BYD Seagull Gets LiDAR In A $10,000 EV

Lidar has long been treated as a luxury feature. If you wanted that extra layer of sensing technology, you usually had to shop for something like a Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7-Series with a six-figure price tag.

That’s what makes BYD’s latest move so interesting.

In China, the updated BYD Seagull, a tiny electric hatchback known in Europe as the Dolphin Surf, can now be equipped with a roof-mounted lidar sensor. And this isn’t some expensive flagship. The 3,780 mm long city EV starts at just ¥69,900, or around $10,300. Even the top-spec Flying Edition with a larger 38.9 kWh battery and up to 405 km of CLTC range costs ¥85,900 ($12,600).

The LiDAR hardware comes as part of BYD’s optional DiPilot 300 package, the middle tier of the company’s “God’s Eye” driver assistance systems. It combines lidar with cameras and radar to deliver an advanced Level 2 setup. Add it to the Seagull, and pricing jumps to ¥90,900 ($13,400) for the base model and ¥97,900 ($14,400) for the better-equipped version. That’s a hefty premium, but still a remarkably low entry point for this kind of technology.

Aside from the new driver assistance package, the 2026 Seagull gets a few cosmetic tweaks, including Mango Orange and Mint Green paint options, redesigned 16-inch wheels, and updated LED taillights. The powertrain remains unchanged, with a 74 hp electric motor.

The bigger story here is what this says about the Chinese market. Technology that still feels exotic and expensive in Europe and the U.S. is already finding its way into cars that cost little more than a used economy hatchback. If BYD continues at this pace, features like LiDAR and eventually even Level 3 autonomy may not stay exclusive for much longer.