BYD’s upcoming Ocean Series MPV spotted in China with the Seal 08’s face

BYD’s Ocean series of cars is set to get a new MPV, with spy shots showing a camouflaged van in the firm’s familiar colours. It also appears to feature the Ocean series’ latest designs, with a front end closely resembling the Sealion 08 SUV and Seal 08 sedan.

This isn’t the NEV giant’s first MPV, with the Linghui M9 launching at 188,800 yuan (28,300 USD) in China in late June for rideshare operators. The M9 itself is based on BYD’s Xia MPV, which, confusingly, is marketed internationally as the BYD M9.

What’s new with the MPV

Spy shots show the minivan draped in familiar light-and-dark-blue striped patterns, all too familiar to those who follow BYD’s latest prototypes and test mules. The vehicle has all its bodywork and windows intact, while its front and rear lights appear to be missing.

The front end, though, gives some clues on the MPV’s appearance. Cutouts in the bumper, fenders, and hood confirm split front headlights, with a stretched, sideways “B” shape where the front DRLs should be.

The MPV is expected to embody the Ocean series’ latest design theme, already seen on the Sealion and Seal 08. Interior spy shots haven’t surfaced yet, but it shouldn’t stray far from the firm’s “Ocean Aesthetics 2.0” design language.

Other details include traditional door handles, likely to comply with China’s latest vehicle safety rules. A horizontal rail under the third-row window confirms the presence of sliding doors, a staple feature in minivans and MPVs. Like the M9 and its variants, power sliding doors should come as standard.

Where it slots in

The new Ocean series MPV is expected to target home-oriented buyers with large families and pick up where the Dynasty Series’ Xia (M9) left off. The latter is a rare flop for BYD in China, with China EV DataTracker reporting only 280 units delivered in September 2026.

Denza’s D9 MPV, priced from 329,800 yuan (49,500 USD), is faring much better in the country. According to China EV DataTracker, 5,056 D9s were delivered in the same period, a seventeen-fold difference over its beleaguered Dynasty Series brethren.

With the Linghui M9 holding the fort on the commercial front, and Denza’s D9 capturing luxury buyers, the Ocean series MPV will fill in the Xia-sized hole in BYD’s MPV lineup. Expect pricing to start around 200,000 yuan (30,000 USD), with Flash Charging-capable EV and PHEV trims also offered.