The Seagull is BYD’s most affordable electric vehicle, starting at about $10,000 in China and sold overseas as the Dolphin Surf. BYD is preparing to introduce a new version that will likely be an even “bigger” hit.

BYD is best-known for its ultra-low-cost vehicles, but the Seagull is much cheaper than anything sold in the US.

In China, BYD’s electric hatch starts at 69,900 yuan, or around $10,000. Meanwhile, the lowest-priced vehicle in the US is the 2026 Hyundai Venue, which costs just over $20,000.

Even in markets outside China, like Europe, the Dolphin Surf, as sold, starts at just €22,900 ($25,000). In places like Brazil and Mexico, the electric hatch is rebadged and sold as the Dolphin Mini.

As one of the most affordable electric cars in many markets, the Seagull (Dolphin Surf/ Mini) has been among the world’s best-selling EVs.

According to the most recent data from CleanTechnica, BYD’s entry-level EV was the world’s sixth-best-selling EV through August, with over 212,000 units sold. It ranks behind only BYD’s own Yuan Up (Atto2), the Tesla Model 3, Geely Xingyuan (EX2), BYD Song (Seal U), and the Tesla Model Y.

For its second generation, BYD is upgrading the Seagull to compete with the incoming wave of entry-level electric cars hitting the market.

The new Seagull is bigger, smarter, and adds a bit more luxury over its predecessor. We caught a glimpse of the second-gen Seagull last month when Zhang Zhuo, general manager of BYD’s Ocean series, revealed the first official images .

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