if I can wait... I guess that's always the issue with new, rapidly developing technologies 🤷♂
Do you think this car is overall better than the Polestar 4? which would you prefer if you had to choose one as your daily car? Thank you. I have seen your review on the polestar 4 but would like your opinion between these 2. thanks ibrahim
For most people i think if they're shopping for a family SUV they will prioritize the daily comfort and practical details over precise handling and max performance. If i was in the market I'd choose the byd over the Tesla for sure. I like a more traditional interior with traditional controls.
Its just to use 3 fingers on the screen.... up and down will change the temp, right and left with 3 fingers will adjust the fan speed. So in that way you can change temp and speed without even looking at the screen.
They need to fix 3 things and I will place an order right away. 1. Matrix Led (very easy), 2. Price (maybe after they will finish the Plant in Hungary), 3. Efficiency (replacing the motor or even a bigger battery).
Good comfort ride but still not matching the autopilot especially on high speed. I really have to weight for my next changeover, let’s see what juniper bring.
If you are in Europe, get the Seal U DMI, not this one. It’s a hybrid with a 1,100 km range (EV & Combustion) and will also have a proper range in winter (38k variant). A 100% EV makes absolutely no sense in sub-zero temperatures, as you would lose too much range.
Maybe something to review for EVs: is the door opener mechanical or electric? There are reports of people unable to escape from a burning Tesla because the electrics failed and the mechanical openers were too hidden for them to discover them in time. That's not a vehicle I would enter without a hammer somewhere to shatter the side windows.. I agree with others that the interior looks nicer than Tesla (although that is of course subjective), it looks less, well, made on the cheap as Tesla does.
@@Dave_Tae Yes, we must. Because China's government is paying for half the car when you buy it. And that's why this car is sold at an unreasonably and unrealistically low price that cars made in Europe, or Japan, or Korea, or USA can't compete with. Which means companies making cars in Europe or elsewhere out of China would go out of business. And then only Chinese car companies would survive on the market and raise the prices of their cars to the levels European cars were sold at before. And then you'd again be stuck with expensive cars, made in China instead of Germany. Get it now? It's kinda shocking how many people don't understand that, but I guess most people are economically illiterate, or simply lacking the ability to think abstractly and connect cause and effect.
Completely animal free = 100 % plastic I am not sure that a semblance of leather in plastic is the best for the customer. It’s for sure a cost saving for the manufacturer. When I see this car I am afraid for the European cars (VW, Peugeot, etc…) Nice review as always. Keep doing what you do!
Thank you very much for your interest in this topic. I also bought cars with animal skin leather seats before I did my research and got to know the industry. The most important thing is: With today's modern materials, you have nothing to lose, just to gain. You achieve the same kind of luxury and comfort or even better while having the same or better durability with less impact on humans, animals and the environment. You can use fabric/cloth, microfibre or leatherette. The classic approach is using oil/plastic as source material. Overall, a vehicle contains about 300 kg plastic. A car seat needs about 5 kg plastic. So the overall plastic share for the seats is very low and it is at this moment the most efficient way to produce a car seat. A couple of litres of fuel equals a car seat basically. So if you want to save oil/plastic, rather look at consumption for energy, fuel and heating and to other car parts than the seat. Note that animal skin leather also always contains a plastic coating for durability. However, long-term we should of course find raw oil alternatives. So going further, seats can be made from recyclables (e.g. from PET-bottles or old fishing nets) or even increased share of plant-based materials (like pine oil, canola oil or start-up materials like Pinatex from pineapple leaves or Desertex from cactus fibre or the mixed-plant-based Mirum, so be seen at th-cam.com/video/S1aNZeoatmE/w-d-xo.html). On a calculation base, by ditching animal skin leather from car interiors, the amount of emissions (CO2e) is reduced by 85 (!) % (www.press.bmwgroup.com/africa-dom-easteurope/article/detail/T0403389EN/on-the-market-from-2023:-bmw-and-mini-models-with-vegan-interiors?language=en) - and that is a very conservative calculation. So it is at this moment the most important thing you can do to make car interiors more sustainable. A good example for high-end luxury with ventilated animal free seats is the BMW X7 with Sensafin: th-cam.com/video/1pRNkW9nrrw/w-d-xo.html And the Kia EV9 with plant-based oil share: th-cam.com/video/6vXePQi_MAk/w-d-xo.html New leatherette materials can be superior in every aspect, even for cleaning: th-cam.com/video/u94YXJ72UTA/w-d-xo.html More and more natural materials are rising: th-cam.com/video/nRSsXEnwHDo/w-d-xo.html Also check out what the animal skin leather industry tried to with our channel: th-cam.com/video/nP_CvLlaFlI/w-d-xo.html For seeing how the animals are being treated and transported in the global leather industry, watch this footage: th-cam.com/video/tkjCAmq1_8E/w-d-xo.html Note that the footage is genuine and was recorded by a highly decorated investigative journalist in Germany I know myself personally. Also a group of researchers and German journalists from public media could recent directly trace the connection between car animal leather production and illegal burning down Amazon rain forest: www.daserste.de/information/reportage-dokumentation/ard-story/videos/illegales-leder-video-100.html In a high animal skin grade, the animals are specifically raised for this matter. However even if meat is the "first" misuse case, the hide remains a profitable body part. That means: If manufacturers put animal leather in a car and you demand it as a customer, you give your money to an industry that earns money by oppressing humans, animals and harms the environment, you make them more profitable. Alternatively, you could support industries with your wallet which try to improve the sustainability of materials. Also, if you turn the argument around to "meat is the waste of the leather industry" you realize that it doesn't make sense (and is ethically doubtful) to discuss the primary use of individual body parts of mammals. Mind experiment: You are getting slain down on the street; would it matter to you if it was for your smartphone or for your purse? Remember that animal skin leather is no different to fur, fur is just leather where the hair is still on. And fur is widely not accepted for clothing anymore, and of course not for cars. We cannot change