BYD’s cheapest EV model, the Seagull, outsold every car in China last month, even gas-powered models. Starting at around $10,000, over 56,000 BYD Seagull EV models were sold in November alone. With sales surging, the low-cost EV took back the best-selling car title from the Tesla Model Y in China last month.
BYD Seagull EV outsells all cars in China again
The Seagull continued fueling BYD’s record run with a whopping 56,156 units sold last month, up 38% from November 2023.
Although BYD’s low-cost electric car was China’s best-selling vehicle in August (40,949 units), Tesla’s Model Y took the crown in September. With sales climbing 16% year over year, the Tesla Model Y had its highest sales month in China, with 48,202 units sold.
According to the new data from the China Passenger Car Association (via CarNewsChina), the low-cost BYD Seagull EV once again outsold all cars in its home market in November.
Last month, 56,156 Seagull models were sold, putting the low-cost EV ahead of Tesla’s Model Y, which saw sales slide 11% year over year to 44,576.
China’s EV leader launched the new Seagull Honor Edition in March, starting at just $9,700 (69,800 yuan). That’s even cheaper than the previous model as BYD fuels its “liberation battle” against gas-powered cars.
The Seagull EV is available in three trims in China with two BYD Blade battery options (30.08 kWh or 38.88 kWh), good for up to 252 miles (405 km) CLTC range.
The only gas-powered cars in the top 20 were the Nissan Sylphy, Volkswagen Lavida, Volkswagen Passat, Chinagan CS75 Plus, and Volkswagen Sagitar. Gas cars are quickly losing popularity in China, with sales falling 15% through November.
| Rank | Model | November 2024 sales | Year-over-year (YOY) change |
| 1 | BYD Seagull | 56,156 | 38.34% |
| 2 | Tesla Model Y | 44,576 | -10.63% |
| 3 | BYD Song Plus | 40,265 | 15.36% |
| 4 | BYD Qin Plus | 36,787 | -3.33% |
| 5 | SGMW Wuling Hongguang Mini EV | 34,777 | 51.30% |
| 6 | BYD Qin L | 33,948 | N/A |
| 7 | Nissan Sylphy | 32,977 | -15.67% |
| 8 | Volkswagen LAbida | 32,125 | 10.74% |
| 9 | BYD Seal 06 | 29,465 | N/A |
| 10 | Tesla Model 3 | 28,914 | 85.03% |
BYD had five of the top 10 top-selling vehicles. The Song Plus (40,265) and Qin Plus (36,787) placed third and fourth, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Qin L (33,948) and Seal 06 (29465) outsold the Tesla Model 3, which ranked No. 11 with 28,914 units sold in November, up 85% year over year.
BYD sold a record 506,804 new energy vehicles (EVs and plugins) globally last month, topping its previous record of 502,657 in October.
Electrek’s Take
With over 3.7 million vehicles sold in the first 11 months of 2024, BYD is quickly catching up to global auto leaders, including Ford.
Top comment by Beario
This car is a representation of how far behind we are here in the US. We should have been selling cars like this to the masses to promote electric vehicles and instead the opposite is happening. If we were not behind the government would not have to block BYD and other companies from selling electric cars here so that it is an admission that we need to step up. Yes, we are a gas country but that’s not the future. The longer we wait the more we will fall behind.
After topping Nissan and Honda in global deliveries for the first time in the third quarter, BYD is looking for more as it expands into new segments and regions.
BYD is best known for its low-cost EV models like the Seagull, but with new luxury models, pickups, smart SUVs, and electric supercars launching, China’s auto giant expects to play a more prominent role in the global auto market.
BYD is also in a tight race with Tesla for the global EV sales title this year. BYD sold over 1.55 million EVs through November, while Tesla had over 1.3 million EV sales at the end of September. Since Tesla doesn’t report monthly figures, we will have to wait until the end of the year to see who takes the crown.
Source: CPCA, CarNewsChina
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