BYD Qin PLUS DM-i vs Seal 05 DM-i: Which to Import in 2026?

Until October 2026, the BYD Qin PLUS DM-i and the Seal 05 DM-i were the same car under two badges: the same body size, the same 2,718 mm wheelbase, the same 74 kW engine and 120 kW motor, the same batteries and the same CNY 79,800 entry guide price. That changed on 27 October 2026, when BYD launched the third-generation Qin PLUS DM-i.

The new Qin PLUS is 60 mm longer and 63 mm wider than the Seal 05 DM-i, with an 82 mm longer wheelbase (2,800 mm). It uses new 16.2 kWh and 24.3 kWh batteries for 140 km or 220 km of CLTC electric range. The engine and motor outputs are still the same as the Seal 05 DM-i: 74 kW and 120 kW. The Seal 05 DM-i has not been replaced and keeps its 2026 package of 128 km or 210 km.

So the question is no longer “which badge”. It is “which generation”, and that matters most when you buy from stock or used: three different cars now trade under two names, plus the older Destroyer 05.

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What changed in the third-generation Qin PLUS DM-i?

BYD launched the third-generation Qin PLUS DM-i in China on 27 October 2026 in three trims. It still uses the fifth-generation DM plug-in hybrid system, but the body, the batteries and the cabin are new.

Three things in that table matter for an importer.

It is a bigger car. An 82 mm longer wheelbase is a real size step for a compact sedan, and a longer wheelbase usually means more rear legroom, which taxi and family buyers notice. The exterior is also new: a redesigned front end and a fastback roofline, with the Qin family’s full-width rear light kept.

The batteries are new, so the ranges are new. The entry car moves from 128 km to 140 km, and the long-range car from 210 km to 220 km. If a supplier quotes “Qin PLUS 210 km” after October 2026, they are offering the outgoing car, not the new one.

The LiDAR option changes the roof. The God’s Eye B package puts a LiDAR sensor on the roof. It is an option, not standard. Whether its navigation functions work outside China depends on the export configuration, so confirm this with the supplier; for most export markets the version without LiDAR is the simpler order.

BYD’s launch material did not include torque, kerb weight, acceleration, top speed or boot volume for the new car in the sources we checked. Until those appear on the official configuration sheet, do not assume the 2026 model-year figures carry over.

Qin PLUS DM-i vs Seal 05 DM-i: the specifications side by side

The Seal 05 DM-i launched as a 2026 model in October 2025 with a single 128 km trim (128KM 豪华型) and added two 210 km trims, 210KM 尊贵型 and 210KM 旗舰型, in January 2026. Its specification is the same as the 2026 model-year Qin PLUS. In practice, the 2026 Seal 05 DM-i is the outgoing Qin PLUS with Ocean styling.

Why does BYD sell two versions of the same sedan?

BYD runs two dealer networks in China. The Dynasty Network sells the Qin, Han, Song and Tang families, with dynasty names and the “Dragon Face” design. The Ocean Network sells the Seal, Dolphin, Seagull and Sealion families, with marine names and the newer “Ocean Aesthetics” styling. When a platform sells well, BYD builds one car for each network. The Qin PLUS and Seal 05 started that way; the same pattern sits one size up with the BYD Han DM-i and the Seal 5 DM-i.

The two networks update on different schedules. The Qin PLUS has now moved to a new generation while the Seal 05 DM-i stays on its 2026 specification. Expect the gap to close at some point, but do not plan an order around a Seal 05 update that BYD has not announced.

Are parts still shared between the two?

Partly. Both cars use a 1.5-litre engine rated at 74 kW and a 120 kW drive motor on BYD’s fifth-generation DM system, so many powertrain service items should overlap. The third-generation Qin PLUS has a different body, a longer wheelbase, different battery packs and a new cabin, so body panels, lights, glass and battery modules should be treated as model-specific.

For a fleet buyer this is the main change. Before October 2026, mixing Qin PLUS and Seal 05 cars did not split the parts stock. With the new Qin PLUS it does. If you supply a taxi or ride-hailing operator, keep each fleet on one model and one generation where you can.

The naming change that matters if you buy used

The BYD Destroyer 05 (驱逐舰05) is the direct predecessor of the Seal 05 DM-i. BYD launched the Destroyer 05 in 2022 as the Ocean Network’s plug-in hybrid sedan, then replaced it in early 2025 with the Seal 05 DM-i on the fifth-generation DM platform. The Destroyer 05 is out of production, but there are still many used ones, and the mechanical package is different from the current car:

The newer car has less peak power on paper. The fifth-generation DM system was built for efficiency, and the gain is large: more than double the entry electric range and much lower fuel use with a flat battery. A 2024 Destroyer 05 is a proven car at a lower price. Just do not pay current-model money for 2022 architecture, and make sure the invoice, the VIN and the model year agree. Our vehicle inspection and condition report covers this check on every used unit we list.

