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An EV for under $10,000? After selling nearly 35,000 Seagull models in March, cumulative sales of BYD’s cheapest electric car topped 360,000. And that’s in less than 12 months since it launched.

BYD sells over 360,000 units of its cheapest electric car

BYD launched the Seagull on April 26, 2023. It was initially available in three trims, starting at $10,200 (RMB 73,800), its cheapest electric car.

The base model featured 190 miles (305 km) CLTC range, while the long-range top trim features over 250 miles (405 km) range. After selling over 280,000 Seagull models last year, topping the popular Dolphin and Atto 3, BYD revealed an even lower-priced version last month.

BYD revealed the new Seagull EV Honor Edition with a “shocking price starting from 69,800 yuan,” or about $9,700 USD.

The new model is powered by a 30.08 kWh or 38.88 kWh battery pack for 190 miles (305 km) or 252 miles (405 km) CLTC range, respectively. The three new Seagull EV trims include:

BYD Seagull Honor Edition trim Starting Price Range
(CLTC)
Active $9,700
(69,800 yuan)
190 mi
(305 km)
Free $10,500
(75,800 yuan)
190 mi
(305 km)
Flying $12,000
(85,800 yuan)
252 mi
(405 km)
BYD Seagull EV prices and range

After selling nearly 35,000 Seagulls models in March alone, BYD’s cheapest electric car topped 360,000 cumulatively in less than one year.

BYD is launching the Seagull as the “Dolphin Mini” in overseas markets. The low-cost EV landed in Brazil earlier with a starting price around $20,000 (99,800 BRL).

BYD-Seagull-EV
BYD Dolphin Mini (Seagull) testing in Brazil (Source: BYD)

According to BYD’s UK Marketing Manager, Mark Blundell, the automaker is “keen to have” the Seagull launch in the region.

Speaking with Autocar, Blundell said BYD aims to “make electric cars accessible to all,” and low prices are the focus. If launched, BYD’s Seagull would likely be the cheapest electric car in the UK, which could fuel its overseas expansion.

BYD-EV-sales-Brazil
BYD Seagull EV (Source: BYD)

BYD sold over 300,000 EVs globally in the first three months of the year, up 13% YOY. However, the growth was not enough to top Tesla, which delivered 386,810 EVs in Q1 2024.

Electrek’s Take

BYD plans to accelerate its expansion with new lower-priced vehicles as it looks to take market share from gas-powered vehicles.

The Seagull is already garnering attention from top automakers globally. Ford’s CEO Jim Farley called the low-cost EV “pretty damn good” and warned rivals of BYD’s superior technology.

With most vehicle components built in-house, including batteries, BYD has a major advantage. The company can launch EVs under $10,000 and still earn a profit. This success is causing automakers like Ford, Volkswagen, Tesla, Rivian, and Kia to shift to smaller, more affordable electric vehicles.

BYD plans to launch its next-gen Blade EV battery this year, which will enable even lower prices while boosting range. The new battery could support over 621 miles (1,000 km) CLTC range for all-electric vehicles.

The company claims new energy vehicles (including PHEVs) have entered the “knockout round” over gas-powered cars with better tech and lower prices.

Source: TheDriven, BYD Weibo

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Kia’s electric van spotted in two surprising new versions [Video]

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Kia's electric van spotted in two surprising new versions [Video]

Is it an electric van? Pickup truck? The PV5 can do it all. Kia’s electric van was caught with two new body types for the first time.

What PV5 version is Kia planning to launch?

The PV5 is more than just a futuristic-looking electric van. It’s what Kia calls “the world’s most useful electric mobility vehicle.”

It’s the first from its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business, which will offer a wide range of customizable EVs, advanced software, and much more.

During its PV5 Tech Day event in July, Kia revealed plans to introduce seven PV5 body types, ranging from a light camper to an open-bed truck.

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The PV5 Passenger and Cargo, built for personal and business use, are already rolling out in Europe and South Korea. The Cargo Compact (available in 3- and 4-door configurations) and the Cargo High Roof are also available.

New variants will include an open bed, a light camper, a luxury “Prime” passenger, a built-in truck, and a refrigerated truck.

The refrigerated truck was captured driving in public for the first time in South Korea, offering a closer look at what’s coming soon. Kia will launch three PV5 refrigerated truck models: low, standard, and high.

The video from HealerTV reveals the standard and high versions. In person, the reporter noted that the high version definitely appeared taller than the standard version.

Although the front looks like the PV5 Passenger and Cargo, the back is redesigned for the refrigerated unit. Kia has yet to reveal a launch date, but it’s expected to be by the end of 2025.

Another PV5 variant, the open-bed version, was recently spotted in public in South Korea. Although we’ve seen it a few times before, the new video, also from the folks at HealerTV, offers our best look at the truck-like variant from all angles.

Meanwhile, the PV5 Cargo just set a new Guinness World Record after driving 430.84 miles (693.38 km) on a single charge, while carrying a full load.

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The new Nissan LEAF delivers more driving range than expected

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The new Nissan LEAF delivers more driving range than expected

The new 2026 Nissan LEAF has an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 303 miles, but real-world tests suggest it can go even further.

