It’s a small, affordable electric car that could well appeal to European buyers. The BYD Seagull (seagull in English), sold for less than 10,000 euros in China, where it is achieving some success, will be launched in the second half of 2024 in Europe, the brand confirmed to Numerama.
A model barely larger than the current Renault Twingo and which will thus complete BYD’s very “oceanic” range after the Seal (seal) and the Dolphin (dolphin). The Seagull is offered in China with a 50 kW (75 horsepower) engine and can reach 130 km/h. With two LFP batteries offered, 30 kWh and a range of 305 km by Chinese standards, or 38 kWh at 405 km.
BYD grows outside China
The Chinese giant BYD, world number two in electric vehicles behind Tesla, mainly sells its models in its local market, with a larger market share than in Europe for electric cars.
The brand now wants to address the international market, starting with models with a rather premium positioning and then quite affordable models. More recently, BYD launched its small Dolphin, a competitor in particular of the Renault Mégane E-Tech, with prices starting at 33,990 euros.
A model that can benefit from the ecological bonus of 5,000 euros, therefore selling for 28,990 euros. Until December 15 a priori, since models manufactured outside Europe will no longer be able to benefit from the main purchasing aid in France.
The only conditions to respect to benefit from it: order by December 15 and delivered by March 15, 2024.
A “low cost” model… even without bonuses
In mid-October, the brand assured that it could meet this deadline in most cases, despite a certain acceleration in orders in this context of the end of bonuses for models produced in China. The only exception is the Seal, its sedan competitor to the Tesla Model 3, which is at risk of exceeding this deadline.
For the Seagull, the question does not arise, given that it will be launched in the second half of 2024.
Sold for less than 10,000 euros in China, Numerama estimates that it could be sold in France between 20,000 and 25,000 euros. In fact, you have to add taxes, customs duties, transportation costs and development costs for BYD’s network in Europe.
A very competitive price: currently only the Dacia Spring is sold cheaper, from 15,800 euros, but with the ecological bonus that will also be lost next year.
Citroën will launch its new electric C3 at the beginning of the year, with a planned starting price of 25,000 euros without bonuses. A version with a price of less than 20,000 euros is planned for 2025. On Renault’s part, the R5 will also aim for this figure of 25,000 euros with a launch planned for the summer of 2023. The future Twingo, below 20,000 euros, is planned rather for 2025.
Source: BFM TV