what we have bought in the past, but with more information and compassion we can change how we decide in the future. For a great insight into sustainability in the automotive industry, you can also check out our extensive documentary: th-cam.com/video/-8gNXlRGngA/w-d-xo.html The argument that leather is merely a "waste" product of the food industry and therefore ethical or sustainable has been a topic of debate, and there are several reasons why it is considered problematic and unethical: 1. Leather is a Profitable Co-Product, not a Byproduct. * Leather is not a waste material. It is a valuable co-product of the meat and dairy industries, meaning that the skins and hides of animals are sold for profit. The global leather industry is worth billions of dollars, and the demand for high-quality leather, particularly for luxury goods, is significant. * Economic Contribution: By buying leather, consumers are directly contributing to the profitability of the meat and dairy industries, reinforcing demand for animal farming. Leather adds financial value to the slaughter of animals, which in turn incentivizes the continuation of intensive animal agriculture. 2. Encourages the Environmental Impact of Animal Farming * Environmental Harm: Animal farming is a leading cause of environmental degradation. It contributes to deforestation, water pollution, and is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The leather industry, as part of this system, intensifies the environmental impact. * Tanning Process: Leather production itself is extremely resource-intensive and involves harmful chemicals like chromium, which can pollute water sources and harm ecosystems and communities living near tanneries. The argument that leather is a "waste" deflects from these significant environmental costs. 3. Supports Cruel Animal Farming Practices * Factory Farming: Most leather comes from animals raised in factory farms where they endure inhumane conditions-such as overcrowding, mutilation (dehorning, tail docking), and often brutal slaughter practices. * Leather Sources Beyond Cattle: It’s important to note that leather is not only sourced from cows. Other animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, and even exotic animals like crocodiles and snakes are often killed specifically for their skins. In some cases, animals are bred solely for leather production, especially in the case of exotic leathers. 4. Leather’s Role in the Global Meat and Dairy Supply Chain * The "Chicken and Egg" Relationship: The leather industry is deeply intertwined with the meat and dairy supply chains. It is misleading to claim that leather is merely a waste product when in reality it adds value to the entire system. The more leather that is purchased, the more profitable it becomes for the animal agriculture industry to keep raising and slaughtering animals. * Ethical Disconnect: From an ethical standpoint, using leather under the assumption that it’s “just waste” ignores the larger systemic issues of animal exploitation. It perpetuates a cycle where animals are bred, confined, and slaughtered in massive numbers, not just for meat but also for profit from their hides. 5. There Are Viable, Sustainable Alternatives * Innovation in Vegan Leathers: Today, there are numerous cruelty-free, sustainable alternatives to animal leather, such as pineapple leather (Piñatex), mushroom leather, apple leather, and even lab-grown leather. These options do not involve the same ethical, environmental, or health concerns as traditional leather production. * Sustainability Argument: Many leather alternatives are far more environmentally friendly. For instance, plant-based and recycled materials often require fewer resources and generate less pollution compared to the production of leather from animal hides, which requires heavy water and energy consumption and the use of toxic chemicals in tanning. 6. Moral and Ethical Considerations * Devaluing Animal Lives: By framing leather as a “waste” product, it downplays the intrinsic value of animal lives and reduces sentient beings to mere commodities. This perspective is often criticized for failing to acknowledge the rights of animals to live free from exploitation and harm. * Speciesism: The belief that animals can be farmed for their skins because their lives are less important than human needs or luxury goods can be seen as a form of speciesism-the assumption that human interests always take precedence over the welfare of other species, even when non-leather alternatives are available. 7. Global Impact on Communities * Health Risks to Workers: Many leather tanneries, especially in developing countries, expose workers to unsafe chemicals like chromium salts. These chemicals can cause severe health issues, including cancer, respiratory problems, and skin conditions. Communities near tanneries often suffer from polluted water and land. * Environmental Justice: Often, the communities that are most affected by the environmental harm of the leather industry are poor and marginalized. These populations bear the brunt of the environmental degradation, even though the demand for leather comes largely from wealthier consumers in more developed countries. The idea that leather is a "waste" product from the food industry is misleading and unethical because it ignores the significant role that leather plays in the profitability of animal farming, the environmental degradation it causes, the cruelty inherent in the industry, and the availability of sustainable alternatives. To label leather as mere "waste" downplays its substantial impact on both animals and the environment, making this argument a way to justify the continued use of an ethically and environmentally problematic material.
@ Thank you for those details. For budget references, I am driving a Skoda Octavia RS PHEV (40k€ car). My surrounding has the same budget or less. The new materials aren’t holding that well as you claim in mid budget cars. After 5 years and 25K km per year the interiors with those new materials look crap. I fully agree on high end brands the new materials are amazing but saying that the materials of the seats of the ev9 are great, I am sorry, it’s no (head rest is one of the best of the market) If you buy new, you are generating pollution. When you grow, there’s pollution, that’s economy. 85% less pollution is nothing in comparison of the pollution who is nowadays generated by the mining industry for the batteries. The balance isn’t helping when considering the average distance driven by European customers with there cars and considering the energy production. It’s a snake who is bitting his tails. For the animal part, if there would be more regulation and general intelligence, those animals wouldn’t suffer.
Of course buying a used car is the most useful choice, thats why I did the same: th-cam.com/video/NCWeljyA0X4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ng-1i3bae5DDryt2 Just saying when buying new lets keep animals out of it and lets make it as high quality as possible. Do you have microfibre seats in the RS?
