- BYD trademarked the Seagull and Sea Lion names in India
- The Sea Lion is expected to be an all-new electric vehicle
- Seagull could be the entry-level offering from the Chinese maker
- The Seagull is offered with 2 battery options – a 30kWh & 38kWh
- The small EV is claimed to offer a range of up to 405km on a single charge
Chinese EV maker BYD (Build Your Dreams) is currently selling the Atto 3 and the E6 MPV in the Indian market. The company had revealed its plans of launching the Seal electric sedan in our market before the end of this financial year. Not just SEAL, BYD is also planning to introduce multiple new EVs including its Seagull compact electric hatchback.
BYD has trademarked two names – the Sea Lion and the Seagull in the Indian market. It is expected that the Sea Lion will be an entirely new product, as BYD is testing an all-new EV globally. This vehicle is reportedly to come in two versions – a 204bhp RWD and a 530bhp AWD with dual-electric motors. It is expected to feature an 82.5kWh battery pack and could offer a range of up to 700km.
BYD had introduced the Seagull subcompact electric hatchback at the Auto Shanghai 2023. This B-segment hatchback is priced at $11,400 or 78,800 Yuan (Approx INR 9.35 Lakh), which makes it the brand’s cheapest EV to date. It is based on the company’s e-platform 3.0 that also underpins the Dolphin and Seal. It comes with a front-mounted electric motor rated at 55 kilowatts (74hp). The hatchback is available with two battery pack options – a 30kWh and a 38kWh – offering a CLTC range of 305km and 405km respectively.
The hatchback supports DC fast charging, and it takes around 30 minutes to charge the battery up to 80 percent. In terms of proportions, the BYD Seagull is 3,780mm long, 1,715mm wide and 1,540mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,500mm. The small car comes with funky looks, featuring a closed front face with sharp headlights with LEDs, a large windshield, floating roof design, connected LED tail-lights and a roof spoiler. It gets a 5-inch instrument console and a free-standing 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen, and a flat-bottom steering wheel.
While the exact launch details are yet to be revealed, BYD could introduce the Seagull as an entry-level offering in the country. This production is likely to bring volumes for the company, as it will be an affordable offering with a larger range. If priced aggressively, the hatchback will challenge the likes of the Citroen eC3 and the Tata Tiago EV.
