BYD's cheap $10,000 Seagull EV will have LiDAR self-driving technology
Published on Jan 12, 2026 at 9:59 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Jan 12, 2026 at 9:40 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
The idea of a $10,000 electric car with self-driving hardware used to sound like wishful thinking.
LiDAR was once the kind of tech you only saw bolted to luxury sedans or tech demos that never made it to production.
But that line just blurred right down at the budget end of the EV market.
Because one of China’s cheapest electric cars is about to get a sensor most people still associate with premium autonomy.
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BYD’s Seagull is adding LiDAR
China’s regulatory filings obtained by CNEV Post just confirmed that the BYD Seagull, BYD’s most affordable EV, will offer a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor on an updated version of the car.
LiDAR is a cornerstone sensor for advanced driver-assistance systems, using laser pulses to build a detailed 3D map of the road around you.
Until recently, that kind of hardware lived exclusively on far more expensive cars.
Visually, the Seagull doesn’t change much.
The giveaway is the small pod on the roof – subtle, but significant.
Under the skin, power nudges up slightly from 55kW-60kW, while top speed stays capped at around 80 miles per hour (130km/h).
But the bigger story is what that sensor unlocks.
With LiDAR feeding cleaner data into the car’s ADAS stack, systems like obstacle detection and assisted driving become far more capable.
Especially in complex urban traffic where cameras alone can struggle.
And this isn’t some slow-selling experiment.
The Seagull is one of China’s runaway EV hits.
It sold 44,627 units in December alone and cleared more than 529,000 sales across 2025.
BYD even rolled out its millionth Seagull last June.
In other words, this is being dropped straight into the mainstream.
This isn’t just about one cheap EV
The Seagull isn’t the only small BYD getting smarter.
The slightly larger BYD Dolphin is reportedly being upgraded with LiDAR as well.
That’s important, because it points to a broader strategy rather than a one-off flex.
BYD looks ready to normalize advanced sensing tech across its mass-market cars, not reserve it for halo models or tech showcases.
For buyers in China, that means features once framed as future tech are quickly becoming standard expectations.
Even at entry-level prices.
And for the global EV market, it sends a clear message: cost is no longer the barrier it used to be.
A $10,000 EV with LiDAR doesn’t just undercut rivals on price, it resets what buyers think is normal.
And once expectations shift, there’s no putting that genie back in the box.
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With roles at TEXT Journal, Bowen Street Press, Onya Magazine, and Swine Magazine on her CV, Molly joined Supercar Blondie in June 2025 as a Junior Content Writer. Having experience across copyediting, proofreading, reference checking, and production, she brings accuracy, clarity, and audience focus to her stories spanning automotive, tech, and lifestyle news.
