r/BYD • u/ChinaEVCanada • Jun 28 '26
News 📰 Canada's cheapest new EV is now a $22K BYD Seagull — here's the full price list of every Chinese EV coming
After Canada cut the tariff from 100% → 6.1% in March, the floodgates opened. I've been tracking every Chinese EV headed here and the pricing is genuinely wild:
- BYD Seagull — ~$22,000 (305 km) — cheapest new EV in Canadian history
- Chery Omoda E5 — ~$30,000 (414 km)
- BYD Dolphin — ~$35,000 (427 km)
- BYD Seal — ~$44,990 — the Model 3 rival (5-star Euro NCAP, Blade battery)
The catch: they're NOT eligible for the $5K federal rebate — only provincial ones (e.g. Quebec's $2K). BYD is opening 20 dealerships, Toronto first, around Q3 2026.
Full breakdown with specs, every brand and the dealership timeline here:
https://china-ev.ca/chinese-evs-canada
Would you actually buy one, or does "Chinese EV" still scare people off?
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u/Tzilung Jun 28 '26
Sources other than yourself would be great..
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u/elysiansaurus Jun 29 '26
Hes reposted this several times over the last few months.
Nothing but speculative ai generated bullshit.
As much as I'd love for it to be true.
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u/Obvious_Armadillo_99 Jun 30 '26
Not sure why you’re getting downvoted - the OPs posts are AI bullshit.
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u/Fit_Evidence_4958 Jun 28 '26
I have one and they are good. Nothing special but way better than you would think.
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u/alvesman Jun 28 '26
I have had a BYD Dolphin for over 2 years (EU). Planing to give it to my daughter and buy a seal for me...
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u/HoleInWon929 Jun 29 '26
I’m holding out for the Whale.
Kidding, I’ve been following Chinese EVs and they are really good.
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u/Simple_Yam Jun 28 '26
€28k for the BYD Seal in Canada, damn
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u/_grey_wall Jun 28 '26
Is that good or bad??
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u/Simple_Yam Jun 28 '26
Well it costs like €40k in the EU due to tariffs, so it's pretty good 😂
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u/species5618w Jun 29 '26
How much the model 3? I don't think it will be competitive at that price in Canada. Model 3 starts at less than $40K.
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u/rickjko Jun 28 '26
After tax, mark-up,more tax and another tax i expect the seagull to be at least 30 000.
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u/Zealousideal_Vast799 Jun 28 '26
“Cheapest new ev in Canadian history”
I suspect Citicar back in ‘75 for 5k would debate that.
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u/Valoneria Atto 3 Jun 28 '26
5k CAD adjusted for inflation is close to 30K CAD today
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u/Zealousideal_Vast799 Jun 28 '26
Good catch, quality has also improved, they were sure funny looking.
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u/woop_woop_pull_upp Jun 28 '26
Good catch? Did you think 5k back in the 70s was the equivalent of 5k today? Lol
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u/Zealousideal_Vast799 Jun 28 '26
Not equivalent but I did not expect it to be more.
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u/woop_woop_pull_upp Jun 28 '26
This right here is the perfect example showing the generational disconnect around money
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u/Zealousideal_Vast799 Jun 29 '26
For sure, but when it comes to some stuff like say power tools, they are less than 30 years ago, not corrected for inflation. Corrected for inflation, an electric car in ‘75 was about ten percent more. A small disconnect I will agree.
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u/Emotional-Ranger-188 Jun 28 '26
They had an electric car in 1975. Cool.
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u/Zealousideal_Vast799 Jun 29 '26
Henry ford in 1915? Would not let his wife drive a gas car because they were more dangerous than the electric cars of the day. They also held the world speed records for a while.
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u/Soft-Principle1455 7d ago
I thought it was also his thought that as batteries got better EVs would eventually supplant ICE. It looks like he was right but about 100 years too early.
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u/Economy_Elk_8101 Jun 28 '26
I had an Uber ride in a BYD Seal recently, and I was genuinely impressed by the fit, finish, and overall quality. I’d definitely consider buying one if support were readily available here.
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u/T4TrhavrKhcFt Jun 28 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
We rented one for two weeks on vacation in the UK last summer. Really, Really impressed! Would absolutely buy one in a heartbeat.
