BYD revealed £22,000 electric car (for Europe)

It is called Ocean M and for now it is only a concept. It has a new platform and structural batteries and will also be sold here

BYD Ocean M Concept

By: Francesco Barontini

Published by: Brian Potter

May 4, 2024 at 5:22am ET

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At the last Beijing Motor Show, BYD brought a concept that caused a stir. Called Ocean M, it is a sporty-looking hatchback that, according to many local media, was developed specifically for Europe.

In fact, given its size and layout, it seems more suited to the Old Continent than Asia, where motorists prefer different body styles (upwards, with large saloons, or downwards, with compact and economical city cars).

Advanced platform and structural battery

The BYD Ocean M is built on a newly developed platform: an evolution of the 3.0 platform on which models such as the Seal are based. Along with the new platform, the technical details of which are still awaited, the Ocean M introduces a rear-wheel drive propulsion scheme and a Blade battery - also newly developed - with cell-to-body architecture.

BYD Ocean M Concept

Compared to the Seal, which is somewhat of the brand's current technological manifesto, this new battery also has a structural function.

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European expansion

The BYD Ocean M, of which we await further technical information, is expected to be offered with a starting price of around €25,000 (approx. £22,000). It will therefore be a kind of perfect competitor to the Renault 5 or the long-awaited Volkswagen ID.2. It will, in short, fit into that segment of 'affordable electric cars' where numerous models (Citroen e-C3, electric Fiat Panda, Dacia Spring) will soon be competing, including the one Tesla is working on.

BYD Ocean M Concept

BYD has already announced that from next year it will sell another key model in Europe, the small Seagull, which will be updated precisely to better meet the needs of drivers in the Old Continent. The car, which is 3.78 metres long and has a 39 kWh battery, is priced at only €7,000 (£6,000) in China.

About BYD:

The BYD Seagull arrives in Europe: Here it is at the Beijing Motor Show [VIDEO].

BYD says another European factory is likely, in Italy?

BYD Seagull might launch in the UK as a Dacia Spring rival

BYD targets 1,200 mile range with record-breaking hybrid