High Performance At 2023 New Byd Seagull EV New Electric Car Fully Enclosed 4-Wheel Electric Car

It is believed a factor in the decision not to import the Seagull may be concerns it would not be able to achieve a five-star safety rating from independent body ANCAP.

"At the moment I would say that we've made the commitment that we're targeting our passenger vehicles that we bring into the country [to have] five-star [ANCAP safety] ratings," Mr Todd told Drive last year.

"The Seagull, because of the size and compact nature of that vehicle … it's very hard to obtain five stars on compact cars, and that is a compact car. That's the decision we're working through at the moment," the executive said at the time.

Measuring 3780mm long, 1715mm wide and 1540mm tall, the BYD Seagull has a smaller footprint on the road than a Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris or MG 3 – although it is larger than Australia's cheapest new petrol car, the Kia Picanto (3595mm long, 1595mm wide).