Electric cars in the West are too expensive. Users know that, dealers know that, and automakers know that too. Even the most affordable electric models are significantly more expensive than their equivalent combustion engine counterparts, even though Western automakers are always enthusiastic about how their next EV models will hit the streets at thousands of dollars cheaper than they currently do.
However, with recent news coming out of BYD, all their promises seem to be nothing more than empty talk.
In a move to continue the price war in China, the brand has reduced the price of its cheapest electric model, the Seagull, by 5%, bringing its retail price down to the equivalent of $9,700.
“BYD will indeed sell Chinese buyers a brand new electric car for under $10,000,” Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, Stellantis is excited about the prospect of releasing the Citroen e-C3 and Fiat at a price of $22,000. Volkswagen, on the other hand, is talking up the most cost-effective methods possible to release the $26,500 ID.2.
Everything is looking just as gloomy when it comes to car prices in the United States. The cheapest electric car currently available in the US, the Nissan Leaf, has a price tag of $28,140. Even the cheapest combustion engine model, the Mitsubishi Mirage, which is similar in size to the BYD Seagull, has a price tag of $16,695.
Of course, most Americans probably won’t want to buy a Seagull with just 74 horsepower, just like they’re “lazy” not to buy the Mitsubishi Mirage at present. However, many drivers in Europe and other regions around the world will want one.
And let’s take a look at what the Seagull offers. The BYD Seagull measures 3,780 x 1,780 x 1,540 mm in length, width, and height, with a wheelbase of 2,500 mm. Its dimensions are comparable to A-segment urban models like the Hyundai Grand i10 or Kia Morning sold in Vietnam.
The car is built on BYD’s latest 3rd generation EV platform with a choice of 74 or 100 horsepower motors, 30 or 38 kWh battery packs, for a range of 306 or 405 km on a single charge. This is also BYD’s first electric vehicle to use prismatic Sodium-ion battery technology, which is affordable and compact yet provides ample energy. The car features DC fast charging technology, allowing it to reach 80% charge in 30 minutes.
The car is equipped with a 12.8-inch rotatable screen, wireless charging, and a 3-spoke D-cut steering wheel. Safety features include 6 airbags, electronic parking brake, adaptive cruise control, emergency automatic braking, traffic sign recognition, and lane departure warning.
A car that can travel over 300 km, meets almost all basic driver requirements, and is priced under $10,000.
Looking at the bigger picture, BYD seems to be way ahead of its competitors as long as they make this car known globally, as there is hardly any Western manufacturer capable of competing with it.