The same rule now applies to the Qin PLUS. A “2026 Qin PLUS DM-i” can mean the January 2026 car (128/210 km) or the October 2026 third generation (140/220 km). Write the generation, the battery size and the trim name on the contract.

What a plug-in hybrid means in your market

Most reviews written for China assume a charger at home and another at work. For buyers in Africa, Central Asia or Latin America that is often not true, and it changes which numbers matter.

It runs as a petrol car when it has to. With a flat battery, the 2026 Qin PLUS and Seal 05 are quoted at as low as 2.79 L/100 km; BYD quotes as low as 2.58 L/100 km (NEDC) for the third-generation Qin PLUS. These are Chinese test figures and real use will be higher, but a car that never sees a charging cable still uses less fuel than a petrol sedan of the same size. Your customer is not stranded if the grid is unreliable; they only lose the cheapest part of the running cost.

Check the fuel grade. The 2026 Qin PLUS and Seal 05 are specified for 92 RON petrol, which suits markets where 95 RON is hard to find or expensive. Confirm the grade on the third-generation Qin PLUS configuration sheet before you quote it.

LFP batteries suit hot climates. Both cars use lithium iron phosphate batteries. LFP is more thermally stable than nickel-based chemistry and handles high temperatures and long periods at high charge better. It stores less energy per kilo, which is why these are 140–220 km cars, not 300 km cars.

The Chinese warranty does not travel. The 6-year / 150,000 km warranty on the 2026 cars is the Chinese domestic warranty. Cover outside China depends on whether BYD has an official importer in your country and on its terms. Confirm local cover before you promise anything to a retail customer.

Which one should you import?

New and want the latest car: the third-generation Qin PLUS. It has more room, more electric range and the newest cabin, and the entry guide price in China is only CNY 100 above the Seal 05. Order it by generation and battery size, and confirm the export configuration, fuel grade and steering side with the supplier first.

Want proven parts and a lower risk: the 2026 Seal 05 DM-i or a 2026 Qin PLUS from stock. These are the same mature package that has been on sale since 2025, with published specifications. Ask your supplier what stock they hold and at what price this month; that often decides the order.

Buying used: Qin PLUS or Destroyer 05. The Seal 05 DM-i is still too new to have much used supply. Check our live used stock for cars on the ground today, and new cars for export for cars built to order.

Then the battery. On the new Qin PLUS, the step from the 140 km trim to the 220 km trim is CNY 11,000 in China guide price. It only pays back if your customer can charge every day. Where charging is poor, the entry trim is usually the better import.

Importing either one through Hanvia

Both cars are compact sedans, which helps at the freight stage: several units in one 40 ft container cost much less per car to ship than the SUVs in our Zeekr 8X vs 9X comparison or the Lynk & Co 900 seating comparison. If you are weighing a petrol SUV instead, we have compared the two engines of the Jetour T2, and for a European badge, the Audi A3 against the Q3. Before you commit, three guides are worth reading:

• Importing cars from China to Nigeria and the 2026 levy change: vehicle age limits and duty decide whether a used car is viable.
• Shipping cars from China to Africa: ports, transit times and the cost difference between RoRo and container.
• How to verify a Chinese car exporter before you pay: the checks that matter before a deposit leaves your account.

Plug-in hybrids are covered in our guide to hybrid cars from China to Nigeria, and the wider range in top Chinese SUVs and EVs for export in 2026. If you are new to the process, start with our 2026 import guide for dealers.

Hanvia Motors sources both cars through our dealer network in China, inspects every unit before it is listed, and handles documents and shipping to your port. Browse sedans and electrified models in stock, see our export services, read about us, or send us your requirement and we will quote FOB and container options for your market. French-speaking buyers can also read our Senegal import guide.

Exporting either one to Ethiopia

Ethiopia banned imports of new petrol and diesel private vehicles on 29 January 2024. Electric and hybrid vehicles are exempt and pay 15% customs duty, with VAT, excise tax and surtax waived, so an EV or hybrid is the only realistic way into this market. Both cars on this page are left-hand drive, which Ethiopia requires, and seat fewer than 10 people, which the rules cover.

Everything goes through Djibouti. Ethiopia is landlocked and more than 90% of its trade moves through the Port of Djibouti, then inland on the Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway or by road. Plan the timeline around that corridor.

Public charging is thin: roughly 100 stations against an estimated 2,300 or more needed, mostly in Addis Ababa. Most owners charge on AC at home or at work, which favours buyers with their own charging point.

CIF Djibouti is available for Ethiopia. Tell us the model, generation and quantity and we will quote CIF Djibouti, so you compare one delivered number instead of adding up freight, insurance and handling yourself. EXW, FCA and FOB are also available if you want to control the shipping.

