The Chinese industry is revolutionizing the automobile market. And it is justified that at this time our feeling is that the irruption of Chinese brands in Europe is taking its first steps and that it will still hold many surprises for us.
One of the most promising brands is Build Your Dreams, known by the acronym BYD. A Chinese manufacturer that has already started its dealer network in the United Kingdom and that this year will do the same in Spain. And a brand that in 2022 has experienced spectacular growth in production and sales, making its electric car sales volume second only to Tesla, and even surpassing the figures of Elon Musk’s electric car brand if combined its sales of battery electrics and plug-in hybrids.
Y The latest surprise that comes to us from BYD is none other than a cheap electric car with a cut price below €10,000. But the million dollar question is this: will we see it in Europe?
A cheap BYD electric car has been leaked, whose price in China would be below €10,000
A Chinese electric car for less than €10,000
These days, some images and technical data of a new electric car that would have been baptized BYD Seagull were leaked from the registry of the Ministry of Industry and Technology of China. In the images that accompany this article you can already see that it is a small and urban car, 3.78 meters. In any case, it would be 21 centimeters longer than a Fiat 500e, 17 centimeters longer than a Renault Twingo and 13 centimeters shorter than a SEAT Ibiza.
According to the initial information coming from China, they point to a price that will be around 60,000 and 80,000 yuan, between 8,172 and 10,897 euros at the current exchange rate at the time of writing this article. Obviously, its potential price in Europe would not necessarily have to be (and will not be) the result of currency conversion between its price in China in yuan and euros. But it is evident that could potentially become one of the cheapest electric cars on the market.
Its data is modest, as it could not be less. She would enjoy a 55 kW (74 hp) engine of power. And it is speculated that it could enjoy sodium ion batteries, or even a hybrid battery that combines lithium and sodium ion cells, taking its autonomy between 300 and 400 kilometers (ithome.com).
Potentially, if it reaches Europe, it could be one of the cheapest electric cars on the market, but for now, BYD’s strategy is not to launch products like this, but to high-end electric vehicles that compete with Tesla.
BYD Seagullのピンクの実車公開情報筋によると6～8万元(約120～160万円)
23 年 2q に 発売 見込み 、 ナトリウム イオン 電池 搭載 モデル の 航続 距離 は 300km 、 リチウム イオン 電池 モデル は 400km に 達する と 言わ れ て いる いる が 、 、 、 、 が ナトリウム 電池 を 採用 する か どう か か はhttps://t.co/4g2Ud9MZ2dpic.twitter.com/6HNxO5oN6O
— ボルゾイ＠雰囲気投資 (@yukinof33) January 18, 2023
In China, some images of a BYD Seagull with a striking pale pink paint finish have also leaked.
Will we see this electric in Europe?
As Chinese brands begin to consolidate in Europe, we are convinced that their range will expand with products that will cover all segments, from the cheapest to the most expensive. But As of today, there is no indication that BYD is marketing cheap electric cars in Europe, nor is this BYD Seagull.
In fact, The current strategy with which BYD wants to grow in Europe involves high-end electrical products focused on competing with Teslawith technological vehicles and cheaper than their Tesla alternatives and initially with 3 models:
- BYD Atto 3, a compact and electric SUV that will cost around €38,000
- BYD HAN, an electric sedan with great autonomy and about 5 meters, to compete with the Tesla Model S with a price of €72,000
- BYD TANG, a 7-seater SUV that for €72,000 is designed to compete with the Tesla Model X