BYD Unveils Longer-Range Seagull EV Variant at $11,000, Bolstering Affordable EV Market Dominance
Key Insights
BYD has launched a new variant of its top-selling Seagull EV, offering an extended 405 km (252 miles) range at an accessible price point of approximately $11,000.
The Seagull EV, known as the Dolphin Surf in Europe, continues its strong sales performance, with over 220,100 units sold through May, marking a 50% year-on-year increase.
This new trim includes BYD's "God's Eye" intelligent driving assistance system, positioning it as a feature-rich option within its highly competitive price segment.
The strategic pricing and enhanced range of the Seagull are set to further solidify BYD's competitive position in global entry-level electric vehicle markets.
BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle giant, has introduced a new variant of its top-selling Seagull EV, offering an extended range option at a highly competitive price point. The new "405km Free" trim, unveiled during the 2025 BYD Seagull Global Night event, is priced at approximately 78,800 yuan (about $11,000 USD), making it one of the most affordable long-range electric vehicles on the market.
The Seagull EV, which commenced sales in April 2023, has rapidly become a market leader in China, frequently contending with Tesla's Model Y for the top sales position and even surpassing all vehicle types in November of last year. The recent event also marked a significant milestone for BYD, celebrating the production of the one millionth Seagull EV model, underscoring the vehicle's immense popularity and production scale.
This new variant features a 38.9 kWh battery pack, providing a China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) range of 405 km (252 miles). This is a notable upgrade from the base model's 30.1 kWh battery, which offers a CLTC range of 305 km (190 miles). The strategic pricing of the 405km Free variant aims to bridge the gap between affordability and extended range, making advanced EV technology more accessible to a wider demographic.
Further enhancing its value proposition, BYD announced that the new Seagull variant is equipped with its "God's Eye" intelligent driving assistance system. This makes it a unique offering in its price segment, as BYD has been integrating this advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) across most of its vehicle lineup without additional cost, signaling a commitment to democratizing advanced automotive technology.
The Seagull's market performance remains robust, with over 60,100 units sold in May, making it BYD's top-selling single vehicle for the month. Year-to-date through May, BYD has sold over 220,100 Seagull units, representing a 50% increase compared to the same period last year. This strong domestic performance is being mirrored in its international expansion, with the Seagull recently launched in Europe and the UK under the name Dolphin Surf. In these markets, the Dolphin Surf starts at approximately €22,990 ($27,000) in Europe and £18,650 (over $25,000) in the UK, offering a WLTP range of 203 miles. A longer-range "Boost" model is also available, providing up to 305 miles (507 km) WLTP range.