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BYD Seagull
Overview
Manufacturer	BYD Auto
Also called	BYD Dolphin Mini (Latin America, except Colombia)
Production	April 2023 – present
Assembly	China: Xi'an, Shaanxi; Changzhou, Jiangsu
Designer	Under the lead of Wolfgang Egger
Body and chassis
Class	City car (A)
Body style	5-door hatchback
Layout	Front-motor, front-wheel-drive
Platform	e-Platform 3.0
Related	BYD Dolphin
Powertrain
Electric motor	BYD TZ180XSH permanent magnet synchronous
Power output	55 kW (74 hp; 75 PS)
Battery	30.08 kWh LFP 38.88 kWh LFP BYD Blade
Electric range	305 km (190 mi) (CLTC, 30.08 kWh) 405 km (252 mi) (CLTC, 38.88 kWh)
Plug-in charging	6.6 kW (AC) 30/40 kW (DC)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,500 mm (98.4 in)
Length	3,780 mm (148.8 in)
Width	1,715 mm (67.5 in)
Height	1,540 mm (60.6 in)
Kerb weight	1,160–1,240 kg (2,557–2,734 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	BYD e1

The BYD Seagull (Chinese: 比亚迪海鸥; pinyin: Bǐyǎdí Hǎi'ōu) is a battery electric city car manufactured by BYD Auto since 2023. Positioned below the Dolphin within BYD's line-up, it is currently the smallest BYD vehicle, occupying the A00-class in Chinese segmentation (equivalent to European A-segment). It is part of the Ocean product line and marketed through "Ocean Network"-branded dealerships and stores.

The car was made available in some Latin American markets in 2024 as the BYD Dolphin Mini.

Overview

The Seagull was introduced on 27 April 2023 in China. Unlike its 3-door rivals in the sub-100,000 yuan A0-class electric car segment, the Seagull features a 4-seat, 5-door configuration in a hatchback body style with a length of only 3,780 mm (148.8 in). According to Chinese publications, it is targeted towards younger customers seeking simpler means of transportation.

The exterior design of the Seagull combines numerous sharp lines, angular shaped headlights, and a sloping roofline with rear lamps connected by a light bar. Interior space utilization is prioritized by increasing the wheelbase-to-length ratio at 66 percent, higher than the BYD Dolphin at 64 percent, along with the use of the thinner blade battery. In line with other BYD Ocean models, the dashboard design has a "wing" design depicting a seagull's wing with a two-tone design, and equipped with a rotatable 10.1-inch touch-screen infotainment system along with a 5-inch digital instrument cluster.

The Seagull is equipped with six airbags, rear disc brakes, electronic parking brake, and electronic stability programme. Its body in white contains 61% of high-strength steel, and uses hot-forming with a tensile strength of over 1,500 MPa in key parts.

Following its world premiere at Auto Shanghai in the second half of April 2023, BYD started delivering the Seagull in China. Upon its release, BYD received 10,000 orders for the Seagull in 24 hours. On 29 November 2023, the 200,000th Seagull rolled off the assembly line, only seven months after its introduction. Due to its low selling price at below CN¥90,000 or US$12,000, the Seagull has also garnered curiosity and praise from international media and industry experts.

• Rear view
• Interior

2024 update

In March 2024, BYD reduced the price of the Seagull by five percent in China with the release of the Seagull Honor Edition as the 2024 model year. The Seagull Honor Edition introduced a new body colour option, Ice Blue, with a Sea Blue interior colour.

Export markets

The Seagull has been exported since 2024, mostly to Latin American markets. BYD also plans to launch an upgraded European market variant of the Seagull in 2025. According to BYD Europe executive Michael Shu, the European market Seagull will be "a different concept, but still a Seagull."

Latin America

Brazil

The Seagull went on sale in Brazil as the Dolphin Mini in February 2024. It is available in two variants, a 4-seater version and a 5-seater version, the latter became available in July 2024. Both variants are equipped with a 38.88 kWh battery. In early 2025, the Dolphin Mini will be assembled in Brazil at BYD's Camaçari plant alongside the BYD Song Pro.

Colombia

The Seagull went on sale in Colombia in April 2024. It is available in two variants, dubbed the GL and GS, which are equipped with a 30.88 kWh and 38.88 kWh battery respectively.

Mexico

The Seagull went on sale in Mexico as the Dolphin Mini in March 2024. It is available in two variants, dubbed the Dolphin Mini and Dolphin Mini Plus, which are equipped with a 30.88 kWh and 38.88 kWh battery respectively.

