BYD Seagull: Everything You Need to Know

BYD is a Chinese carmaker that’s starting to make big strides in Europe. Specialising in e-mobility, BYD sold more electric cars globally last year than any other manufacturer, including Tesla.

BYD’s official partnership with UEFA at this year’s Euros means you may have already seen adverts for its slippery Seal saloon. Now, BYD plans on bringing its small Seagull city car over to Europe with the aim of making "electric cars accessible to all”.

Batteries & range

The BYD Seagull that's on sale in China comes with either a 30kWh or 39kWh battery pack. Both use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and BYD’s Blade tech.

Chinese battery testing estimates an electric range of 190 and 252 miles respectively. However, you can expect these numbers to be slightly lower on more rigorous WLTP evaluations.

We don’t yet have official specs for a UK version of the BYD Seagull, so these figures are subject to change.

Exterior & styling

The BYD Seagull is very short and compact, measuring just 3.78 metres in length. This dwarfs supermini rivals like the Peugeot e-208 or Vauxhall Corsa, placing the EV inside the city car segment alongside the Fiat 500e.

The European version of the Seagull is expected to differ slightly in appearance from the Chinese model released last year. BYD may decide to subtly update the Seagull’s design and possibly increase its size to meet Euro NCAP safety standards.

Interior & tech

Inside, the BYD Seagull features two screens. A 5-inch digital instrument cluster sits behind the steering wheel and a generous 12.8-inch infotainment screen is attached to the dash.

Despite its compact size, the Seagull’s electric platform provides a surprisingly spacious interior with materials that are nice to touch.

Release date & pricing

BYD confirmed in April that a European Seagull will be introduced later next year with right-hand drive models being built for the UK.

The BYD Seagull has been a big hit in China, selling with a UK-equivalent price tag of just £8,000. Unfortunately, the EV won’t be that cheap when it finally arrives in the UK due to market differences.

Cars imported from China currently attract a 10% tariff which could soon rise with proposed EU changes. Additionally, Chinese electric car buyers don’t pay VAT if the list price is below £36,700, meaning UK customers will face an extra 20% cost.

BYD will also need to modify the Seagull to comply with stricter European crash test regulations, further increasing production costs.

Despite these challenges, BYD's competitive pricing strategy could position the Seagull around £14,000 in the UK, with higher-spec models closer to £18,000. This would make it one of the most affordable electric cars in the UK, competing with upcoming budget-friendly EVs like the Dacia Spring, Leapmotor T03, Hyundai INSTER, and Citroen e-C3.

Looking for a new car?

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