@ Yes microfibre with white stitching. After 4 years, the seats are more worn than my seats in my Volvo v40 with the R design seats after the same time of use. I have a feeling that the quality overhaul getting down on new cars even on high end cars by using new materials that are more environmentally friendly, etc…(example : 15 years ago having an interior with piano black was insane with wood etc.. today you have poor plastic in piano black this is the same with the seats) What is even more frustrating is to see that my gouvernement (France) who is pushing to buy electric cars that we don’t know how they will get old. My RS phev, after 4 years, 85 K km has a battery stat on 82%… But thank you for your reply ! I am waiting for your next videos, your are the best car TH-camr even if I don’t agree on every point 😉
You have to give props to BYD for their innovation. There's no denying that EV is the way to go these days. Time for the world to ditch petrol and diesel as the emissions have screwed global weather. All car manufacturers must embrace it and do your due dilligence in design and costs in producing them. Slapping tariffs is silly because EV gives benefits to humans in the long run.
This car has pretty much everything I'd want , just have to wait for a decent 2nd hand one at least 2 years from now when the original owner bites a huge chunk of depreciation
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This is our in-depth review of the BYD Sealion 7. We're taking a look at Exterior, Interior and the driving experience.
00:00 BYD vs Tesla
00:49 Length, wheels, power
01:36 Battery kWh and charging
03:32 Frunk and indicators
04:03 Interior quality
06:18 Cockpit
09:17 Features while driving
09:54 Driver POV
12:54 Rear seats
14:44 Trunk / boot
16:14 Acceleration Autobahn
20:15 Driving fun and comfort
25:10 Difference Model Y
27:05 Price
27:28 Real-world range
Does it have double layer windows in the rear?
Ridiculous prices in Germany.
In non EU European countries, this car is a total bargain. Amazing car.
Yep Thailand have just introduced this car the 4 wheel drive high power version is 1,250000 Baht thats approx £28,500.
all thanks to Wonder Liar
Tariff affects the consumers the most. It sucks but that's your government doing.
@@hellothere4342 Tariff protects European car companies from being destroyed by China's unreasonable practices. They stole the know-how from European companies, didn't spend anywhere near the same on R&D, and now make good cars from knowledge taken for free from Europe, while their government is basically paying for half of every car they sell in Europe, making the car unrealistically cheap, and undercutting the competition, which in long terms would destroy the competition and put them out of business, leaving only Chinese cars on the market.
That's what's happening. If you have any common sense, you wouldn't buy a Chinese car if you live in Europe. In the long terms it's like cutting the branch you're sitting on because you're saving a little bit of money in the short term. But most people are now very smart, and will do it anyway. And that's why Europe is done for.
Will be around 55k AUD in Australia, no tariffs here
interior looks a lot better then a tesla
As does the exterior!
To be fair, it's not hard to look better than a tesla at the interior. IMO the interior is tesla's weakest part
@@GrandSil90The CEO is Teslas biggest weakness.
My 5 year old toy car has a better interior than a Tesla 😂
@@GrandSil90是的，特斯拉内饰做好一点卖贵点我也接受，实在是太简陋了😂
I've watched a lot of reviews about this car while waiting for your version. Yours is simply the best as always.
Highly appreciated! Please keep recommending our channel 😎
Way better than model y in EVERY SINGLE WAY, previous owner of 2 Model Y Performance 2020 and 2022 respectively... Now owner of a Sealion 6 DM-i AND NO REGRETS AT ALL. Not missing the 0-100 in 3.9 secs in dense traffic México city. Greetings!
thanks for the feedback! How is the consumption difference for you?
@@autogefuehl Big difference. TESLA usef to pay around 2000 mxn pesos EVERY 2 months, with Sealion 6 dm-i reduced to half.
Way better IN MEXICO at least, to have a PHEV rather than a full EV.
how's the one pedal driving? How is the adas, how is vagueness in steering the bounce ride, the lower storage space, the crappy tyres
Nobody would thought the Chinese would come this far or further, when more than 10 years ago their cars were really a joke. Today, they just rocketed ahead with nice looking, well built, decent quality cars! With just every new introduction of new models of BYD, I can basically see details improving. Got to say BYD is going to be the "Toyota" of the EV future.
Well, part of that is true, but they still have no caracter.
@@miguelmelchior986 no character? wtf
*How it beat when it is banned (in many people's view when the decision to ban it is made it already won in the mind of decision makers) oh even it is banned it still have better overall sales*
@@miguelmelchior986 Almost everyone who uses it says it's good, so I don't know how you reached this conclusion
@@sssooo-ft7hj So you dont know what caracter is… ok.
I hope so. More competition is beneficial for the consumers.
not china. dont make china more powerful.
it will threat our freedom countries.
Great that you have started to mention the battery chemistry. For those who know it makes a lot of difference. 😊
Hi, if you look at the Model 3 battery chemistry, it's similar to this BYD, right? Tesla is going to update the battery composition in the new year, so it should be on the same level as this one. Correct?:)
looks way better than tesla y
No.
@@wolfgangpreier9160Yes, fanboy 💩
My kids always say all Tesla, except the ugly truck, look like an office computer mouse, not even a gaming mouse
@@wolfgangpreier9160 Yes.
My ass looks better than a MY!!
If you give me the choice, I would choose the BYD for sure, with 19" wheels for better comfort and consumption
Go ahead
Any reason why not the 20"?
@@jefftytHe gave two reasons. Better comfort and economy.
@@pwelele yeah pls no one is stopping. Enjoy the toy 🚗
@@JRK2024 Actually it is only Tesla Y which looks like an ugly toy.
This is A LOT better than a Model Y. Are these sold in the EU? In which countries?
BYD is selling in most EU countries meanwhile
Excellence version in Belgium: 57.000 euro, all in as usual. Just sat in one...
@janverbanck with the tariffs?
