BYD’s New Seagull Debuts: Bigger, Five Seats, RWD — Still Around $10,000 in China

BYD launched the second-generation Seagull in China on October 20 at the Zhengzhou International Circuit, after opening pre-orders on October 9. The update matters because the Seagull — sold in Europe and the UK as the Dolphin Surf and elsewhere as the Dolphin Mini — is one of the world’s top-selling EVs, ranking sixth globally through the first eight months of 2026. In China it starts at just 69,900 yuan, roughly $10,000.

The generational changes are substantial. The new Seagull is 4,205 mm long with a 2,650 mm wheelbase — 425 mm longer overall and 150 mm more between the axles than its predecessor — and it gains a fifth seat. The permanent-magnet motor now produces 95 kW (127 hp), up from 55 kW, and the drive layout switches from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive, with a multi-link independent rear suspension to improve ride and handling. One of the two versions even offers optional LiDAR hardware, a remarkable feature at this price point.

The Seagull’s challenge is not technology but competition: low-cost rivals are flooding the segment. BYD’s answer — more size, more power, more tech, same aggressive price — is the playbook that made the Seagull a phenomenon. The European Dolphin Surf, currently among BYD’s lowest-priced EVs at €22,900, will be worth watching for a similar update.