BYD launches its best-selling compact EV in Europe, starting at $26,000

• The Seagull, rebranded in Europe as the Dolphin Surf, went on sale in 15 European countries on Wednesday.
• The Seagull sold 55,028 units in April, contributing 14.48 percent of BYD Group’s monthly sales.

BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) has launched the Seagull compact electric vehicle (EV) in Europe, bringing its single best-selling model to a key overseas market.

The all-electric model, rebranded in Europe as the Dolphin Surf, went on sale in 15 countries on Wednesday and is BYDDY’s 10th model in Europe.

In China, BYD has a another compact EV called the Dolphin that is larger and more expensive than the Seagull.

The Seagull is offered in Europe at three price points, ranging from 22,990 euros ($26,000) for a range of 322 kilometers to 24,990 euros for a range of 507 kilometers.

Customers who purchase the model before the end of June will receive a discounted price of 19,990-24,990 euros for these three versions.

Originally launched in China in April 2023, the Seagull is BYD’s least expensive model.

In August 2024, BYD launched the 2025 Seagull in China. In February, BYD launched the Seagull Smart Driving Edition with a starting price of RMB 69,800 ($9,690) to RMB 85,800.

In April, the Seagull was BYD’s highest-selling single model, although the Song family of models whose products cover BYD’s Dynasty and Ocean series had higher combined sales.

The Seagull sold 55,028 units in April, contributing 14.48 percent of BYD Group monthly sales, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.

Song family models sold 84,088 units in April, including 33,759 Song models in the Dynasty series and 50,329 Song models in the Ocean series.

The Song family models on sale include the Song L EV, Song L DM-i, and Song Pro DM-i in the Dynasty series, and the Song Plus EV and Song Plus DM-i in the Ocean series.

In the January-April period, Seagull sold 172,995 vehicles, up 57.98 percent year-on-year, contributing 12.53 percent of BYD Group’s sales in the same period.

The Seagull exported 8,745 units in April, bringing cumulative exports to 28,206 units.

BYD will enter 12 new European markets this year, expanding to more than 1,000 points of sale, Maria Grazia Davino, BYD regional managing director for markets including Germany, said Wednesday.

The company announced on May 15 it will open its European headquarters, a new European research and development center, in Budapest, Hungary.

($1 = 0.8800 euros, $1 = RMB 7.2025)