@@robertn2951 Yes. Take away price. Normal Seal excellence 50.500 euro
So expensive ! it's price is about 20,000€ in China @@janverbanck
@Autogefuhl, You can change the temperature by swiping 3 fingers on the screen up/down, and change the fan speed by swiping them right/left. Thanks for the video, it was excellent as always 👍
interesting, I gotta try that
The surround view 360 camera quality is outstanding. 😮
Seems so much better than Tesla
No, it is quite comparable. Additionally new Y comes in few months.
@@norbertmachaj6127 when you consider the price without tariff, this car mops the floor with tesla
If there is one reason that I have been following this channel for years now, is the non-biased approach into every review. Thomas calls it as he sees it. And I appreciate that.
Can't wait to see what BYD is going to come up with next. They can't do no wrong at the moment.
As for the prices in Europe and the States, I believe there are more than obvious reasons as to why this is the case...
Thank you so much! Please recommend / share our channel and our videos 🙏
Data & facts:
BYD Sealion 7
4,83 m 190“ length
19“ or 20“ wheels
Frequency adaptive dampers
RWD 6,7 s 0-100 km/h
AWD 4,5 s 0-100 km/h
Max 215 km/h 134 mph
Battery LFP
82,5 kWh RWD
11 kW AC 230 kW DC, 10-80 % in 32 Min
91,3 kWh AWD
11 kW AC 230 kW DC, 10-80 % in 24 Min
Heat pump standard
10,25“ instruments
HUD
15,6“ infotainment horizontal or vertical
Interior color black or blue-grey
Leatherette (comfort and design trim) or animal skin (excellence version)
60 l frunk
520 l trunk
German entry 48.000 Euro (535 leasing), top trim 59.000 Euro (589 leasing)
Model Y: 45.000 Euro, AWD LR 55.000 Euro (so 3.000-4.000 Euro difference)
#byd #bydsealion7
Range?
Same charging speed and the smaller battery takes more time to reach 80%?
The smaller battery has 150kW DC peak charging power
230kW for a LFP is pretty good. Not really fan of SUVs, but this one is impressive.
Can you provide a head-to-head dimension comparison between the Sealion 7 and the Model Y?
You should mention the Battery size difference in the price.... Model Y starts 45k with the 60kWh battery... Thats over 20kWh difference... So you need the LR RWD and this is 50k then with 77kWh battery vs. 48k with 82,5kWh ;=) And the AWD is then also somewhere between the Tesla AWD (55k) and Performance (61k) but with 15kWh more Battery.... So BYD hit price wise exactly what it need. The most important point at any price: LFP don't explode :P
I’m just glad they removed the “BUILD YOUR DREAMS” badge on the backside for international markets. I always cringe when visiting China and see that 😅 may as well say EAT PRAY LOVE 😂
for America they will say MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN ..
@samarianosans oh God let's hope not 😂😭
Flick my bean😂😂😂
The atto3 does have it in europe right
Build your dreams is so much better then :
We-lie, we-cheat, we-steal.
The Lease on my Tesla runs out in Jan. I'm switching to BYD. Test drove it the other day. There is just no comparison. Greetings from Dubai
best greetings!
One of the best presentation of the Sealion7 , thank you Thomas!
Thank you so much! Please recommend / share our channel and our videos 🙏
I love the subtle dynamic you and your partner have in the reviews. Youre the “star”. But obviously only because you have the right presets(your partner)
Great review. The chinese are shaking up the industry which is a good thing
Thanks m8! Well, she is my star :)
BYD delivers, this is their best effort yet. Their progress is impressive
OK Electrosheep 🐑
@@JamesSmith-qs4hx Then why you are here? And why don't you go to find some sweet grapes instead?
@@JamesSmith-qs4hxok bot you can cope better😂😂
It's easy to progress when you don't do your research and development, but instead just copy technical solutions and engineering from others.
@@tomoh160keep drinking that western kool-aid.
Chinese cars are years ahead in battery technology, they've moved away from using cobalt which European and Americans are stuck with, they're way less dangerous and less flammable.
Your comment might have hold a lot of truth years ago, but not in 2024.
When I tested the BYD Seal it fell short mainly due to the impracticality of the saloon boot despite the Excellence model being so much fun to drive. The Sealion 7 looks to have solved this problem and I like the LFP power as a more stable and easier to charge technology. Certainly worth keeping an eye on in future but for now I have my alternative EV on order.
This would def be my buy, it has everything
That extra sealing on door sill is genius. Why did no one ever think of this? No more dirt there!
Lexus have been doing that for years
A few brands have had that on models for some years now
Even my skoda back in 2007 had this.
@@AndrewTSq interesting, had a ‘17 octavia but didn’t have it
@@Zoranurai13 Wierd.. my 2007 had it, and I looked at a youtube video "Skoda Octavia 2017 door panel removal" where that car also clearly had it.
When Tesla first came out the complaints by car reviews was that the car was just to stiff and uncomfortable due to the structural design caused by the integrated battery. The Chinese have balanced that with a more user-friendly ride dynamics, I think Chinese vehicles are more appealing to the mass market due the ride comfort and ergnomic environment and of course price point even when their cars are heavily tariffed.
For quick adjustment of the air-condition, on the infotainment screen just 3-fingers swipe up/down for temperatures, left/right for fan speeds.
This Sealion 7 is by far the best looking car that both on exterior and interior from BYD group except Yang Wang, their luxury brand, in my opinion.
And I have to say, I respect BYD very much, they really do listen to their customers and accept all kinds of feedback, which many brands nowadays are incompetent of doing so.
BYD owns another brand Denza, you should check it out
不，腾势z9gt，才是
I just placed booking for Sealion 7 today, but undecided between Performance and Premium. They are around 4k USD difference
pick the one that has the leatherette seats to spare the animals
@@autogefuehlcow still die for meat, leather used than waste
Great looking car with great warranty not like Garments car with only a 2 years warranty. That’s freaking ridiculous.
Thank you so much for the boot measurements! My partner and I are looking to camp/sleep in the car and knowing the exact dimensions helps a lot!
