BYD Seagull People’s Hatchback Prepares for Generational Change: First Photos

The second-generation subcompact electric hatchback BYD Seagull has surfaced in the database of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: it is larger and more powerful than its predecessor, but retains the key design features.

The electric hatchback Seagull (its name translates from English to Russian as “чайка”) debuted in 2023 as BYD’s cheapest model and instantly became a hit. By last summer, its cumulative production volume had reached one million units, and to date, nearly one and a half million have been produced.

At the same time, since mid-last year, BYD’s sales curve in China has begun to decline amid intensifying competition. The drop worsened this year due to reduced tax incentives for purchasing NEV models (electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids), but BYD’s management quickly redirected the business to external markets. As a result, BYD’s global sales in June grew by 5.46% to 403,472 vehicles, while maintaining a negative trend in China.

First-generation BYD Seagull for China 1 / 4 First-generation BYD Seagull for China 2 / 4 First-generation BYD Seagull for China 3 / 4 First-generation BYD Seagull for China 4 / 4

BYD Seagull is now a global model, with demand, according to CnEVPost, dropping by 42.63% to 163,174 units in the first half of 2026, but this is mainly due to a collapse in China. In Brazil, for example, sales of this model (known there as the BYD Dolphin Mini) grew by 170% in January-June, reaching 35,681 units. Overall, the BYD brand is now the fourth most popular in Brazil, after Fiat, Volkswagen, and Chevrolet.

In Europe, the BYD Seagull is sold as the BYD Dolphin Surf, and in Australia and New Zealand as the BYD Atto 1.

This year, the BYD Seagull will transition to its second generation. The overall length of the Chinese version of the “second” Seagull is 4205 mm, width — 1810 mm, height — 1570 mm, wheelbase — 2650 mm. For comparison, the overall length of the first-generation BYD Seagull in Chinese specification is 3780 mm, width — 1715 mm, height — 1540 mm, wheelbase — 2500 mm. In short, the hatchback has grown in all dimensions.

The power of the single electric motor on the front axle has also increased: from 55 kW (75 hp) to 95 kW (129 hp), but this is for China. The European Dolphin Surf already has a version with a 115 kW (156 hp) electric motor. Other technical details will be revealed after the premiere.

Current BYD Dolphin Surf for Europe 1 / 3 Current BYD Dolphin Surf for Europe 2 / 3 Current BYD Dolphin Surf for Europe 3 / 3

We should add that BYD has postponed the launch of its new plant in Hungary until the end of 2026. The BYD Seagull/Dolphin Surf is the main candidate for localization at this plant, but it is still unclear which generation will be produced there — the first or the second. The capacity of the Hungarian BYD plant is 150,000 cars per year, with the possibility of future expansion to 300,000 cars per year. In the first five months of this year, BYD’s sales in Europe, according to ACEA, grew by 145.2% to 135,307 vehicles. In Germany, the BYD Dolphin Surf currently starts at 22,990 euros.

Meanwhile, construction of the BYD plant in Turkey has not yet begun, and this project is currently on hold.