BYD Seagull: E-car scores with price from 10,350 euros

The electric car market is boiling over. Now that the problems surrounding supply chains and the associated escalating delivery times have eased a little, manufacturers are trying to outbid each other with ever new records. The focus is primarily on parameters such as speed, range and charging performance. The price is often left out of the equation. As a result, electric cars will still cost a lot of money in 2023. The Chinese car company BYD has now made a real challenge in this respect. Namely, the BYD Seagull is said to be able to offer a good range at a real fighting price of just under 10,000 euros.

BYD Seagull wants to conquer international roads

The competition must not have looked badly when they got to see the low-cost BYD Seagull at the big auto show in Shanghai. The small car with a chic design is said to be able to cover up to 405 kilometers with its all-electric motor. But that is not the real reason why the electric car has become a real sales hit in its country of origin, China, within just half a year. Rather, the compact vehicle scores with a low entry price of 10,350 euros, as a report from Reuters shows. Not even Tesla can keep up with its new price reduction. That puts a lot of pressure on Tesla in the oh-so-important Chinese car market.

After all, if the Model 3 was always considered a sales hit in the field of electric mobility there, the BYD Seagull may now displace the all-electric sedan from the top spot. At least that’s what industry experts believe. The huge price advantage is likely to play a major role here. If BYD unleashes its Seagull on Europe, the consequences will probably be very similar. Although the market for electric cars is already quite broad in our region, there is still a lack of affordable models. Here, manufacturers are slow to deliver. For example, Renault with its recently presented Renault 5 E-Tech or VW with its ID.2.

A true “Volkswagen”?

For many years, Volkswagen was considered a manufacturer that lived up to its name. But at the latest with the leap into electromobility, the company could no longer really keep the company promise. For example, the ID.3, which is considered the electric counterpart to the Golf, is only available from an entry-level price of just under 40,000 euros. BYD charges a quarter of the money for its Seagull, which delivers performance data as if made for city traffic. The basic version, which costs 10,350 euros, has a range of 305 km. The better-equipped long-range version, on the other hand, has a maximum range of 405 km.

BYD then charges 12,800 euros for the version with the large 39 kWh battery. The BYD Seagull makes no secret of its concept. Thus, the all-electric small car does not want to win any races on the highway. This electric car was developed to get from A to B quickly in urban areas. Power (75 hp) and torque (135 Nm) speak for this. The urban concept is what should bring BYD great success in its home country of China. It is still uncertain when the affordable full-power car will come to Europe. However, it is certain that the BYD Seagull could be a real threat to Tesla’s sales figures.