Why China's best-selling $8,000 dirt-cheap car has US automakers worried
Published on Jun 03, 2025 at 3:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jun 03, 2025 at 7:18 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
China’s best-selling car is currently the BYD Seagull EV, which costs just $8,000 and is a car that is seriously worrying Western automakers.
China has been experiencing a huge surge in electric car developments recently, led by brands like BYD, NIO, and others.
Something else China has been able to do is massively undercut Western automakers by offering great cars at super-low prices.
The BYD Seagull, which retails for below $10,000, is currently China’s best-selling car, and is the latest vehicle to seriously worry manufacturers from the West.
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At a cost of only $8,000, it’s easy to see why the BYD Seagull EV is so appealing to customers.
Standard versions have a 38.88KWH battery under the hood, which makes 75HP and powers the front wheels.
Reviewers have praised the smooth ride of the Seagull, with a firm chassis and quick steering.
Throw the Seagull into a curve, reviewers say, and it just sticks to the tarmac, and it doesn’t lumber around at all.
The Seagull has similar dimensions to the Chevrolet Spark, so it’s more than suited to America’s roads.
It also has Lamborghini Urus-esque styling, with a sharp and aggressive front end and pointy rear design.
Despite its low price, reviewers have commented on how nice a car the Seagull feels, with the company not cheaping out on features or materials.
The latest version includes DiPilot driver assistance features and a Level 2 assisted driving system.
That is very impressive for a car that costs less than $10,000.
Inside, there’s a refined and neat interior, with a 15-inch infotainment screen on top of the center console.
The most impressive aspect, though, is how cheap the car is while still offering superb quality.
Its price tag massively undercuts anything that the West can currently produce.
Even the new Renault 5 can’t compete with its price.
With that in mind, it’s little wonder that Western manufacturers are so concerned about the BYD Seagull.
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
