BYD launches Seagull EV with LiDAR for $13,000 — first in its class

The Seagull is now the first A00-class EV with a roof-mounted LiDAR. BYD launched the 2026 Seagull with a LiDAR starting at about $13,000, bringing smart-driving tech to its most affordable EV.

BYD’s cheapest Seagull EV upgraded with LiDAR

Starting at just 69,900 yuan ($10,300), the Seagull was BYD’s best-selling purely electric vehicle last year. Sold as the Dolphin Surf in Europe, and Dolphin Mini in other overseas markets, the electric hatchback ranked as the fifth best-selling EV in the world in 2025, with nearly 450,000 deliveries.

For the 2026 model year, BYD is upping the ante once again. BYD launched the 2026 Seagull EV in China on May 11, maintaining its ultra-affordable starting price of just 69,900 ($10,300).

That’s for the base Vitality Edition, with a CLTC driving range of up to 305 km (190 miles). The new Seagull is available in six versions with two battery options.

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The base Vitality and Freedom models are powered by a 30.08 kWh battery, providing a CLTC range of 305 km (190 miles). Upgrading to the Comfort and Flying variants gets you a larger 38.88 kWh battery, good for up to 405 km (251 miles) of CLTC range.

Inside, BYD upgraded the Seagull’s interior with a new 12.8″ floating central infotainment screen with 3D car control and BYD’s DiLink 150 advanced smart cockpit.

All 2026 Seagull models are equipped with a single front-mounted electric motor delivering 55 kW (73 hp). The most notable upgrade is the optional God’s Eye B, BYD’s smart driving system.

It’s offered on the Freedom and Flying variants. The 305 km Freedom Edition with God’s eye B is listed at 90,900 yuan ($13,400), while the 405 km Flying Edition starts at 97,900 yuan ($14,400).

BYD’s God’s Eye B, or DiPilot 300, is a mid-tier smart driving system typically reserved for higher-end vehicles, such as those under the Denza sub-brand.

The system includes a roof-mounted LiDAR to support ADAS features like NOA (Navigation on Autopilot) in cities and on highways, as well as automated parking. It also runs on the Nvidia Drive Orin chip, delivering a peak computing power of 254 TOPS.

You can see the new 2026 BYD Seagull inside and out in the video from ThinkerCar (shown below), showcasing the upgraded model from nearly every angle.

2026 #BYD Seagull https://t.co/gOhEIOm1VP pic.twitter.com/YKZgZWyyvE

— ThinkerCar (@thinkercar) May 12, 2026

Measuring 3,780 mm in length, 1,715 mm in width, and 1,540 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,500 mm, the 2026 Seagull is about the size of a Kia Picanto. For those in the US, that’s even smaller than the 2027 Chevy Bolt EV.

After upgrading its entry-level EVs last year, including the Seagull, with its God’s Eye C (DiPilot 100) system, BYD is now upping the ante with a more advanced system at an affordable price.

While Leapmotor launched the B10 in early 2025 as the first EV in the industry to feature LiDAR in the 100,000 – 130,000 yuan ($15,000 – $19,000) range, BYD one-upped it with the 2026 Seagull EV.

Electrek’s Take

An added LiDAR may not seem like a huge upgrade, but the technology is typically reserved for higher-end vehicles.

Even with the added smart driving tech, the upgraded 2026 Seagull can be bought for just over 90,000 yuan ($13,300).

While the entry-level EV went back and forth with the Tesla Model Y as China’s best-selling EV several months last year, a flood of low-cost domestic rivals like the Geely Xingyuan has stolen the Seagull’s spotlight.

By upgrading the Seagull with LiDAR and smart driving features, BYD is not only making the tech more accessible; it will likely force the competition to follow suit as China’s price war intensifies. After China, BYD will likely begin introducing smart driving tech to lower-cost models overseas. After launching its 10-min Flash Charging stations in China in March, BYD is set to begin rolling out the first batch in Europe this year.