Set to launch in France in the coming months, the tiny BYD Seagull is getting a new version and is set to become even more affordable. The electric car, a rival to the Dacia Spring, now starts at less than 9,000 euros in China. However, the price should be revised upwards from here.
If you are a loyal reader of Survoltés, you have undoubtedly already heard of BYD. And there’s a good reason why the Chinese manufacturer is competing with Tesla to become the world’s number one in electric vehicles and is set to overtake it in the fourth quarter of 2023.
slight price reduction
The company, based here in Shenzhen, already has a well-stocked range from Dolphin to Seal, including the Atto 3, which we recently tried, and the new Seal U. BYD clearly isn’t stopping there. Quite the opposite. Especially since he predicted a more intense price war than ever in the coming months.
This is how the manufacturer reduced the prices of some models in France as part of the Lunar New Year, but not only. The Atto 3 SUV also benefited from the price drop, as did the Han sedan. This too has been improved in certain respects. But that’s not all the company is looking to bring the Yangwang U8 to Europe. The latter also announced that it would lower the price of its smallest electric car, the Seagull.
As stated on the site, this small drop is only valid in China. Electrec, because city cars are not yet sold here. It’s coming soon and is expected to be released later this year. Therefore, it is this new version that has arrived on the Old World and offers unrivaled prices.
Seagull actually starts at 69,800 yuan for the entry-level Active version. This corresponds to 8,900 euros. Approximately based on current exchange rates. that down 5% Compare with previous version.
However, once the car arrives in Europe, prices should rise significantly. The Seagull is equipped with a recently awarded compact LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) blade battery. Capacity ranges include: 30.08 and 38.88kWh The range of a city car is 305-405 km. Please note that these numbers are understood to be in line with the Chinese CLTC cycle, which is more optimistic than the European WLTP.
main rival
Then this will give Between 259 and 344 km from us, which is very little and certainly not enough to reassure drivers who want at least 400 km. However, this is an error. In particular, city cars can be charged quickly and recharged. From 30% to 80% in 30 minutes. The power a battery can absorb is 30 to 40 kW, depending on its size.
The most expensive version of the Chinese compact car starts at 85,800 yuan. This gives you approximately 10,935 euros. It starts at 18,400 euros and is enough to give rival Dacia Spring a cold shoulder, which no longer has the ecological bonus in France. Records show the Spring boasts 65 horsepower and a range of 230 km. BYD Seagull will also chase down the likes of the new Renault 5 E-Tech, Citroën ë-C3 and Hyundai Casper.
This new version also brings several improvements: New 10.1-inch rotatable touchscreen, as well as the rest of the range. The car is also equipped with DiLink connectivity, which allows the driver to interact with the car and view videos, among other things. The urban electric vehicle is also equipped with level 2 autonomous driving and regenerative braking.
In terms of power, Up to 74 horsepower with 135 Nm torque, 0-50km/h reach time is 4.9 seconds. This is better than the Dacia Spring’s 5.8 seconds. It remains to be seen when this new variant will be released in Europe. But you shouldn’t do that. You are not eligible for an ecological bonus. Because it is manufactured in China
Finally, keep in mind that this first price cut is only the first step, as BYD plans to equip the Seagull with sodium batteries, which are much more economical than the current batteries. A release date hasn’t been announced yet, but it could make this little electric city car absolutely invincible.
