BYD Confirms Affordable Electric Car for Right-Hand Drive Markets
BYD has confirmed that its smallest, most affordable electric car, the Seagull, will be available in right-hand drive markets such as the United Kingdom. However, the vehicle is unlikely to be sold in Australia.
In China, the Seagull starts at approximately 70,000 yuan, which translates to around $AU15,000. In the UK and Europe, it will be rebranded as the Dolphin Surf, positioning it below the standard Dolphin hatch.
While the Chinese version of the Seagull initially lacked advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and certain modern safety features like front-center airbags, the manufacturers are expected to upgrade the model to meet stricter safety standards in Europe and the UK.
Stella Li, BYD executive vice-president, told Autocar that the Dolphin Surf would aim to provide “the best value” rather than being the absolute cheapest EV in the UK and Europe. The Dolphin Surf, also known as the Dolphin Mini in some export markets (including Brazil and Mexico), is anticipated to be priced under £20,000 ($AU40,000) in the UK. This would put it in competition with the Dacia Spring, Fiat Grande Panda, and Citroen E-C3 electric cars.
Legal representatives for BMW, the owner of Mini, reportedly reviewed BYD’s trademark application for ‘Dolphin Mini’ in Australia in March 2024, but it is unclear if this influenced the decision to use the Dolphin Surf name in Europe and the UK instead.
The ‘BYD Dolphin Mini’ trademark was approved in Australia in late 2024 and remains valid. While the brand hasn’t filed for the ‘Dolphin Surf’ trademark with the Australian intellectual property office.
Currently, the Dolphin Surf is smaller than the current Dolphin, measuring 3780mm long compared to 4290mm. This makes it shorter than a Suzuki Swift or Toyota Yaris, but longer than a Kia Picanto or Fiat 500e.
The Seagull is sold in China with a lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a capacity of up to 38.88kWh. It has a claimed driving range of up to 405 kilometers under the CLTC lab-test standard.
David Smitherman, CEO of local BYD distributor EVDirect, mentioned in October 2024 the potential for smaller vehicles below the Dolphin in Australia. However, the company subsequently reduced the price of the Dolphin to $29,990 before on-road costs, positioning it as the nation’s most affordable EV.
“Yes, there are plans for smaller vehicles [below Dolphin], smaller SUVs as well,” Smitherman said.
A significant factor that could limit the Dolphin Surf’s availability in Australia is the likelihood of it not receiving a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
Luke Todd, EVDirect chairman and managing director, stated in 2022 that the company aims for its passenger vehicles to have five-star ANCAP safety ratings. He noted that it is difficult to achieve five stars on compact cars due to their size, and that the company is currently assessing that challenge. All BYD vehicles currently sold in Australia, including the Shark 6, Sealion 7, Sealion 6, Seal, Dolphin, and Atto 3, have a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
