BYD’s cheapest EV spotted with an upgraded interior and a single large display screen

This one is about a car, not a home upgrade, but here's the news for context. BYD, the Chinese automaker, is preparing an updated version of its Seagull EV, currently its cheapest electric vehicle at about $10,000 in China (sold as the Dolphin Surf or Dolphin Mini overseas). It's one of BYD's best sellers, ranking sixth globally among EVs sold in the first half of 2026.

Spy photos and a government filing show the redesigned car will be slightly longer, with a stretched body and wheelbase compared to the current model. The cabin gets a single large infotainment screen and a redesigned center console, though physical buttons remain below the screen and on the steering wheel. The car also adds a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor to support driver-assist features, and swaps in a more powerful electric motor, up from 55 kW to 95 kW.

Battery details haven't been confirmed, but the current Seagull offers two battery options with a range of up to 305 km (190 miles) or 405 km (251 miles) under Chinese testing standards. The updated version is expected to use BYD's newer battery and fast-charging technology, though specifics are still unknown.

None of this changes anything for US homeowners right now — BYD vehicles aren't sold in the American market. But it's a sign of how fast low-cost EV technology is advancing overseas, which is worth watching if you're curious about where affordable electric vehicles and home charging setups may be headed in the future.