BYD Seagull debuts with LiDAR
- BYD unveiled the 2026 Seagull at Auto China 2026 in Beijing on April 25, adding an optional roof-mounted LiDAR unit and a longer-range version of its entry-level electric hatchback. - The biggest spec change is a CLTC range jump to 505 kilometers from 405 kilometers, alongside BYD’s “God’s Eye B” driver-assistance package and a motor rated at 60 kilowatts. - The launch landed at a record-size Beijing show with 1,451 vehicles and 181 global debuts, underscoring how Chinese brands are pushing EV software and sensing hardware downmarket. (autobeijing.org.cn)
LiDAR is the laser sensor that maps a car’s surroundings by bouncing light off nearby objects, and BYD just put it on the Seagull, its smallest mass-market electric hatchback. (carnewschina.com) BYD showed the 2026 Seagull at Auto China 2026 in Beijing on April 25, with an optional roof-mounted LiDAR unit and a new maximum range rating of 505 kilometers on China’s CLTC test cycle. (carnewschina.com) The outgoing top version was rated at 405 kilometers CLTC, so the new figure adds 100 kilometers on paper. CarNewsChina reported the updated motor is rated at 60 kilowatts, or about 80 horsepower. (carnewschina.com) BYD said the LiDAR-equipped version will use its “God’s Eye B” driver-assistance system. The show car also carried front-fender cameras and a small blue rear light tied to the intelligent-driving package. (carnewschina.com) That matters because the Seagull is not a flagship sedan or luxury sport utility vehicle. It is BYD’s city-car entry point, sold in some overseas markets as the Dolphin Mini or Dolphin Surf, so the company is pushing sensing hardware into a cheaper part of the market. (carnewschina.com) The rest of the update was modest: new 16-inch wheels with 175/55 R16 tires, a red paint option, dual wipers instead of a single wiper, and interior tweaks including simplified steering-wheel buttons and 50-watt wireless charging with cooling. (carnewschina.com) BYD did not publish full detailed specifications at the show, but the timing is clear. CarNewsChina said Seagull sales peaked at 34,005 units in April last year and have faced heavier pressure from Geely’s Xingyuan and newer rivals including Arcfox’s T1 and Leapmotor’s A10. (carnewschina.com) The Seagull arrived at a Beijing show built around software, charging and driver-assistance. Organizers said Auto China 2026 runs from April 24 to May 3 across two venues with 380,000 square meters of exhibition space, while the Associated Press reported 1,451 vehicles and 181 global debuts. (autobeijing.org.cn) (usnews.com) So the Seagull’s update was less about a redesign than a signal: BYD is trying to make longer range and richer driver-assistance features standard expectations even in the smallest end of China’s electric-car market. (carnewschina.com)
