BYD Seagull History

Introduced in China on April 27, 2023 and priced below CN¥90,000 (approximately US$12,000), the BYD Seagull is the smallest and most affordable model in BYD's lineup. The four-seat, five-door hatchback stretches only 3,780 mm in length and targets younger urban buyers seeking simple, low-cost electric mobility. BYD received 10,000 orders within 24 hours of launch.

The 200,000th Seagull rolled off the production line just seven months after introduction — one of the fastest ramp-up rates in the Chinese EV market. In export markets it is sold as the Dolphin Mini (Latin America), Dolphin Surf (Europe), and Atto 1 (some Asia-Pacific markets). Its low price drew global attention to BYD's vertical integration strategy and sparked concern among Western automakers about cost competitiveness.