For the moment, there is not even a question of exporting it to Europe. It only has an unofficial existence since it will only be presented on April 18, at the Shanghai Motor Show. However, its attractive lines and its announced price in China between 10,700 and 13,400 euros would place, brought back to Europe with the foreseeable additional cost and VAT, well below 20,000 euros, bonus not deducted.
It would thus be the only possible competitor of the Dacia Spring. The latter, also produced in China, stands alone in the electric city car market where no other model can compete with its urban characteristics. Except the future Volkswagen ID.2 recently announced, but still far from landing in dealerships.
BYD has a wide range and is preparing its deployment in Europe, with models that are not necessarily given, contrary to what one might imagine from a Chinese. With the Seagull, the main interest is that it invests in an electric market that essentially feeds on high-end. A paradox, because the electric car has its place in urban areas and it is often overpowered road cars that are marketed, the only ones able to absorb the additional cost of electric technology.
But precisely, the dead weight of the battery tends to be reduced and BYD, a historical specialist in their production, has cleverly provided two parallel technologies. Alongside the high-end Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP), it also offers a cheaper Sodium-Ion battery, but which will reduce range from 325 to 250 km (WLTP estimates). For urban use and loop use with return every evening to the same domestic terminal, this is more than enough. For the engine, we don’t complicate life, it’s the same and it delivers 55 kW. More than enough for this uninhibited four-seater 3.78 m long which could make life in pink.
