BYD Sealion 7 Sales Surge Just Outside Top Three — Daily Car News (2026-01-07)

Australia’s EV market is doing that odd dance where prices dip just as the accountants start sweating, and right in the middle of it, the BYD Sealion 7 keeps quietly muscling into shoppers’ shortlists. I’ve felt the shift myself—dealer demos that used to be ghost towns now have Saturday waitlists. Today’s headlines? A chunky A$7000 chop for a tiny Hyundai EV, autonomy edging into city streets, Uber cozying up to Lucid for robotaxis, and Hyundai sending humanoids to the factory floor. Oh, and if you own a LandCruiser or Prado, keep reading—security PSA ahead.

Australia’s EV Crosscurrents: Discounts, Pressure, and BYD Sealion 7 Momentum

BYD Sealion 7: How It Elbowed Into the Sales Top Tier

The big mover is the BYD Sealion 7. December put it just outside the top three, which is a polite way of saying it’s gate-crashing a party usually reserved for the usual suspects. What’s behind the hop? When I sampled a dealer demo across some patchy suburban asphalt, the Sealion 7 felt properly sorted: quiet enough to hear your kids squabbling in the back, with that smooth EV shove that makes gaps in traffic open up like automatic doors. It doesn’t scream “science project,” either—a point a few new owners mentioned to me while waiting for plates.

• Why it’s clicking: Cabin tech that feels a step above, pricing that undercuts established rivals, and an easy-driving demeanor around town.
• What to expect: Healthy demand and—yep—potential waitlists in popular specs.

Hyundai Inster: A$7000 Comes Off the Baby EV

The Hyundai Inster just shed A$7000 from its sticker. For city life—tight parking, tram tracks, café-parking ballet—it’s the sort of number that flips “maybe later” into “let’s go Saturday.” I’m a sucker for light steering and upright visibility in tight streets, and the Inster nails the Tetris routine. Range and charging? Be honest about your weekly rhythm and check your local public chargers before you jump.

• Who benefits: Urban commuters, first-time EV buyers, downsizers who still want modern safety.
• What to watch: Dealer stock, lead times, and any stackable local incentives.

BYD Sealion 7 vs. BYD Sealion 6: Different Directions, Same Showroom Questions

BYD’s lineup shuffle adds some confusion. The BYD Sealion 6—a PHEV SUV—has been replaced in China and isn’t confirmed for Australia yet. That cools the plug-in talk for now. Meanwhile, the BYD Sealion 7 is the one actually moving the needle locally, which tells you where buyer energy sits: fully electric, fewer moving parts, easy daily use. I get it. Less to explain to the valet, and no petrol stop on the school run.

Quick Hits: EV Market Pulse

• Flat overall sales can hide heavy behind-the-scenes discounting.
• Models with big YOY drops usually get the sweetest retail deals.
• The best-seller EV list is stabilizing—but upstarts like the BYD Sealion 7 can still warp the leaderboard in a single month.

Autonomy Roundup: Cities in Sight, Robotaxis On Deck

Mercedes Eyes Hands-Free in the City (With Guardrails)

Mercedes is prepping a hands-free urban assist. Think geofenced routes, strict driver-monitoring, and low-speed serenity, not couch-nap autonomy. I’ve run similar systems in genuine gridlock, and the difference between “wow” and “why” is consistency—if it handles sloppy lane paint and ruthless cut-ins without a panic beep every 30 seconds, commuters will love it. Check activation regions at delivery; sometimes your street is in the next update.

• Helps most: Stop-and-go corridors, endless red-light crawls.
• Ask your dealer: Where it works, trial length, and subscription costs after the honeymoon phase.

Uber + Lucid: Robotaxi Pilot Targeted for Later This Year

Uber and Lucid want a robotaxi service live before year’s end. The smart play is integrating autonomy into an app millions already use—no new account, no new learning curve. Expect limited zones at first. If your city’s a pilot market, this might be the lowest-effort way to sample driverless rides without a waitlist or beta badge.

Factories of the Near Future: Hyundai’s Humanoid Helpers

Hyundai is rolling humanoid robots into U.S. plants. This isn’t sci-fi cosplay—it’s ergonomics and uptime. Repetitive, awkward jobs (door hinges at wonky angles, parts fetching in tight aisles) are prime targets. I’ve spoken with plant veterans who are cautiously optimistic: if the bots take the back-breaking stuff and don’t slow the line, fine by them. The real test is how they behave on a messy Tuesday, not a polished demo day.

• Likely first tasks: Parts delivery, inspection, ergonomically tough installs.
• Upshot: Safer jobs, steadier quality, new skills for line teams.

Security PSA: LandCruiser and Prado Theft Spree

More arrests in a LandCruiser/Prado theft ring. These rigs are catnip: high resale, easy to ship, parts in hot demand. If you own one, layer your defenses now—not after a scare. I’ve seen key-relay hits happen in well-lit suburbs. It’s not paranoia, just 2026.

• Store keyless fobs in a Faraday pouch to block relay boosts.
• Use a visible steering lock—low tech, high deterrence.
• Consider an OBD-II lock and secondary immobilizer.
• Park nose-in against a wall or inside a locked garage.

Culture Palate Cleanser: A Classic Nissan With a Muscle-Car Grin

Some mad genius grafted a Plymouth-style muscle face onto a classic Nissan and teased “520 reasons” to care. Displacement? Power? Pure audacity? Doesn’t matter—it’s the sort of build that derails a scroll and sparks five-minute car-park debates. Not sensible. Very necessary.

What It Means for Shoppers This Week

• Urban EVs: With A$7000 off, the Inster jumps up the list. Drive it back-to-back with your hybrid to sanity-check range and charging.
• BYD shoppers: The BYD Sealion 7 has momentum—get your order in early if you’re picky about color/spec. If you want a PHEV, keep an eye on the Sealion 6’s local status.
• Hands-free features: Speccing a new Mercedes? Confirm where the urban mode works and the cost after any trial period.
• Security: LandCruiser/Prado owners—layer protection. It’s cheaper than replacing a car.

Conclusion

Price cuts at the small end, humanoids on the factory floor, and the BYD Sealion 7 punching above its weight—this isn’t concept-car theater, it’s usable progress. If you’re buying, lean on the market pressure and make it work for you. If you’re watching, look to the city—this year’s most interesting experiments might happen at 12 km/h between two buses.

FAQ

• Where did the BYD Sealion 7 finish in December sales? Just outside the top three—a strong signal that demand is building in Australia.
• Is the BYD Sealion 6 coming to Australia? It’s been replaced in China and isn’t confirmed for Australia yet. If you need a PHEV soon, keep alternatives in play.
• How much cheaper is the Hyundai Inster now? The sticker is down by about A$7000, making it a far more tempting city EV buy.
• Will Mercedes’ hands-free system work in my city? Expect geofenced operation with speed and monitoring limits. Check your region and model for activation details and subscription costs.
• When can I try the Uber/Lucid robotaxi? The partnership targets a pilot later this year in select zones, expanding as validation grows.