While Chinese EVs, in general, have made quite a few headlines as of late – largely due to the fact that they’re reportedly years ahead of the competition in terms of tech – the BYD Seagull is one specific model that Ford CEO Jim Farley has admitted he’s worried about from a competitive standpoint. That’s to be expected for a car that has received positive reviews and stickers for a mere 69,800 yuan ($9,700) in China. As Ford Authority reported last year, the BYD Seagull is already slated to be sold in Europe, and now, a cheaper variant is set to launch in the UK this year, too.
According to Autocar, the Seagull – which will be called the Dolphin Surf in Europe and the UK – will come equipped with more features and safety equipment in those parts of the world, but it will still be one of the cheapest EVs one can buy when it arrives there. BYD executive vice-president Stella Li said that while the Dolphin Surf might “not be the cheapest” EV one can buy in those markets, it will “be the best value,” with a rumored price tag of less than £20,000 ($25,937 USD).
It’s unclear what sort of specs the Dolphin Surf will provide in the UK and Europe, but the Chinese version is offered with a choice of two battery packs – 30 kWh or 38 kWh – with a range of 190 miles and 252 miles, respectively. In the UK and Europe, BYD notes that it will present customers with over 200 miles of range, at least. Meanwhile, BYD is already enjoying success in the UK, with 62 dealers currently operating and 120 expected to be up and running by the end of 2025.
At the same time, Ford has struggled to conjure up demand for its own EVs across Europe and the UK as of late, which it blames on a lack of robust government incentives. In fact, Ford UK managing director Lisa Brankin has called on that country to take action on numerous occasions as of late.
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