Overview
- BYD launched the 2026 Seagull with an optional God’s Eye B package that mounts a LiDAR sensor on the roof to power its smart driver-assist system.
- The base Seagull price stays at ¥69,900 ($10,300), while LiDAR-equipped Freedom and Flying trims list at ¥90,900 ($13,400) and ¥97,900 ($14,400).
- Despite using LiDAR, the DiPilot 300 system is classified as Level 2, so it can assist in city and highway driving and handle stoplights but still requires the driver’s full attention.
- The A00-class hatch uses a 55 kW front motor and offers 30.1 kWh and 38.9 kWh battery options with stated CLTC ranges of 305 km and 405 km, keeping the car small and affordable.
- Coverage notes a split in strategy, with BMW and Mercedes recently pulling their LiDAR-based Level 3 packages from flagships as BYD pushes the sensor into a mass-market model, a shift that could pressure rivals and influence future low-cost exports.