BYD’s new EV, starting at less than $10,000, is stoking fear across the industry
Leading EV maker BYD shook the industry after unveiling the new Seagull (Dolphin Mini), with starting prices as low as $9,700 (69,800 yuan). Although BYD’s new EV, which earned the nickname “Lamborghini mini,” is not sold in the US, American automakers are taking notes.
BYD’s new Seagull EV shocks the industry
BYD launched the new Seagull EV Honor Edition (Dolphin Mini overseas) earlier this month with a “shocking price” starting at around $9,700 (69,800 yuan).
Powered by BYD’s Blade batteries, the new EV is available in 30.08 kWh and 38.88 kWh versions. The former is good for up to 190 miles (305 km) CLTC range, while the latter provides up to 252 mi (405 km). It can also charge from 30% to 80% in 30 mins.
The inside doesn’t look like a cheap EV with a 10.1″ rotating center screen and otherwise minimalist design.
With DiLink’s intelligent network, users can interact and play videos. According to local reports, the Seagull has earned the nickname “Lamborghini mini,” as former Lamborghini designer Wolfgang Egger led the design.
Perhaps more importantly, BYD reportedly earns a profit on the Lamborghini mini, which has American automakers worried.
According to Terry Woychowski, former GM executive and current president of automotive at Caresoft Global, BYD’s new Seagull could be a “clarion call for the rest of the industry.”
In a new CNBC report, Woychowski called the low-cost electric car “a significant event” as American automakers look to keep up.
American automakers look to affordable EVs to compete
Caresoft, an engineering consulting firm, inspects (digitally and physically) every part of a vehicle to determine how its clients can improve efficiency.
After studying the new BYD Seagull, the firm found it simple and efficiently designed, built, and executed. However, Caresoft was met with better-than-expected quality and reliability.
“What they did do is done very well,” Woychowski explained. “It’s efficiently done.” For under $10,000, it’s a steal.
Although BYD has no plans to enter the US passenger EV market, if the Seagull arrived in America, it would likely still be tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than the average electric car.
BYD launched the Seagull EV in South America as the Dolphin Mini. In Brazil, the EV has a starting price of around $20,000 (99,800 BRL).
Meanwhile, American automakers are preparing for the inevitable. “What we’ve seen over time is automotive manufacturers eventually enter all the markets that matter,” Marin Gjaja, chief operating officer for Ford Model E, said in a recent interview with CNBC.
Ford is shifting plans to focus on smaller, more affordable EVs, including a compact electric pickup and SUV. According to sources, the first model is expected to launch in 2026, with a starting price of around $25,000.
Rival GM plans to introduce its next-gen Chevy Bolt EV, based on its Ultium platform, next year. According to CFO Paul Jacobson, the new Bolt EV will save billions as its first Ultium-based model to use LFP batteries. Ford also plans to use LFP batteries for its next-gen models to cut costs.
Electrek’s Take
American automakers are already losing market share. The “Big Three,” including Ford, GM, and Chrysler (owned by Stellantis now), have seen their share of the US market crater from 75% in 1984 to around 40% in 2023.
Ford’s CEO Jim Farley warned at a Wolfe Research conference last month that if automakers fail to keep up with Chinese automakers, like BYD, “then 20% to 30% of your revenue is at risk.”
Farley also called BYD’s new Seagull EV “pretty damn good,” as he warned the industry. Ford’s leader added, “As the CEO of a company that had trouble competing with the Japanese and the South Koreans, we have to fix this problem.”
The American automaker is developing a low-cost EV platform led by Alan Clarke, who previously oversaw engineering on Tesla’s Model Y.
Amid the shift to smaller EVs, Ford is reportedly putting off plans to launch a larger three-row electric SUV. Farley said building larger EVs, like the F-150 Lightning, is too costly.
Meanwhile, BYD launched a “liberation battle,” as it calls it, against gas-powered vehicles. The Chinese automaker has launched a series of low-cost EVs, including an updated version of its best-selling Dolphin.
