The Italian daily Gazzetta Motori recently came across camouflaged test mules of the BYD Seagull, the much-anticipated affordable Chinese electric car, which is evidently undergoing testing in Europe and could be set for its debut as early as 2025.
The BYD Seagull is part of the Ocean family (together with the Sealion 7, Seal U and Seal), but represents the most affordable proposal both in China and Europe.
An electric car with sense?
The BYD Seagull, a 3.78-meter-long and 1.71-meter-wide electric vehicle, made its debut in China in 2023, quickly becoming a top seller in its segment. With its four-seat capacity, modern design, and—most importantly—an extremely competitive price, the Seagull has generated significant anticipation among European consumers.
This isn’t the first sighting of the Seagull in Europe. The vehicle was previously spotted in Brussels in early January.
Though disguised with rigid plastic coverings, the vehicle’s recognizable shape and design cues match the 2023 Chinese version. Size-wise, it closely rivals the current-generation Fiat Panda (3.68 meters), making it a direct competitor in the ultra-compact city car market.
Inside, the prototype features a production-ready cabin, including a 5-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, clearly bearing the BYD logo, and a centrally positioned 10-inch infotainment screen. A wide central tunnel and sporty front seats hint at potential adaptations aimed at European buyers, suggesting BYD may be fine-tuning details to better suit local preferences.
Produced in China or Europe?
Assessing the mechanical future of the BYD Seagull in Europe is more complex. The European variant will retain the modular 3.0 platform with front-wheel drive and a front-mounted motor, producing 75 hp and 135 Nm of torque. However, battery options will vary, with a base version featuring 30 kWh LFP batteries and a higher-end variant equipped with 39 kWh batteries. These configurations offer 305 km and 405 km of range, respectively, under China’s CLTC measurement standard, which is significantly less stringent than Europe’s WLTP standards.
The recent sighting of the BYD Seagull in Milan suggests an acceleration in the model’s commercialization in Europe. However, pricing remains an open question. In China, the Seagull starts at 78,800 yuan (approximately 10,400 euros or 70,000 DKK). If imported from China, the model would be subject to EU tariffs on Chinese vehicles. Speculation suggests BYD might initially absorb these tariffs, with a long-term plan to move production to its upcoming factory in Szeged, Hungary just as Volvo did with the EX30, now produced in Belgium. However, this facility is still under construction and not expected to be operational anytime soon.
Source: Gazzetta Motori
