Posted on 09/18/2024 12:26:44 PM PDT by Red Badger
BYD’s cheapest electric car, the Seagull, was the top-selling car in China last month, with nearly 41,000 models sold. Starting at under $10,000, the BYD Seagull even has US automakers worried.
BYD’s Seagull was China’s top-selling vehicle in August
BYD has been on a roll, launching lower-priced, updated models of its best-selling models. In March, BYD launched the Seagull EV Honor Edition with a “shocking price” starting at just 69,800 yuan, or less than $10,000.
Just five months later, BYD launched the 2025 Seagull with the same starting price. The Seagull is already sitting atop the sales charts in China.
After a record-breaking August, BYD topped one million EV sales in 2024. The company sold a record over 373,000 new energy vehicles (including PHEVs) in August. Of them, 148,470 were all-electric.
BYD’s Seagull was the top-selling vehicle in China in August, with 40,949 models sold. The company said the Seagull is now China’s best-selling A00 class model and pure electric car for the sixth consecutive month.
BYD's-Seagull-top-selling
BYD Seagull EV (Source: BYD)
The Seagull EV is available in three trims in China with two BYD Blade battery options (30.08 kWh or 38.88 kWh), providing up to 252 miles (405 km) CLTC range.
BYD’s low-cost EV has earned the nickname “mini Lamborghini” as former Lamborghini designer Wolfgang Egger led the Seagull’s design.
Inside, the Seagull is loaded with BYD’s latest tech and software, including a 10.1″ rotating infotainment with DiLink intelligent network connection.
BYD is selling the Seagull EV overseas as the Dolphin Mini. In Brazil, the Dolphin Mini (Seagull) starts at around $20,000 (99,800 BRL). It’s roughly the same in Mexico at 358,800 pesos, or around $19,000.
Electrek’s Take
BYD’s cheapest EV is worrying rivals in and outside of China. Even Ford’s CEO Jim Farley called the Seagull a “pretty damn good” car, warning rivals of BYD’s low-cost EV. In comparison, Ford only sold 8,944 EVs combined last month.
The Seagull is expected to launch as one of the most affordable EVs in Europe, starting at under 20,000 euros ($21,500).
Although several automakers have promised to launch lower-priced EVs, will they be able to keep up with BYD? And, more importantly, still earn a profit?
According to AutoForecast Solutions CEO Joe McCabe, BYD’s Seagull would still be the cheapest EV in the US at under $25,000, even with a 100% tariff.
North American CEO Stella Li has already said BYD has no plans to launch passenger EVs (they already sell electric buses) in the US. However, that won’t stop the Chinese auto giant from taking market share in other markets like Mexico, Southeast Asia, Europe, and possibly Canada.
BYD, which started as a battery maker, already has a significant advantage with an established supply chain. The company’s “liberation battle” against gas-powered vehicles appears to be working so far. BYD said its main goal is to take market share from ICE vehicles while promoting electric cars.
Source: BYD
anything named “seagull” is gay.
What? They aren't trying to take market share from horse and buggy?
I wonder how many of them exploded just sitting there, or went 50 miles and completely locked up.
Foreign sold cars are set to explode one hour before they invade Tawain.
The problem with Chinese EVs is an hour after you buy one you want to buy another one.
So? Are we supposed to be impressed with this? 41K/month over a year's time would be 492K. In China which has a population about 4 times as large as the U.S.
Compare that to 700K F-150's sold in 2023.
BYD EV Destroyed in Collision, No Airbags Popped. This Subpar Manufacturer Got a $1 Billion Subsidy (3 months ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmOtWGkCz5c
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Cars Grow in Grass! 872 Luxury EVs by BYD-Mercedes Abandoned in Bushes for 5 Years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqTYDPIupuA
BYD hype is all propaganda - they are junk
Kudzu!...................The vine that ate Georgia!...............
Its funny watching the videos from China when these things just cook off sitting there, then the manufacturers reps show up and chisel the logos off so no one will know who built the crap box in the first place.
Are there parts for repairs or do you have to buy a new one when it breaks ?
Chicom EV companies lose thousands of dollars on every car they sell.
The government is paying to make the overabundance of these cars.
When they say “ BYD said its main goal is to take market share from ICE vehicles...”
They mean it. But not by free market competition.
It’s economic warfare.
Does it come with the Mossad Premium Sound package?
Like teacher Van Dreisen's "Lesbian Seagull" on Beavis and Butt-Head?
It could be like my neighbor who bought a BIG Chinese tractor because of the low price. Parts were falling off of it the first year. Very difficult to get replacement parts.
BYD Blade batteries cannot explode or burn they pass the steel spike through a fully charged pack test with flying colors. This test is where you take a fully charged pack and drive a 12” long steel spike fully through the pack and let it short out via that spike. The pack just sat there and discharged with some heat not exceeding 400C nor venting flammable gas. Pretty impressive, not all battery tech is flammable. BYD uses LiPFeO4 cells these are not lithium metal nor cobalt cells they use lithium salts which are already oxidized. That and you get twice the number of DOD out of LFP cells vs NMC with 100/0% DOD vs 80/20 for NMC. BYD makes a hybrid that was driven by normal people in a test in a busy Chinese city over a 100km course they used 2.2L of petrol that’s equal to 108 mpg nothing short of phenomenal in real world use. China is kicking butts and taking names in the auto world.
Rode in a BYD recently as in this year it was as nice inside as my Tesla. US Auto makers better be scared even with a 100% import tariff BYD is still cheaper than any EV on the market.
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