New cheapest EV? 2023 BYD Seagull coming soon: But will the Chinese brand's smallest electric car come to Australia?
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The BYD Seagull is the smallest of its ‘Ocean Series’, which includes the soon-available Dolphin and Seal. Image: Car News China
A Chinese auto industry outlet has reported that BYD is close to releasing its smallest electric car, the BYD Seagull, after details were sourced from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The publication, Car News China, reports that the BYD Seagull will not only have several options for its battery drivetrain, but that it will be priced from between 60,000 and 100,000 Chinese Yuan, which directly converts to AUD$12,820 to $21,360.
CarsGuide has been told by BYD’s importer the brand’s local position on the Seagull is that "the Seagull is not on the program for vehicles [it] plans to bring to the Australian market."
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"The Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal will be the 2023 line-up of models."
If the Seagull was brought to Australia, despite a very likely price hike over its direct Chinese price, it would be in competition for Australia’s cheapest electric car, given its bigger BYD Atto 3 relative isn’t far off that title at $48,011 before on-road costs. The MG ZS EV is currently $44,990 drive-away.
The five-door Seagull hatchback, while unlikely to arrive here, will go on sale in China later this year up against the likes of the Ora White Cat, one of many Cat models in that brand’s range related to the Good Cat Australia seems set to receive.
The report also says the Seagull’s battery capacity will be available with a top of 30.7kWh, just a little less than the likes of the Mini Cooper SE which has a 32.6kWh battery for a range of 233km.
Its motor will, according to the report, be a single unit producing 55kW.
With that, if the Seagull came to Australia, it would be limited to a suburban runabout.
The Seagull will measure in at 3780mm long, 1715mm wide, and 1540mm high, making it even smaller than the diminutive Cupra Born hatch which has just launched in Australia (4322mm x 1809mm x 1540mm).
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