BYD has a major advantage as it builds nearly all the components for its vehicles. For example, except for the windows and tires, everything is made in-house for the BYD Dolphin.
Reports suggest that BYD’s next-gen EV platform could slash costs even further, putting more pressure on American automakers to act.
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Veteran bicycle brand and e-mobility innovator Huffy is joining the Black Friday sales festivities with an exclusive deal for Electrek readers on its 36-volt Electric Green Machine drift trike. Use the promo code below for 30% off your purchase.
Huffy puts over 130 years of experience into its products
Huffy is easily a household name in bicycles. The company is celebrating over 130 years in the segment and has shown no signs of slowing down. The brand is sold across thousands of retail locations and ships millions of bikes to customers throughout the US and 40 additional international markets each year.
The Huffy name is known for products that deliver riders comfort, style, and durability. Whether on a bike, trike, scooter, or ride-on, there’s something for every member of the family to enjoy. Since 2019, Huffy has been calling riders together with its rally cry, “Live the Ride,” which encourages families to celebrate togetherness by exploring the outdoors atop its products.
Whether that means leisurely rides through local parks with friends, family outings, traversing local trails, or exploring new cities during a summer getaway, Huffy strives to remind riders of the simple youthful joy that riding can bring.
Since Huffy launched the 20” Green Machine in 2023, teens and adults have been asking for a version that would allow them to experience the same adventure, fun, and thrill of each spin and drift. Huffy answered the call with their new Electric Green Machine, a nostalgic and electrified version of the classic drift trike Huffy fans know and love. This powerhouse drift-trike is packed with 36 volts of electric power and a 250-watt front hub motor that lets riders reach exhilarating speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. Perfect for thrill-seekers ages 14 and up, the Electric Green Machine reignites the fun and excitement of childhood rides.
All of Huffy’s products, including the Electric Green Machine seen below, are thoughtfully crafted for the moments that happen when you pop up your kickstand and see where the path takes you. In the case of the E-Green Machine, Huffy wants riders to unleash a whirlwind of thrilling drifts and slides right when they climb into the cockpit.
To help even more riders experience holiday thrills this season, Huffy is offering an exclusive discount on the Electric Green Machine for Electrek readers. Whether buying it for yourself or friends and family, the Electric Green Machine is the perfect gift to put under the tree this holiday season. If you’re ready to start drifting, use the promo code below to save some “green” on your purchase⎯but only for a limited time!
Don’t miss Huffy’s Black Friday deal on the Electric Green Machine
The new Electric Green Machine is available on Huffy.com for $599.99. However, you can use promo code “ELECTREKGM” at checkout for 30% off your purchase (valid on the Electric Green Machine only).
Huffy’s Black Friday deals are available now, but only until 11:59 PM on December 8, 2024, so act quickly while supplies last. This year, holiday thrills start with red and green at Huffy. Be sure to take advantage of this limited-time offer and check out the other limited-time deals on Huffy’s site this week (offering up to 55% across a range of products).
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Environment
Watch Hyundai’s massive $7.6B Georgia EV plant go up in just 2 years in this video from space
Hyundai’s new EV plant in Georgia is now up and running. The massive $7.6 billion facility was built in just two years as the company preps for new US-made electric models like the upgraded 2025 IONIQ 5 and its new three-row IONIQ 9. A cool new video from space shows just how quickly Hyundai worked to open the facility.
Watch Hyundai’s new EV plant go up from space
Production officially began at the new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Bryan County, Georgia last month.
The accomplishment comes after Hyundai broke ground at the site in October 2022. In May 2022, Hyundai announced plans to build its first dedicated EV plant in the US to meet new requirements for the federal EV tax credit, which provides up to $7,500 for clean car purchases.
Hyundai fast-tracked construction at the plant as it looked to gain an edge in the US, its most important market. The company’s initial $5 billion investment turned into a whopping $7.6 billion.
