BYD’s $10,000 Seagull EV was its top seller last month and now it’s headed overseas

BYD’s ultra-affordable Seagull was its top-selling EV last month, with over 55,000 units sold. With prices starting at under $10,000 in China, it’s the cheapest EV in BYD’s lineup. And with plans to launch it in new overseas markets soon, the Seagull is expected to see even more demand.

BYD’s top-selling EV in April starts at under $10,000

There’s no denying BYD’s growing presence in the global auto industry. The Chinese auto giant just posted its best month of 2025 in April, selling 380,089 new energy vehicles, including EVs and PHEVs.

For the first time in over a year, fully electric vehicles outsold hybrids. BYD sold 195,740 purely electric cars last month, up 45% from April 2024.

The Seagull was BYD’s top-selling EV with 55,028 models sold last month alone. It’s part of BYD’s Ocean and Dynasty brands, which accounted for 347,053 of its total sales in April. The premium Denza brand added 15,388, while Fang Cheng Bao and Yangwang sold 10,039 and 135 vehicles, respectively.

Perhaps even more importantly, BYD set a new overseas sales record for the fifth straight month with nearly 80,000 vehicles sold. Through April, BYD has sold 285,170 vehicles overseas, more than doubling from last year.

The Seagull EV, which is being sold under the name Dolphin Mini, is already being sold in several countries, including Mexico, Colombia, the Philippines, and Brazil.

Later this year, BYD will launch the low-cost EV in Europe as the “Dolphin Surf” with prices expected to start at under £20,000 ($26,000).

The Seagull is just 3,780 mm long, 1,715 mm wide, and 1,540 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,500 mm, which is even smaller than the Volkswagen ID.3 (4,264 mm long, 1,809 mm wide, 1,568 mm tall).

Designed by Wolfgang Egger, a former Lamborghini and Audi designer, the Seagull has earned the nickname “Mini Lamborghini” in China.

In China, the Seagull EV is available in three trims: Vitality, Freedom, and Flying. There are two BYD battery pack options, 30.08 kWh and 38.88 kWh, which provide 305 km (190 miles) and 405 km (252 miles) CLTC range, respectively.

According to S&P Global Mobility, BYD’s sales are expected to double in Europe from 83,000 last year to 186,000 in 2025.

Although it’s not slated for European production, the report notes that “the Seagull’s pricing strategy ensures competitiveness in the EU even with tariffs.”