BYD launches an updated version of Seagull, which is even cheaper than the old one. The electric vehicle maker is fueling its price war with gas cars by introducing its latest Mini Lamborghini EV. The pricing of the new BYD Seagull Honor Edition starts at $9,700. It is 5% cheaper than its last model. By setting prices this low, the Chinese automotive giant is intensifying the flame of a brutal price war for electric vehicles in its domestic market. They are doing so by decreasing the asking cost of one of its cheapest electric vehicles, the Seagull electric car.
In this article, we will discuss the pricing of Seagull EVs in detail. Also, we will talk about the features this car offers.
The Price of The Seagull Electric Car
The currently announced Seagull electric car Honor Edition costs $9,700, which is approx 69,800 yuan. This pricing makes this electric car the cheapest in China now. The Seagull is also exported to South America. In South America, this car is labelled the Dolphin Mini. They did so to increase brand recognition and simplify the range. Also, the larger Dolphin is already one of the best-selling electric cars in South America.
Furthermore, along with an exceptionally low price tag, the BYD Seagull EV has plenty of features in return for your money. This car offers 190 miles of range in its most basic level models, which increases to 252 miles in the $12 00 Flying trim level.
The latest Seagull is available in 30.08kWh and 38.88kWh BYD Blade battery packs. Moreover, BYD’s new Seagull electric car is available in three trims:
BYD Seagull Honor Edition trim | Starting Price | Range(CTLC) |
Active | $9,700(69,800 yuan) | 190 mi(305 km) |
Free | $10,500(75,800 yuan) | 190 mi(305 km) |
Flying | $12,000 (85,800 yuan) | 252 mi(405 km) |
Now Electricity is Cheaper than Oil
Last year, after surpassing Tesla to become the largest electric vehicle manufacturer internationally, BYD maintained momentum into 2024. BYD aced the price war with gas cars the previous month by launching its Qin Plus EV, which starts at $15,000. The Chinese auto manufacturer said the new electric vehicle model started a new era of electric cars cheaper than gas.
Furthermore, the DM-i model is even more inexpensive, whose price starts at $11,000 with a range of up to 74 mi (120 km) NEDC all-electric range. The EV model has a 48 kWh or 57.6 kWh battery pack with a 261 mi (420km) or 316 mi (510 km) range, respectively.
Last year, BYD launched the Qin Plus Champion Edition, priced below $13,900 (100,000 yuan) for the first time. BYD declared the price to be the same as that of gas cars. After this, sometime later, BYD launched a new Dolphin EV Honor, the price of which started at $13,900. Furthermore, the New BYD Dolphin has the best features including more performance and way better design at a lower price tag. A few days ago, BYD fueled a way by decreasing the prices of its new Tang and Han prototypes. Also, BYD cut the cost of its best-selling electric sedan, the Yuan Plus, to $16,600 (119,800 Yuan). In short, the BYD electric car price is getting worrisome for other big car manufacturers.
Features of the Seagull Electric Car
BYD launches cheaper electric car, the Seagull. Despite being the affordable EV 2024, it has all the best features and specs a good electric car should have. Further, we will discuss all the features that this car offers.
1- Best Driving Little EV
Let us discuss the safety features of this electric car. All Seagull electric cars have standard passengers and drive airbags. Plus, it also has side cuts in airbags in the rear and front. The driver assistance package includes automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning. Plus, it also has lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control.
Furthermore, the Seagull is amazing and breaks off every other tiny electric car in its class regarding driving dynamics.
2- Aggressive and Scrappy Design
While the majority of Seagull’s competitors, like Wuling Bingo, opt for friendly and cute design language, Seagull’s electric car takes a more aggressive approach. This car has harsh LEDs and hard angles that look more like a robot sidekick than a cute toy. To make you understand in a dog metaphor, if the Bingo is a fluffy and cute Pomeranian, then the Seagull is a scrappy little pitbull. The seagull electric car’s effort to look intimidating makes it more attractive. The prime reason for this is the size of this little car. At 3.78 m in length, it is 8 inches shorter than the Honda fit. However, its wheelbase is only 3 cm, which is 1 inch shorter than that of a Honda.
3- Battery and Charging
Squeezed inside the wheelbase is your preference for a 30 or 39kWh lithium iron phosphate blade battery pack. Those give a claimed CLTC range of 305 and 405, respectively. Also, both have fast charging and can go from 20-80% in 30 minutes. Plus, it was heard that the seagull electric car will be available with a sodium battery pack, though right now, it is not. It is assumed that the sodium battery will do better. However, the ranges on these lithium iron phosphate units proved promising. Also, the real-world range for this bigger battery pack is estimated to be nearly 300 kilometres. Looking at the BYD Seagull price and size, this figure is still in the usable range. However, it is not very impressive.
4- Barbie Spec
The interior of one of the best BYD EV models, Seagull, is available in blue and black, green and black, or in the case of our vehicle, Barbie spec. This electric vehicle is part of the Ocean series, along with the BYD Seal and Dolphin. However, the interior layout is the least ‘ocean-inspired’ out of all of them. One of the major reasons might be the cost of all those expensive designs and flourishes.
Besides, this car has air conditioning controls, auto hold which is standard on all the seagulls, hazard lights, and the driving modes. Plus, closest to the driver, there is a pretty little transmission knob, to wiggle up and down to change gear. On the other side, all three trim levels of this electric car come with a 10.1-inch spinnable centre screen and a 7-inch instrument cluster. Although the interface is similar to the other BYD models, it is a little slower to react.
Conclusion
BYD is introducing an attack on combustion engine vehicles by launching an Electric vehicle under $10,000, which is way less than its competitors. Also, the Seagull electric car is quickly expanding overseas and stealing the car market share from giant automakers like Toyota. Last year, more than 280,000 Seagull electric vehicles were sold in China. Also, despite being BYD’s cheapest car, it is a decent electric vehicle compared to many inexpensive electric vehicles in China.
The aggressive decrease in price by BYD is worrying auto manufacturers like Ford. For this reason, Ford is working on manufacturing inexpensive electric vehicles. Ford is doing so to prevent falling behind Chinese electric vehicle makers and Tesla.
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FAQs
1- What is the range of the Seagull electric car?
The smaller battery pack of Seagull has a range of 305km (190 miles), and the bigger battery pack gives a range of 405km (251 miles).
2- Can I buy a BYD in the US?
No, BYD has no plans to launch electric vehicles in the US.
3- How much is the BYD Seagull?
BYD Seagull costs 69,800 yuan ($9,700).
4- What is the range of the BYD Seagull?
The smaller battery pack of Seagull has a range of 305km (190 miles), and the bigger battery pack gives a range of 405km (251 miles).
I am Muhammad Waqas and I am dedicated to promoting sustainable vehicles. Observing EV trends, studying the intricacies of the EV industry, and promoting new EV launches fall under my expertise. I have been working in this field for 5 years and making efforts for a sustainable and healthier future.