Thank you so much! Please recommend / share our channel and our videos 🙏
Thanks
Thanks for the support 🙏🙏
The squared wheel arches really don’t appeal and I think detract from the look of the car.
Excellent review as ever.
Thanks 🙏
Design language of Tesla cars has always been focused on cost-efficiency resulting in plain and unexciting design compared to premium brands like Mercedes-Benz which have richly appointed cabins with intricate materials and detailed controls.
Compared to Tesla, even BYD has more interesting designs nowadays.
Tesla is beating itself......and any serious observer should see that doing nothing more than surf on your superiority for years is going to end badly. Since when did stripping out content attract more customers to one old vehicle. Be brave.....tell the awful truth about the missing CEO who now manages failure..
Wow, well done BYD, this is a serious contender, I like the Sealion a lot (not enamoured with the name). It's a breath of fresh air compared to what we're told is the future from the South African Billionaire. If I were in the market for a new car, this would be on my short list, there's no doubt. It ticks a lot of boxes for me and I don't even like SUVs in general. It's a sensible reaction to the ultra minimalist look and feel and I'm here for it.
The worry for me is whether BYD can rise above quality, integrity and financial stability issues that plague many native Chinese EV makers at the moment, a lot of whom are going bankrupt left, right and center.
These issues dont touch BYD, if you know you know. Theyre the best selling EV/Hybrid brand in the world, yes above tesla.
BYD is currently the largest automobile company in China.So you don't have to worry
In my county BYD Sealion 7 cost is half that of Tesla Y Performance. And any BYD have poor shock absorber tuning, be it FSD or not. The ride is bouncy non-stop and it provides no confidence in high speed lane change. The way to fix it once and for all is to replace shock absorbers with after market. I used TEIN Enduro Pro Plus on Seal and now it is much better to handle.
Why do European car brands just not make cars like these? Why crazy cars like the VW ID3, Jaguar Type 00 or ugly BMW iX, Mercedes EQs.. list goes on. Thomas mentioned it in the video; this byd does look European and sells great; why did European brands derailed and went with crazy and ugly designs? ? They are loosing it or have already lost it
Crazy thing is: BYD even has European designer 😂😂 who used to design for Audi
Oh the ugly bmw ix. It's as ugly as it gets
Funny EU prices, at "home" the BYD starts RMB 190k and tops at 240k for the 4WD presented, the model Y starts at 250k up to 290k for the 4WD (non performance)
That is the case for any product
@@senoow4215 What is?
@@senoow4215 Cars are significantly cheaper in China including Tesla. Tesla China offers Chinese the cheapest price.
@@ttusko3132 Tesla is kind of forced to due to the extremely competition in the Chinese car market. Just wait until Xiaomi launches the YU7 next year. Demand for that thing is gonna be INSANE, and Tesla will be forced to drop Model Y price even further just to maintain their current sales levels, because Xiaomi is directly targeting Tesla's golden goose with the YU7.
@tren133 It's not force. It's Tesla's choice to compete
And then suddenly it becomes clear why VW, Audi & others are forced to shut their plants... Just immagine if tariffs wouldn't have been implemented...
It would be ggwp already
Very good review. Thank you. Still too much focus on the highway driving experience. 90% of (my) driving is around city streets, turning circle, reverse parking, car parks. Also, what is the audio system like? It's like an alarm clock. The smallest details you use every day are the things that matter most. How it drives is something you just get used to.
It’s not about who beats who; what truly matters are reliability, cost of ownership, and ease of repair.
As a model 3 owner, I'm jealous of: their stalks, digital driver's display, heads-up display, android auto, top sun cover. Not too crazy about their OS and screen reaction time.
But where is all the gloss black plastic.....? This thing looks really nice inside and out.
Latest news from BYD: new version of battery in 2025 with +20% range (should result in over 600km range).
I was waiting for your review Thomas, thanks 🙏
thanks keep tuning in !
In Thailand, they have an introductory special price for the four-wheel drive version of $36,000.
Nice review of the car, I loved it. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers!
You can swipe up and down with three fingers for temperature adjustment and right and left for fan speed adjustment. Same across all BYDs from my understanding.
interesting, gotta try
Great looking car. Good balance between comfort and performance. Seems packed with features. Classy cabin. This will be the one I'd buy one if I want an EV mid-size SUV.
I love the idea of owning a hybrid car, but my main concern is that, since there's no engine in the front to absorb certain impacts, what exactly absorbs the force during a collision?
You are really prolific car reviewers! You have made careers out of this channel.
I am trying to work out what EV to buy as my first EV. This is helpful.
Thank you so much! Please recommend / share our channel and our videos 🙏
Chinese domestic version, I remember you can use three finger motion to tune the AC temperature, not sure if the same goes to export version. Another big difference is the central infotainment system/panel, it seems that Chinese domestic version is much richer in performance and functionalities, e.g., smoother and quicker response, more on-borad internet or entertainment apps (you can login with the same account of those apps on you phone), you will never want to connect your phone, I believe very few Chinese people still use carplay with their smart EV/PHEV cars now (not sure if there is still such carplay app inside)
Picked up my Seal U two days ago. WoW! What a car 🙌 … This Sealion 7 looks good too. BYD is on a roll …. Great review as always 👍
highly appreciated! Please recommend our channel :)
Thomas you know the BYD head designer is Wolfgang Egger.
yes indeed we also discussed that in the comments where this one guy accused me of being bought by BYD because I said that the design is European (which is obviously the case and also intended to be)
@@autogefuehl Egger must be the hardest working man in the entire automotive industry at this point. I've lost count of how many cars (different TYPES of cars too) he's been tasked with designing in the 7 or so years since he took over BYD's top design job.