According to a study from the Center for Automotive Research, Hyundai’s EV plant will help create over 58,200 new jobs while attracting over $12.6 billion in investments in Georgia. Last month, the company secured its 18th supplier as it builds out an extensive US network.
A new video from space-based intelligence company BlackSky shows an impressive timelapse of the construction.
You can see the massive facility go up in just two years as Hyundai looks to secure a leadership role in the US auto industry.
Hyundai’s new EV plant will directly employ 8,500 workers to build up to 300,000 EVs per year. The first vehicle that rolled off the assembly line was the refreshed 2025 IONIQ 5.
The upgraded 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 now features even more range (318 miles), a sleek new style, and it even comes with an NACS plug so you can charge at Tesla superchargers. The base, 2025 IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range model, starts at just $42,500.
Last week, after unveiling its first three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, Hyundai confirmed it would also be built at its Georgia facility.
Despite President-Elect Trump’s transition team reportedly planning to end the $7,500 EV tax credit, Hyundai is confident in the company’s future.
At the LA Auto Show, the company’s newly electric CEO, Jose Munoz, said in an interview, “Hyundai did not build our investment plan based on incentives; the plan was even made before Trump’s term.” Munoz explained even without the credit now, Hyundai is still gaining market share.
Ready to check out Hyundai’s best-selling electric SUV for yourself? With the new 2025 IONIQ 5 arriving, Hyundai is offering closeout deals on 2024 models. You can use our link to find the best deals on 2024 and 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 models at a dealer near you.
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The world’s first electric muscle car is finally here, and Dodge is already sweetening the deal for buyers. The Dodge Charger Daytona EV is launching with 0% APR, making it even cheaper to finance than the outgoing gas-powered model.
Dodge Charger EV launches with 0% APR offer
The first all-electric Dodge Charger has arrived, and surprisingly, it’s already becoming more affordable. In March, Dodge unveiled the Charger Daytona EV, kicking off “the next generation of Dodge muscle.”
According to Dodge brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, the electric Charger “delivers Hellcat Redeye levels of performance.” That’s for the Scat Pack model, which comes with a Direct Connection Stage 2 upgrade kit straight from the factory.
The upgrade delivers up to 670 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque for a 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 3.3 seconds. It can also cover a quarter mile in around 11.5 seconds.
In comparison, the 807 hp Dodge Charger SRT Redeye Jailbreak edition, powered by a Supercharged 6.2L HEMI SRT V8 engine, takes 3.6 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph.
With a Stage 1 upgrade, the base R/T trim has up to 456 hp and 404 lb-ft of torque, good for a 0 to 60 mph time in 4.7 seconds.
Dodge opened orders for the 2024 Charger Daytona EV in September, starting at $59,995. The High-performance Scat Pack trim starts at $73,190.
According to a new dealer note viewed by online auto research firm CarsDirect, all 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV models are now eligible for 0% APR financing for up to 72 months.
| 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV trim | Horsepower | 0 to 60 mph time | Starting price |
| Dodge Charger Daytona R/T | 496 hp | 4.7 seconds | $59,995 |
| Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack | 670 hp | 3.3 seconds | $73,190 |
The offer makes the electric Dodge charger even cheaper to finance than the outgoing 2023 Dodge Charger at 5.9% APR for the same 72 months. However, this is an individual offer and cannot be combined with other deals. Based on CarsDirect analysis, the 0% APR offer is limited to the Northeast, Southern, and Central US regions.
Dodge is also offering a $1,000 loyalty bonus for Stellantis (Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Chrysler) lessees that trade in for the electric Charger.
With the $7,500 EV tax credit incentive, eligible customers can save up to $8,500 on the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV. You may want to act fast, as these deals expire on December 2, 2024.
Jeep, another Stellantis brand, launched lease prices at just $599 per month for its first luxury electric SUV last week, the Wagoneer S. Jeep’s electric Wagoneer is also available with 0% financing.
Ready to check out the world’s first electric muscle car for yourself? We can help you get started today. You use our link to find deals on 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona models at a dealer near you.
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