👉 Ask for current EV and hybrid stock and a CIF Djibouti quote. Talk to us · Ethiopia import rules in full

FAQ

Is the new Qin PLUS DM-i still the same car as the Seal 05 DM-i?

Not any more. Until October 2026 they were mechanically identical. The third-generation Qin PLUS DM-i, launched on 27 October 2026, is 60 mm longer and 63 mm wider, with a 2,800 mm wheelbase against 2,718 mm, and new 16.2 and 24.3 kWh batteries for 140 and 220 km of CLTC range. The engine and motor outputs (74 kW and 120 kW) are still the same as the Seal 05 DM-i.

What changed in the third-generation Qin PLUS DM-i?

A larger body, a longer wheelbase, new batteries with 140 km or 220 km of CLTC electric range, up to 2,290 km of combined range, 30–80% fast charging in about 20 minutes, an optional roof LiDAR for the God’s Eye B driver assistance, and a new cabin. It keeps BYD’s fifth-generation DM hybrid system.

Is the BYD Seal 05 DM-i the same as the Destroyer 05?

It is the replacement, not a rename. BYD sold the Destroyer 05 from 2022 and replaced it in early 2025 with the Seal 05 DM-i on the fifth-generation DM platform. The current car has a different engine output (74 kW against 81 kW), a different motor (120 kW against 132 kW), a taller body and far more electric range. If a supplier offers a “Seal 05” but the paperwork says 驱逐舰05, it is the older car.

Which is cheaper, the Qin PLUS DM-i or the Seal 05 DM-i?

In China the third-generation Qin PLUS starts at a guide price of CNY 79,900 and the 2026 Seal 05 DM-i at CNY 79,800, so the entry prices are almost the same. Export prices are a different calculation: they depend on generation, trim, new or used, current stock and your destination port. Send us the specification you want and we will price it.

Can these cars run without ever being charged?

Yes. Both run as a normal hybrid when the battery is flat. Chinese test figures are as low as 2.79 L/100 km for the 2026 cars and as low as 2.58 L/100 km (NEDC) for the third-generation Qin PLUS. Real-world use will be higher, but the cars do not need charging to work.

Do they take 92 RON petrol?

The 2026 Qin PLUS and Seal 05 DM-i are specified for 92 RON. For the third-generation Qin PLUS, check the fuel grade on the official configuration sheet before you order.

Which one holds value better on resale?

In most export markets the Qin name has been known longer, which usually helps resale. The Seal 05 is too new for reliable used-market data. Where buyers choose on styling and equipment rather than name, that advantage is smaller.

Before you order, confirm you and your supplier mean the same car. Chinese model years, generations and trim words do not map neatly onto export badges, and one name can now cover two generations. See Chinese domestic names, export names and trim ladders.

Sources: Third-generation Qin PLUS DM-i (launch on 27 October 2026, three trims and guide prices, 4,840 × 1,900 × 1,498 mm, 2,800 mm wheelbase, 74 kW engine, 120 kW motor, 16.2 / 24.3 kWh LFP batteries, 140 / 220 km CLTC range, 2,290 km combined range, 2.58 L/100 km NEDC battery-depleted consumption, 30–80% charging in about 20 minutes, optional LiDAR God’s Eye B): CnEVPost and CarNewsChina launch reports of 27 October 2026, which agree on all these figures. Only from CarNewsChina: the 65 L fuel tank of the new car. Only from CnEVPost: the redesigned front end and fastback profile. 2026 Seal 05 DM-i launch in a single 128 km trim (October 2025, 4,780 × 1,837 × 1,515 mm, 2,718 mm wheelbase): CnEVPost, 11 October 2025; the January 2026 addition of the 210 km trims: Sina and Weibo buyer-guide coverage, not an official BYD release. 2026 model-year Qin PLUS DM-i and Seal 05 DM-i figures (January 2026 update, 4,780 × 1,837 × 1,515 mm, 2,718 mm wheelbase, 74 kW / 126 N·m, 120 kW / 210 N·m, 128 / 210 km, 15.87 / 25.28 kWh, 2.79 L/100 km, 2,110 km, 65 L, 92 RON): Zhichepai configuration tables, IT Home and Sina Auto launch coverage of January 2026, Autohome creator coverage; trims and guide prices from IT Home. Only from IT Home: God’s Eye C on the January 2026 car. Destroyer 05 figures: Chinese-market configuration sheets for the 2024 model. Ethiopia rules: see our Ethiopia import guide and its sources. Torque, kerb weight, acceleration, fuel grade and warranty for the third-generation Qin PLUS were not in the launch reports we checked and are not stated here. All figures are China-market specifications; export specifications can differ by market.