I'm just imagining his first meeting with BYD Chairman about future directions for BYD design: I can't wait to get started Mr. Wang! I have so many ideas on the kinds of cars BYD can build in the future. Any particular types of cars you have in mind? Sedans, hatchbacks, and compact crossovers of course! But maybe also urban ultracompact, or shooting brake station wagon, or hardcore offroad SUV, or a full sized MPV, or small MPV just for ridesharing service. Maybe we go crazy and think of designing stuff like pickup trucks, full size luxury sedans, crazy luxury SUVs with quad motors that can drive on water! Maybe even an electric hypercar which fully active suspension powerful enough to jump the entire car into the air! So what do you think, which ones should we focus on first in the next few years so we can get these cars on the road in 2022 and beyond?
Wang: Yes. I would like one of each of those model all ready for mass production by 2024 please.
Wow very high quality car from inside, 90/100 rating
In your opinion, how does this compares to XPeng G6 which you have also tested
The G6 is more minimalistic, the Sealion 7 more classic automobile in the user interface. Both very good offers for sure. Would need a head-to-head test in same conditions also to really compare efficiency.
Just waiting for a even harder competitor in Germany - Zeekr with the 07x 😊
Not 07x, it's 7x
IIRC, German car prices are quoted including the 20% VAT tax, here in USA 10% is the worst state (California)
yep 19 %
Very impressive quality/price ratio, so much better interior and equipment than Tesla. Also very nice ride quality and it pushes hard when needed. So yes, other automakers should be worried. I’m just not sure about reliability though.
They have 6 years warranty and 8 for the battery and quality wise they are better than the average in the industry
When they give a decent review of BYD despite being a Tesla fanboy/fangirl, it means BYD has done really good job.
Nobody is a fanboy or fangirl of any brand, but we can ofc like certain cars
Tesla is efficient in range because of one pedal driving. BYD don’t have one pedal driving. It makes a big difference.
Actually, it doesn’t matter for efficiency how u trigger the recuperation, it’s just a different way of doing it. Tesla has great aerodynamics and efficient motors
Good review, thanks. Thinking about getting this vehicle, so this helps. I would expect a 2025/26 version with the updated battery, and some tweaks based on user feedback. Since I'm looking to get a new vehicle next year, don't know if I can wait...
I guess that's always the issue with new, rapidly developing technologies 🤷♂
cheers!
The handles that passengars use to deal with sideways G-forces are called grab-handles in English. Excellent review.
Do you think this car is overall better than the Polestar 4? which would you prefer if you had to choose one as your daily car? Thank you. I have seen your review on the polestar 4 but would like your opinion between these 2. thanks
ibrahim
Cheers 🙏
Mhhh honestly i d rather take a Tesla Model Y or a Kia EV6 or a Skoda Enyaq, all to be found on our channel as well.
The Lia-meter is really useful😊 !
😎
I am looking forward to your review of the Zeekr 7X
How does it perform going up uphill? Like some highlands
For a sub-30k ev, this is pretty good! I can only get a 4 yr old x5 or Q7 with that kind of money here in the states.
The hud and vents looks like they create super annoying reflections in the windshield?
45TSI......even they dont know what it means..... 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I still like this system.
BYD Seal Lion 7 is an amazing car, best in class. BYD cars are great.
this car in china just 25000-31000 euro without discount
Great review, as always
thanks keep tuning in !
The more comfortable suspension is a strong argument for the Chinese make.
@autogefuehl which one drives better? Between chinese ev suv? Byd sealion 7, nio or xpeng g9
For most people i think if they're shopping for a family SUV they will prioritize the daily comfort and practical details over precise handling and max performance. If i was in the market I'd choose the byd over the Tesla for sure. I like a more traditional interior with traditional controls.
Tesla literarly fools us. Look the interior of this car, and look the poor interior of Tesla. No way Tesla beats BYD.
Another amazing review from Mr. & Mr.s Thomas. Thanks, guys!
thanks my friend !
Its just to use 3 fingers on the screen.... up and down will change the temp, right and left with 3 fingers will adjust the fan speed.
So in that way you can change temp and speed without even looking at the screen.
Love the portrait / landscape choice of screen. For me, the latter is so much better for nav. Disappointing that you can’t use CarPlay in portrait!
0-100 badges on BYD are awesome idea. Glad they are back to it
They need to fix 3 things and I will place an order right away. 1. Matrix Led (very easy), 2. Price (maybe after they will finish the Plant in Hungary), 3. Efficiency (replacing the motor or even a bigger battery).
ya agree
Nice, u can always tell how much leg room there is in a car when Lea is sitting passenger 😂❤
nice car just wondering what the km range is on highway?
Sealion 7 looks like the Skoda Enyaq in body design 😳 nice interior, wish the prices were lower base on taxes in different countries..
Great video! How many seconds accelerate from 100-200kmh?
Good comfort ride but still not matching the autopilot especially on high speed. I really have to weight for my next changeover, let’s see what juniper bring.
If you are in Europe, get the Seal U DMI, not this one. It’s a hybrid with a 1,100 km range (EV & Combustion) and will also have a proper range in winter (38k variant). A 100% EV makes absolutely no sense in sub-zero temperatures, as you would lose too much range.
Now since you have driven both BYD SL7 and Xpeng G6, which one do you think is better ?
tough one, we had different conditions we tested the cars in, both are pretty good indeed. I think I d need a head-to-head for that close decision
Looks very luxurious ❤
Maybe something to review for EVs: is the door opener mechanical or electric? There are reports of people unable to escape from a burning Tesla because the electrics failed and the mechanical openers were too hidden for them to discover them in time. That's not a vehicle I would enter without a hammer somewhere to shatter the side windows.. I agree with others that the interior looks nicer than Tesla (although that is of course subjective), it looks less, well, made on the cheap as Tesla does.
Far more desirable looking than boring and dated looking Model Y!
Then why they copy Tesla design?
Seems Tesla needs to copy them. Cant compare Tesla interior to this.
