BYD (HKG: 1211) announced Saturday that its 2026 Seagull will officially go on sale on May 11, featuring a LiDAR sensor.
This marks the sensor’s first entry into the micro electric vehicle (EV) market, highlighting BYD’s strategy to push advanced smart driving assistance from high-end early adoption to universal accessibility.
BYD touted the 2026 Seagull as the first A00-class model to support LiDAR, with a teaser image showing the sensor mounted on the vehicle’s roof.
The A00-class is a commonly used micro sedan classification in the Chinese auto market, representing the smallest tier in the passenger vehicle grading system, with body lengths typically ranging from 3.5 to 4.0 meters.
The 2026 Seagull entered a regulatory catalog of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in January, revealing dimensions of 3,780 mm in length, 1,715 mm in width, and 1,550 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,500 mm.
The updated model’s maximum motor power has been increased from the previous 55 kilowatts to 60 kW to enhance performance, while the supported top speed remains at 130 kilometers per hour.
A “God’s Eye B” badge on the rear of the vehicle also hints at the application of LiDAR technology, meaning high-precision perception hardware will be fully brought down to models priced below 100,000 yuan ($14,700).
The driving range of the 2026 Seagull will also be upgraded to 505 kilometers, up from the previous 405 kilometers.
Furthermore, leaked dealer invoice pricing documents indicate that the new car will be offered in four trims, with starting prices expected to range from 65,000 yuan to 80,000 yuan.
As a pillar product of BYD’s Ocean lineup, the Seagull achieved a cumulative sales volume of 529,537 units throughout 2025, making it one of the best-selling models in the Chinese market.
LiDAR was once an exclusive feature for high-end pure electric models, but with its integration into BYD’s Seagull and Dolphin, the market penetration of the sensor is accelerating.
This trend of technology democratization not only helps BYD maintain its competitive edge in a fierce price war, but will also force other automakers to reconsider the smart configurations of their entry-level products.
In addition to the Seagull, the slightly pricier Dolphin model from BYD’s Ocean lineup has also appeared in the regulatory filing catalog, similarly showing signs of being equipped with a LiDAR sensor.
The currently available 2025 Seagull models include three versions, with starting prices of 69,800 yuan, 75,800 yuan, and 85,800 yuan.
($1 = 6.8006 yuan)
