BYD Ocean MPV Prototype Spotted With Roof-Mounted LiDAR — SkimNews
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- BYD unveiled the Ocean-V concept at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show in April, previewing its first Ocean-series MPV with a sliding center display, folding or swiveling seats for Camping mode and a flip-out dashboard screen for Movie mode.
- Ocean MPV prototypes appeared in Autohome imagery and ThinkerCar footage, including a sighting at a BYD Flash Charger in China that showed a massive roof-mounted LiDAR.
- Ocean-V presented a futuristic shape, but the camouflaged production prototype looks drastically different, with a boxy body, wide grille and traditional pull-style door handles.
- Ocean MPV dimensions are reportedly 5,145 mm long, 1,970 mm wide and 1,805 mm tall, with a 3,045 mm wheelbase and a 2+2+3 seating layout for seven passengers.
- BYD has not confirmed powertrain or battery specifications, although the prototype’s massive grille has prompted expectations of the DM-i plug-in hybrid system and Blade Batteries.
- Denza D9 starts above 300,000 yuan ($45,000), while the Xia spans 200,000-300,000 yuan ($30,000-$45,000), leaving a price band the Ocean MPV is positioned to occupy between them.
- Zhang Zhou, general manager of BYD’s Ocean series, said the company expects to launch its first MPV by the end of 2026.
Why it matters: BYD’s stated end-2026 launch targets the pricing space between the 200,000-300,000-yuan Xia and the 300,000-yuan-plus Denza D9. The Ocean line gains its first MPV, while buyers can compare the prototype’s boxy styling, roof-mounted LiDAR and reported seven-seat layout against the Ocean-V concept’s camping-and-movie pitch.
Ask SkimNews
![BYD’s $10,000 EV has a big sibling on the way, and here’s our first look [Images]](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/09/BYD-Great-Seagull-EV-first-look.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1400)
