BYD Adds LiDAR to $13K Seagull EV
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- BYD launched the 2026 Seagull EV in China on May 11 with an optional roof-mounted LiDAR, making it the first A00-class EV to offer the technology at an entry-level price point.
- BYD priced the LiDAR-equipped Freedom Edition of the Seagull at 90,900 yuan ($13,400), maintaining the model’s ultra-affordable positioning despite the addition of high-end smart-driving hardware.
- BYD’s God’s Eye B (DiPilot 300) system, powered by the Nvidia Drive Orin chip with 254 TOPS computing power, enables urban and highway NOA and automated parking on select Seagull trims.
- The 2026 Seagull is available in six versions with two battery options—30.08 kWh (305 km range) and 38.88 kWh (405 km range)—and features a new 12.8-inch floating infotainment screen with DiLink 150.
- Leapmotor introduced the B10 in early 2025 as the first EV under 130,000 yuan with LiDAR, but BYD has now undercut that segment by offering similar tech in a sub-100,000-yuan vehicle.
Why it matters: BYD’s integration of LiDAR and mid-tier smart-driving systems into a $13,400 EV forces competitors to accelerate tech democratization amid China’s price war, lowering the barrier for advanced ADAS in mass-market vehicles globally. This move pressures rivals like Geely and Tesla to respond in cost-sensitive segments.
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