New 2026 Nissan LEAF beats range estimates

Nissan upgraded its iconic electric hatch for its third generation, bringing a new style, faster charging, and over 300 miles of driving range.

The 2026 LEAF boasts 25% more driving range than the outgoing model with an official EPA rating of up to 303 miles. That’s a pretty big difference from the up to 212-mile rating on the 2025 LEAF SV Plus.

In the real world, it will likely drive even further. According to Edmunds, the new LEAF “far exceeded its official EPA estimate” in early tests.

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The 2026 Nissan LEAF Platinum+ was just put through the Edmunds EV Range Test, traveling 310 miles on a single charge. That’s for the Platinum+ trim, which has an official EPA-estimated driving range of just 259 miles. The SV+ is rated with 288 miles, while the base S+ has 303 miles.

New-Nissan-LEAF-range
The new 2026 Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan)

Based on early tests, Edmunds expects all new LEAF trims to offer significantly more driving range than their ratings indicate.

Nissan’s new LEAF also topped the EPA’s efficiency expectations. The 2026 LEAF achieved an energy consumption of 27.8 kWh per 100 miles during the test, compared to the EPA estimated 33 kWh per 100 miles. That’s a nearly 16% improvement.

New-Nissan-LEAF-range
The new 2026 Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan)

The Edmunds EV range test offers a more accurate estimate of a vehicle’s real-world range. It’s made up of 60% city and 40% highway with an average speed of 40 mph. The car stays within 5 miles of the posted speed limit, is set at its most efficient setting, and the climate control is set on auto at 72 degrees.

2026 Nissan LEAF trim Starting Price Driving Range
(EPA-estimated)
LEAF S+ $29,990 303 miles
LEAF SV+ $34,230 288 miles
LEAF Platinum+ $38,990 259 miles
2026 Nissan LEAF EV prices and range by trim

Starting at $29,990, the 2026 Nissan LEAF is poised to challenge the Chevy Equinox EV on price and driving range.

The Chevy Equinox EV LT delivered 356 miles of range and an energy consumption of 28.9 kWh per 100 miles during the Edmunds EV Range Test.

The electric Equinox is currently the third-most-popular EV in the US, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Will the upgrades be enough for the LEAF to make a comeback?

Ready to test drive one to see for yourself? You can use our links below to find Nissan LEAF and Chevy Equinox EVs closest to you.

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Tesla (TSLA) keeps getting battered in Europe’s EV market

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Tesla (TSLA) keeps getting battered in Europe's EV market

We’re getting the first batch of Tesla registration data out of Europe for October 2025, and it confirms the worrying trend we’ve been tracking: Tesla’s demand is in a steep decline.

Based on data from 9 key markets that have reported so far, Tesla’s registrations fell 36.3% year over year (YoY).

Just 4,170 units were registered in these countries (including Norway, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands) compared to 6,549 in those same exact markets in October 2024.

Here are the markets that reported October 2025 data so far:

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  • 🇫🇷 France: 83.7% Growth (1,784 vs 971) 📈
  • 🇪🇸 Spain: 30.6% Decline (393 vs 566) 📉
  • 🇮🇹 Italy: 47.1% Decline (256 vs 484) 📉
  • 🇳🇱 Netherlands: 47.9% Decline (645 vs 1,238) 📉
  • 🇳🇴 Norway: 50.2% Decline (671 vs 1,348) 📉
  • 🇵🇹 Portugal: 58.7% Decline (144 vs 349) 📉
  • 🇦🇹 Austria: 64.5% Decline (97 vs 273) 📉
  • 🇫🇮 Finland: 67.6% Decline (47 vs 145) 📉
  • 🇸🇪 Sweden: 88.7% Decline (133 vs 1,175) 📉

The only positive in October for Tesla was the French market, which saw significant growth due to a new EV incentive program for low- to middle-income people.

The rest was disastrous.

While some analysts are trying to push the idea that Tesla’s European sales have now bottomed after two years of decline, most reporting markets in October are showing the worst month of Tesla registrations this year. That includes even months before the availability of the Model Y refresh.

It also includes Norway, which has been one of Tesla’s healthiest markets amid its decline in Europe.

Looking at the year-to-date (YTD) figures for all of Europe, Tesla’s total registrations are down over 30% through the first ten months, falling from over 255,000 units by this time in 2024 to just 177,000 this year.

Electrek’s Take

I truly wonder when Elon or the board is going to do something about this. I know that their idea is that FSD is coming to save the day at some point, but that sounds ridiculous. At a 12% take rate, even once it becomes available in Europe, I doubt it will have a significant impact.

Tesla’s issues in Europe come from two main things: brand damage due to Elon Musk and competition.

Unlike in the US where Tesla has limited competition, the EV market is significantly more competitive in Europe, where some Chinese automakers are already esthablishing a presence and where European, Korean, and Japanese legacy automakers are making more EV models avialable.

Tesla needs a fresh EV lineup in Europe. And eslewhere for that matter.

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