No it is not.
@@io2251 No please not. Much too blinky blinky. Tesla interior is near pefect. Only the stalks must go!
Oh boy, thats beautiful. Killer doubt between this and bao 5
I love my BYD Seal but would trade for this because of the luggage space.
Great looks and tech, really would want a BYD Sealion 7! 👏
It could be 40% cheaper than Model Y if not for tariff.
No, it could not. They sell it for profit, we are not in China.
can you imagine, a good car that is affordable
Yep Must protect overpriced German cars.
@@Dave_Tae Yes, we must. Because China's government is paying for half the car when you buy it. And that's why this car is sold at an unreasonably and unrealistically low price that cars made in Europe, or Japan, or Korea, or USA can't compete with. Which means companies making cars in Europe or elsewhere out of China would go out of business. And then only Chinese car companies would survive on the market and raise the prices of their cars to the levels European cars were sold at before. And then you'd again be stuck with expensive cars, made in China instead of Germany. Get it now?
It's kinda shocking how many people don't understand that, but I guess most people are economically illiterate, or simply lacking the ability to think abstractly and connect cause and effect.
LOL , please explain the history of made in Germany and try this theory again for British government. @@derbigpr500
Completely animal free = 100 % plastic
I am not sure that a semblance of leather in plastic is the best for the customer. It’s for sure a cost saving for the manufacturer.
When I see this car I am afraid for the European cars (VW, Peugeot, etc…)
Nice review as always. Keep doing what you do!
Thank you very much for your interest in this topic. I also bought cars with animal skin leather seats before I did my research and got to know the industry. The most important thing is: With today's modern materials, you have nothing to lose, just to gain. You achieve the same kind of luxury and comfort or even better while having the same or better durability with less impact on humans, animals and the environment.
You can use fabric/cloth, microfibre or leatherette. The classic approach is using oil/plastic as source material. Overall, a vehicle contains about 300 kg plastic. A car seat needs about 5 kg plastic. So the overall plastic share for the seats is very low and it is at this moment the most efficient way to produce a car seat. A couple of litres of fuel equals a car seat basically. So if you want to save oil/plastic, rather look at consumption for energy, fuel and heating and to other car parts than the seat. Note that animal skin leather also always contains a plastic coating for durability. However, long-term we should of course find raw oil alternatives. So going further, seats can be made from recyclables (e.g. from PET-bottles or old fishing nets) or even increased share of plant-based materials (like pine oil, canola oil or start-up materials like Pinatex from pineapple leaves or Desertex from cactus fibre or the mixed-plant-based Mirum, so be seen at th-cam.com/video/S1aNZeoatmE/w-d-xo.html). On a calculation base, by ditching animal skin leather from car interiors, the amount of emissions (CO2e) is reduced by 85 (!) % (www.press.bmwgroup.com/africa-dom-easteurope/article/detail/T0403389EN/on-the-market-from-2023:-bmw-and-mini-models-with-vegan-interiors?language=en) - and that is a very conservative calculation. So it is at this moment the most important thing you can do to make car interiors more sustainable.
A good example for high-end luxury with ventilated animal free seats is the BMW X7 with Sensafin: th-cam.com/video/1pRNkW9nrrw/w-d-xo.html
And the Kia EV9 with plant-based oil share: th-cam.com/video/6vXePQi_MAk/w-d-xo.html
New leatherette materials can be superior in every aspect, even for cleaning: th-cam.com/video/u94YXJ72UTA/w-d-xo.html
More and more natural materials are rising: th-cam.com/video/nRSsXEnwHDo/w-d-xo.html
Also check out what the animal skin leather industry tried to with our channel: th-cam.com/video/nP_CvLlaFlI/w-d-xo.html
For seeing how the animals are being treated and transported in the global leather industry, watch this footage: th-cam.com/video/tkjCAmq1_8E/w-d-xo.html
Note that the footage is genuine and was recorded by a highly decorated investigative journalist in Germany I know myself personally.
Also a group of researchers and German journalists from public media could recent directly trace the connection between car animal leather production and illegal burning down Amazon rain forest:
www.daserste.de/information/reportage-dokumentation/ard-story/videos/illegales-leder-video-100.html
In a high animal skin grade, the animals are specifically raised for this matter. However even if meat is the "first" misuse case, the hide remains a profitable body part. That means: If manufacturers put animal leather in a car and you demand it as a customer, you give your money to an industry that earns money by oppressing humans, animals and harms the environment, you make them more profitable. Alternatively, you could support industries with your wallet which try to improve the sustainability of materials. Also, if you turn the argument around to "meat is the waste of the leather industry" you realize that it doesn't make sense (and is ethically doubtful) to discuss the primary use of individual body parts of mammals. Mind experiment: You are getting slain down on the street; would it matter to you if it was for your smartphone or for your purse? Remember that animal skin leather is no different to fur, fur is just leather where the hair is still on. And fur is widely not accepted for clothing anymore, and of course not for cars.
We cannot change what we have bought in the past, but with more information and compassion we can change how we decide in the future.
For a great insight into sustainability in the automotive industry, you can also check out our extensive documentary:
th-cam.com/video/-8gNXlRGngA/w-d-xo.html
The argument that leather is merely a "waste" product of the food industry and therefore ethical or sustainable has been a topic of debate, and there are several reasons why it is considered problematic and unethical:
1. Leather is a Profitable Co-Product, not a Byproduct.
* Leather is not a waste material. It is a valuable co-product of the meat and dairy industries, meaning that the skins and hides of animals are sold for profit. The global leather industry is worth billions of dollars, and the demand for high-quality leather, particularly for luxury goods, is significant.
* Economic Contribution: By buying leather, consumers are directly contributing to the profitability of the meat and dairy industries, reinforcing demand for animal farming. Leather adds financial value to the slaughter of animals, which in turn incentivizes the continuation of intensive animal agriculture.