Asia

Philippines

The Seagull went on sale in the Philippines in October 2024 in a single variant, equipped with a 30.88 kWh battery.

Specifications

In China, there are currently three trims offered: a base model called the "Vitality Edition" (活力版), a higher specification "Freedom Edition" (自由版), and a top-specification variant called the "Flying Edition" (飞翔版). All three models are powered by a single 55 kW (74 hp; 75 PS) permanent magnet synchronous motor driving the front wheels, with a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph), a claimed 0–50 km/h (31 mph) acceleration time of 4.9 seconds, and a 0–100 km/h (62 mph) time of 13 seconds.

Both the Vitality and Freedom models come with a FinDreams 30 kWh (110 MJ) LFP Blade battery, enabling a cruising range rating of 305 km (190 mi) on the CLTC; the Flying model sports a larger 38 kWh (140 MJ) battery pack and a range of approximately 405 km (252 mi). The battery can be recharged via a household AC power plug at 6.6 kW, or via a DC fast charger at 30 or 40 kW (depending on the model), during which it reportedly can be charged from 30% to 80% capacity in 30 minutes.

Powertrain

Recall

On 30 April 2024, BYD issued a recall for 16,666 Seagull units in China due to reversing camera software failure. It affects units produced between 7 April 2023 and 31 May 2023. The recall will be conducted through an over-the-air (OTA) update.

Sales

Upon its release, BYD received 10,000 orders for the Seagull in 24 hours. On 29 November 2023, the 200,000th Seagull rolled off the assembly line, only seven months after its introduction.

See also

• List of BYD Auto vehicles

References

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2. "All about BYD". MarkLines Automotive Industry Portal. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
3. Kuhudzai, Remeredzai Joseph (29 April 2023). "BYD Unleashes The Seagull In China — And It's Cheaper Than A Petrol-Powered Honda Fit!". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
4. "比亚迪海鸥更多信息曝光，或8万元起售，还会是爆款吗？". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
5. "比亚迪海鸥就是纯电动小车界的"黑马"" [BYD Seagull is the "dark horse" in the pure electric car industry]. www.sohu.com. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
6. "BYD Seagull será lançado no Brasil como Dolphin Mini por cerca de R$ 100.000". Quatro Rodas (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 11 December 2023.
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12. ^ Jin, Qian (19 April 2023). "BYD Seagull electric hatchback got 10,000 orders in 24 hours". CarNewsChina.com. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
13. ^ Jin, Qian (29 November 2023). "The 200,000th BYD Seagull rolled off the assembly line". CarNewsChina.com. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
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16. Wayland, Michael (22 March 2024). "Why a small China-made EV has global auto execs and politicians on edge". CNBC. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
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20. Askew, Mike (2 July 2024). "EVERYTHING we know about the BYD Seagull. Will this be the UK's cheapest EV?". electrifying.com. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
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24. "BYD Dolphin Mini é lançado no Brasil por R$ 115.800; veja equipamentos". InsideEVs Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
25. Cesar, Julio (19 July 2024). "BYD Dolphin Mini de 5 lugares é lançado no Brasil por R$ 119.800" [BYD Dolphin Mini 5-seater launched in Brazil for R$119,800]. InsideEVs Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
26. Cesar, Julio (2 December 2024). "BYD iniciará produção no Brasil com Song Pro e Dolphin Mini" [BYD to start production in Brazil with Song Pro and Dolphin Mini]. InsideEVs Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
27. Alvarez, Santiago (16 April 2024). "Nuevo BYD Seagull en Colombia, el city car eléctrico que llega a revolucionar el mercado — Autos de Primera" (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
28. Arco, Luis Hernández del (5 March 2024). "BYD Dolphin Mini: ¿Qué tiene de especial este auto eléctrico?". Diario AS (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
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30. Shahan, Zachary (1 March 2024). "BYD Dolphin Mini Rolling in Mexico — Cheapest Electric Car By Far". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
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33. "【图】倒车影像故障 比亚迪召回16666台海鸥_汽车之家" [BYD recalls 16,666 Seagull units due to reversing camera failure]. www.autohome.com.cn. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
34. "【易车销量榜】全国2023年比亚迪零售量销量榜-易车榜-易车". car.yiche.com. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
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External links

• Official website (China)

• BYD vehicles
• Electric car models
• Production electric cars
• City cars
• Cars introduced in 2023
• Front-wheel-drive vehicles