China’s largest electric automaker BYD launched its electric sedan, the Seal, at the IAA Mobility show in Munich this week.

The number of Chinese automakers at the auto show this year has more than doubled, compared to two years ago, Bloomberg reports.

Additionally, 41% of the exhibitors at the event are headquartered in Asia, signalling the pressure the Europe auto industry faces from international competition.

This has prompted concerns from the president of the German Associated of the Automotive Industry that Germany is losing its competitiveness. 

BYD overtook Volkswagen at the start of this year as China’s best-selling passenger car band.

The Seal has starting price around €45,000. For comparison, Tesla’s Model 3 has a starting price of €42,990.

Marketed as a ‘sporty and dynamic’ sedan, BYD Seal comes with its LFP Blade Battery and offers an 11 kW 3-phase on-board charger for AC charging as standard and can be fast charged at a DC charging station with 150 kW.

Deliveries of the Seal in Europe will start in Q4 2023.