BYD Opens Blind Pre-Orders for the Bigger, Smarter Second-Gen Seagull EV

BYD has kicked off blind pre-orders in China for the next generation of its Seagull, the entry-level electric hatchback that has become the brand’s most affordable model and one of the world’s best-selling EVs. The order books opened on a Friday across six exterior color options, according to Zhang Zhuo, general manager of BYD’s Ocean series, who shared the news on Weibo. As is customary for blind pre-orders in China, no pricing was disclosed, and BYD has yet to confirm battery specifications or other key figures.

The original Seagull starts at 69,900 yuan in China, roughly $10,000, making it dramatically cheaper than the most affordable new vehicle in the United States, the 2026 Hyundai Venue, which begins at just over $20,000. Outside China, the same hatchback is sold under different names: as the Dolphin Surf in Europe, where it starts at about €22,900 ($25,000), and as the Dolphin Mini in markets such as Brazil and Mexico. Its low price has translated into serious volume, with more than 212,000 units sold through August, ranking it sixth among the world’s best-selling EVs, behind only BYD’s own Yuan Up (Atto2), the Tesla Model 3, the Geely Xingyuan (EX2), the BYD Song (Seal U), and the Tesla Model Y.

The second-generation model grows substantially. Regulatory filings in China list it at 4,205 mm long, 1,810 mm wide, and 1,570 mm tall, with a 2,650 mm wheelbase, meaning it stretches 425 mm longer than the current car and adds 150 mm between the axles. Power rises too: a 95 kW (127 hp) electric motor replaces the outgoing 55 kW (75 hp) unit, and the layout shifts from a front-mounted motor to a rear-mounted one. Zhang confirmed during August’s Chengdu Auto Show that the new car will launch as the “Great Seagull” and go on sale before the end of 2026.

The cabin receives a meaningful upgrade as well. BYD says the larger Seagull adds premium touches including ambient lighting and massaging front seats, along with more rear legroom. Inside, a bigger infotainment display anchors a redesigned cockpit that features a new two-spoke steering wheel, a reworked center console with added storage, and physical buttons below the screen and on the wheel. Notably, the traditional instrument cluster behind the steering wheel appears to be gone, with that information moved to the central touchscreen.

A roof-mounted LiDAR sensor signals that driver assistance is getting more capable, and the car is expected to run BYD’s God’s Eye B intelligent driving system. Unconfirmed reports suggest higher trims could adopt BYD’s latest Blade Batteries 2.0 and Flash Charging technology. Following its Chinese launch, a larger variant is expected to reach overseas markets, likely positioned within the Dolphin Surf and Dolphin Mini lines. The second-gen Seagull arrives as a wave of new low-cost EVs prepares to enter the segment, and BYD is clearly betting that bigger dimensions and more equipment will keep its bargain hatchback at the front of the pack.