Chinese NEV giant BYD is gearing up to launch its low-cost Seal EV in the South Korean market as part of its global expansion plans, The Korea Times reports.
The imminent arrival of the BYD Seagull will certainly intensify the competition in the low-cost electric vehicle segment, challenging Hyundai and Tesla EVs.
BYD’s $25,000 Seal to hit the South Korean market
As per the report, BYD has already submitted applications for the Seal electric sedan’s emissions and noise certification with the National Institute of Environmental Research on June 5.
This process, which usually takes 2-3 months, marks the initial step for BYD Seal’s domestic launch in the South Korean market. It checks key details, including driving range between charges, among others.
Meanwhile, the Korea Environment Corp. will separately conduct performance evaluations for potential electric vehicle subsidy eligibility.
The BYD Seagull
The BYD Seagull is a sporty electric sedan with a length of 4,800 mm, width of 1,875mm, and height of 1,460 mm. It will directly rival the Tesla Model 3 (4,694 mm long, 1,849 mm wide, 1,442 mm tall) and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 (4,855 mm long, 1880 mm wide, and 1495 mm tall).
Following the new Seal EV Honor Edition launch in March 2024, the BYD sedan starts at $25,000 (179,800) in the Chinese market.
Presented below are the key specifications of the 2024 BYD Seagull EV:
| Parameter / Edition | Vitality | Liberty | Flying |
| Max Power [kW] | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| Tire | 165/65 R15 | 165/65 R15 | 175/65 R15 |
| Max Torque [Nm] | 135 | 135 | 135 |
| 0-100 km/h [seconds] | yes | yes | yes |
| 0-50 km/h [seconds] | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| Top speed [km/h] | 130 | 130 | 130 |
| Range CLTC [km] | 305 | 305 | 405 |
| Battery [kWh] | 30.08 | 30.08 | 38.88 |
| Drive Type | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Doors/Seats | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 |
Upcoming BYD EVs in South Korea
BYD also plans to launch its other affordable electric vehicle models in the South Korean market, including the Dolphin hatchback and Atto 3 compact crossover.
The report also indicated that BYD already applied for trademarks for six of its EV models, including the Seal, Dolphin, and Atto.
The imminent arrival of BYD’s low-cost passenger electric cars could significantly disrupt the South Korean market, currently led by homegrown automaker Hyundai and its brand Kia.
Hyundai and Kia shares dropped 3.5% to 76.6% in 2023, partially due to the market entry of the China-made Tesla Model Y. In order to stay competitive, Hyundai and Kia are also actively launching low-cost EVs, including the Casper EV and EV3.
All that said, it would be interesting to see how BYD can beat Hyundai, Kia, and Tesla EVs in the South Korean market in the coming years. Nonetheless, the emergence of such affordable EV models can substantially boost the adoption of electric vehicles in the country.
