China's Tesla take-down: 2024 BYD Seal Australian launch date finally revealed with Model 3 rival ready to rumble at last - but is it cheaper than a Tesla?

The most credible rival to the dominance of the Tesla Model 3 in Australia has at last been given a launch date, with the hotly anticipated BYD Seal to launch on October 17.

Confirmed by BYD's local importer, the launch event will be streamed online, with the brand ready to confirm all the pricing and specification details of its newest models. Orders will open that evening.

What likely won't appear, though, is the Seal U – the Tesla Model Y-rivalling electric SUV that's been spotted testing in Australia – with that model thought to be the next on BYD's launch list.

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But back to the Seal. BYD distributor Luke Todd from EV Direct is yet to spill on the model's pricing, but he has suggested the price point will be "very attractive", hinting that it will undercut its Tesla rival.

The entry-level Tesla Model 3 RWD lists at $57,400, the Long Range at $70,400 and the flagship Performance at $83,400.

"Seal is our premium vehicle, but it will be a premium vehicle at a very attractive price point. Can’t quite tell you the price yet, but it will be well received when we release it,” Mr Todd told CarsGuide.

The Seal will be sold in rear- and all-wheel-drive form, and will be fitted with a sizeable 82.5kWh Blade battery that should deliver between 520kms and 570kms, depending on the motor configuration.

The single-motor RWD Seal produces 230kW and is capable of clipping 100km/h in just 5.9 seconds. Quick, especially for an entry-level vehicle, but it pales in comparison to the 390kW AWD Seal, which will complete the same sprint in just 3.8 seconds.

The BYD Seal’s standard features list includes a rotatable 15.6-inch central multimedia screen, a configurable digital dash, a panoramic sunroof, a 12-speaker Dynaudio Premium sound system and heated sports front seats.

Will an EV finally outshine Tesla on the sales front? Time will tell.