BYD has announced the recall of thousands of the BYD Seagull electric vehicles in China. A total of 16,666 units of the Seagull EV are affected by the recall. The recall is due to a software bug that prevents reverse image display. This is the first time that BYD is initiating a recall of its product in several years. The BYD Seagull is the least expensive EV under the BYD lineup. It is also one of the highest-selling BYD EVs.

byd seagull

This is BYD’s first-ever EV recall yet

The affected BYD Seagull EVs were manufactured between April 7, 2023, and May 31, 2023. The recall starts on May 20, 2024, as announced by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). The software issue is related to the camera driver in the multimedia display assembly of some of the Seagull EV units. Drivers may experience situations where the reverse screen will not be displayed. This could significantly affect the driver’s field of vision and increase the risk of collisions during such reverse operations.

The software upgrade will result in the resolution of the reverse image display issue. The upgrade is free and will be over the air (OTA) for the affected vehicles. Additionally, BYD will contact users of vehicles that cannot implement the recall via OTA and also implement the upgrade at no extra cost. The upgrade, BYD says, will eliminate potential safety hazards that could result from a dysfunctional reverse camera system.

The BYD Seagull is known as the Dolphin Mini in some markets outside China. It went on sale on April 26, 2023, with a price tag slightly above $10,000 (73,800 yuan). The Seagull Glory Edition was launched in March 2024 with a launch price of 69,800 yuan ($9,640). BYD sold more than 280,000 units of the Seagull in 2023 and this accounted for 9% of BYD’s annual sales.

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