The Sealion 05 DM-i is a compact five-seat hybrid SUV that is expected to be equipped with BYD's latest DM 5.0 technology.

BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) has shared the first official images of the Sealion 05 DM-i, as its warm-up for the new model continues.

The new energy vehicle (NEV) maker shared the images on Weibo today, showing details of the Sealion 05 DM-i's exterior.

The Sealion 05 DM-i is a compact five-seat SUV (sport utility vehicle) with length, width and height of 4,710 mm, 1,880 mm, 1,690/1,720 mm and a wheelbase of 2,712 mm, according to a previous regulatory filing.

It will be the second model in BYD's Sealion lineup after the Sealion 07 EV, and the first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in the lineup.

More than half of BYD's monthly sales are now contributed by hybrids, and such models without range anxiety are growing faster than BEVs.

The NEV maker sold a record 373,083 NEVs in August, up 35.97 percent year-on-year and up 8.97 percent from July, according to data it released on September 1.

It sold 148,470 passenger BEVs in August, up 1.95 percent year-on-year and up 14.21 percent from July.

Sales of passenger PHEVs in August were 222,384 units, the sixth consecutive record high since March. This represents a 73.12 percent year-on-year increase and a 5.5 percent increase from July.

($1 = RMB 7.0912)

BYD teases new model Sealion 05 DM-i