BYD could reset Australian electric vehicle pricing below $25,000 if it decides to import the Seagull electric city car.
Originally, the Seagull was ruled out by BYD distributor EVDirect because it couldn’t make the business case work.
But the swap to distribution by factory-owned BYD Australia has re-opened the local opportunity for the Seagull.
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The Dolphin Essential is currently Australia’s cheapest EV priced at $29,990 plus on-road costs.
Being even smaller and with a smaller battery, the Seagull would undoubtedly slot underneath it on price.
It’s just a question how low BYD Australia would go.
Ev Authority dealer sources have confirmed they are aware the Seagull is under study for Australia.
Some suggest it is basically a lock to come here, with pricing expected to start under $25,000.
Using the right-hand drive UK market Dolphin Surf as a guide, the cheapest version comes with a 30kWh battery and a 220km range.
Dubbed the Active, it also comes with vegan leather seat trim, a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment screen, navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There are two other models in the UK line-up, the Boost and Comfort, both uprating to a 43.2kWh battery and range of about 320km.
The top-spec Comfort also upgrades from a 65kW e-motor driving the front wheels to one producing 115kW.
The Seagull measures up at 3990mm long, 1870mm wide, 1590mm tall and has a 2500mm wheelbase.
It has four seats – no middle rear – and boot space is claimed to be 308 litres.
It is exactly 300mm shorter than the Dolphin, 245mm shorter than the recently update GWM Ora and 165mm longer the Hyundai Inster.
BYD Australia was positive about the Seagull but predictably non-committal about its local prospects.
“As of June, after just 27 months on sale, the model has surpassed one million sales globally,” a spokesperson stated in an email reply to question.
“While it has not yet been confirmed for Australia, there is clear interest both locally and internationally.
“The brand has consistently maintained that where there is appetite for a vehicle, we will explore opportunities to bring it to market, provided the proposition makes sense for customers.
“The Dolphin Essential is currently Australia’s most affordable EV, and with any new entrant, customers can expect exceptional value from the brand.”
One thing to note is that if the Seagull was signed off for Australia it would probably have a different name.
Depending on the export market it is also known as the Dolphin Surf, Dolphin Mini and Atto 1 (including Indonesia, from where these pics originate).
Atto is a name that has resonance in Australia. The Atto 3 SUV was the first BYD sold here and the smaller Atto 2 is confirmed to go on-sale in Australia this year.
Along with the Sealion 8 PHEV SUV due on-sale in Australia by April 2026, the Atto 2 makes up two of four new models BYD plans to have on-sale in Australia by early 2026.
Logically, given it is under investigation, the Seagull could be one of the other two.
Adding impetus to that theory, the Seagull was sampled by Australian journalists during a media trip to China earlier this year.