2. Encourages the Environmental Impact of Animal Farming
* Environmental Harm: Animal farming is a leading cause of environmental degradation. It contributes to deforestation, water pollution, and is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The leather industry, as part of this system, intensifies the environmental impact.
* Tanning Process: Leather production itself is extremely resource-intensive and involves harmful chemicals like chromium, which can pollute water sources and harm ecosystems and communities living near tanneries. The argument that leather is a "waste" deflects from these significant environmental costs.
3. Supports Cruel Animal Farming Practices
* Factory Farming: Most leather comes from animals raised in factory farms where they endure inhumane conditions-such as overcrowding, mutilation (dehorning, tail docking), and often brutal slaughter practices.
* Leather Sources Beyond Cattle: It’s important to note that leather is not only sourced from cows. Other animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, and even exotic animals like crocodiles and snakes are often killed specifically for their skins. In some cases, animals are bred solely for leather production, especially in the case of exotic leathers.
4. Leather’s Role in the Global Meat and Dairy Supply Chain
* The "Chicken and Egg" Relationship: The leather industry is deeply intertwined with the meat and dairy supply chains. It is misleading to claim that leather is merely a waste product when in reality it adds value to the entire system. The more leather that is purchased, the more profitable it becomes for the animal agriculture industry to keep raising and slaughtering animals.
* Ethical Disconnect: From an ethical standpoint, using leather under the assumption that it’s “just waste” ignores the larger systemic issues of animal exploitation. It perpetuates a cycle where animals are bred, confined, and slaughtered in massive numbers, not just for meat but also for profit from their hides.
5. There Are Viable, Sustainable Alternatives
* Innovation in Vegan Leathers: Today, there are numerous cruelty-free, sustainable alternatives to animal leather, such as pineapple leather (Piñatex), mushroom leather, apple leather, and even lab-grown leather. These options do not involve the same ethical, environmental, or health concerns as traditional leather production.
* Sustainability Argument: Many leather alternatives are far more environmentally friendly. For instance, plant-based and recycled materials often require fewer resources and generate less pollution compared to the production of leather from animal hides, which requires heavy water and energy consumption and the use of toxic chemicals in tanning.
6. Moral and Ethical Considerations
* Devaluing Animal Lives: By framing leather as a “waste” product, it downplays the intrinsic value of animal lives and reduces sentient beings to mere commodities. This perspective is often criticized for failing to acknowledge the rights of animals to live free from exploitation and harm.
* Speciesism: The belief that animals can be farmed for their skins because their lives are less important than human needs or luxury goods can be seen as a form of speciesism-the assumption that human interests always take precedence over the welfare of other species, even when non-leather alternatives are available.
7. Global Impact on Communities
* Health Risks to Workers: Many leather tanneries, especially in developing countries, expose workers to unsafe chemicals like chromium salts. These chemicals can cause severe health issues, including cancer, respiratory problems, and skin conditions. Communities near tanneries often suffer from polluted water and land.
* Environmental Justice: Often, the communities that are most affected by the environmental harm of the leather industry are poor and marginalized. These populations bear the brunt of the environmental degradation, even though the demand for leather comes largely from wealthier consumers in more developed countries.
The idea that leather is a "waste" product from the food industry is misleading and unethical because it ignores the significant role that leather plays in the profitability of animal farming, the environmental degradation it causes, the cruelty inherent in the industry, and the availability of sustainable alternatives. To label leather as mere "waste" downplays its substantial impact on both animals and the environment, making this argument a way to justify the continued use of an ethically and environmentally problematic material.
thanks for following!
@ Thank you for those details.
For budget references, I am driving a Skoda Octavia RS PHEV (40k€ car).
My surrounding has the same budget or less.
The new materials aren’t holding that well as you claim in mid budget cars.
After 5 years and 25K km per year the interiors with those new materials look crap.
I fully agree on high end brands the new materials are amazing but saying that the materials of the seats of the ev9 are great, I am sorry, it’s no (head rest is one of the best of the market)
If you buy new, you are generating pollution. When you grow, there’s pollution, that’s economy.
85% less pollution is nothing in comparison of the pollution who is nowadays generated by the mining industry for the batteries.
The balance isn’t helping when considering the average distance driven by European customers with there cars and considering the energy production.
It’s a snake who is bitting his tails.
For the animal part, if there would be more regulation and general intelligence, those animals wouldn’t suffer.
Of course buying a used car is the most useful choice, thats why I did the same: th-cam.com/video/NCWeljyA0X4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ng-1i3bae5DDryt2
Just saying when buying new lets keep animals out of it and lets make it as high quality as possible. Do you have microfibre seats in the RS?
@ Yes microfibre with white stitching. After 4 years, the seats are more worn than my seats in my Volvo v40 with the R design seats after the same time of use.
I have a feeling that the quality overhaul getting down on new cars even on high end cars by using new materials that are more environmentally friendly, etc…(example : 15 years ago having an interior with piano black was insane with wood etc.. today you have poor plastic in piano black this is the same with the seats)
What is even more frustrating is to see that my gouvernement (France) who is pushing to buy electric cars that we don’t know how they will get old.
My RS phev, after 4 years, 85 K km has a battery stat on 82%…
But thank you for your reply !
I am waiting for your next videos, your are the best car TH-camr even if I don’t agree on every point 😉
Gorgeous car! This wins on looks alone.
You have to give props to BYD for their innovation. There's no denying that EV is the way to go these days. Time for the world to ditch petrol and diesel as the emissions have screwed global weather. All car manufacturers must embrace it and do your due dilligence in design and costs in producing them. Slapping tariffs is silly because EV gives benefits to humans in the long run.
This car has pretty much everything I'd want , just have to wait for a decent 2nd hand one at least 2 years from now when the original owner bites a huge chunk of depreciation