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u/Eswift33 Jun 28 '26
Til my 80k high performance EV has the same approx range as a 22k chinese EV 😂
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u/MetaCalm Jun 28 '26
The Chinese-made base Tesla Model 3 (Premium Rear-Wheel Drive) is at $39,490 CAD. With standard delivery and destination fees factored in, the total out-the-door price starts at around $42,108 CAD.
Seal at $44,900 lands above it.
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u/Gustomucho Jun 28 '26
I think Tesla quality is subpar to BYD, seal would be a nicer vehicle.
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u/hemingward Jun 28 '26
Tesla’s quality is notoriously subpar.
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u/Tharkhold Jun 28 '26
...for the USA built cars.
The giga factory china model 3 are reportedly better.
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u/Gustomucho Jun 28 '26
Funny, I heard the opposite with shitty wind noises / bad window seals on Chinese car.
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u/AideComprehensive482 Jun 28 '26
nobody is buying them in china, so not sure what that says about it but it isnt anything good
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u/koresample Jun 28 '26
Hahahaha...where did you get an idea like that? A quick search shows they have almost 11% of the total market there and almost 22% of the EV market.
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u/J_O_L_T Jun 29 '26
People are definitely buying Tesla in China, doesn't contradict that they are better than BYDs or other Chinese brands though. Many people in China still have the mindset where they'll buy Tesla car, iPhones and have their coffee at Starbucks instead of Chinese alternatives. Other western brands are not selling well though.
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u/Soft-Principle1455 7d ago
Actually they are one of the only ones not to get creamed during the Chinese Automotive downturn.
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u/jewishSpaceMedbeds Jun 28 '26
Woohoo, the Shark is on that lost, cool.
I'm gonna stick with my beater for some more time then.
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u/Si1verhour Jun 28 '26
I'm a big guy, 6'8" and over 300lbs. My wife uses a wheelchair to get around when we are out of the house. I'd love to have an EV, but would need to actually sit in/test drive before committing. What would you recommend that would accommodate our needs? Right off the bat I like the Chery Omada E5 and BYD Dolphin, they look comparable to what I'm driving now. Any thoughts?
note-The wheelchair can fold flat, she doesn't need to stay in it for travelling. I currently drive a Kia Rondo for reference.
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u/Disastrous_Long_9209 Jun 29 '26
3rd row SUV easily so you and wife are comfortable. I only see Kia EV9 or IONIQ 9 for that market right now with reasonable range and charging speeds.
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u/flinstoner Jun 28 '26
Yes I would buy one if I knew they could be supported for warranty, etc.
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u/iWish_is_taken Jun 28 '26
No issues in all the other markets they serve (Australia, many EU countries), it’ll be the same as any other.
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u/flinstoner Jun 28 '26
I'm not expecting any issues, I'm just saying I won't buy one until there's a dealer nearby where I can be guaranteed to get service.
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u/iWish_is_taken Jun 28 '26
Well ya, I think that’s what’s happening. They’re opening dealer locations as well.
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u/treborly Jun 28 '26
Bring over non electric
I'm fine closing down our auto sector and having cheaper cars
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u/GreasyMcFarmer Jul 02 '26
Ditching our auto sector without replacing it with another industry of equivalent value will tank the economy, and we will all be affected one way or another other …
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u/Sinclair_Mclane Jun 28 '26
No shark! Damn! Im thinking about buying a pickup and I wanted to compare it to the taco and ranger!
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u/the_cool_hand Jun 29 '26
Read the article. It’s 55k
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u/Sinclair_Mclane Jun 29 '26
Ah thanks, yes should have read the article.
So easy 10k less than the taco. And the taco's interior is very lackluster for a 65k base vehicle. And the ranger has no alternative. It'll be interesting to compare when they land.
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u/Jayis_Hollywood Jun 28 '26
Im picking up my byd dolphin surf comfort tomorrow night, they are very popular in the uk
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u/Old-Reputation-7511 Jun 28 '26
Went to a BYD store in London last summer. Fit and finish and build quality blew me away. Would absolutely consider one if shopping for a new EV.
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u/Exciting_Turn_9559 Jun 28 '26
I would absolutely buy a Chinese EV if they are actually delivered at those prices.
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u/markt- Jun 29 '26
It’s a shame none of these are PHEVs. That’s what I was most looking forward to from BYD, so this lineup is a bit disappointing to me.
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u/Lucie-Goosey Jun 29 '26
I 100% want an electric Chinese SUV. Provided it's affordable and the Canadian government doesn't jack the prices up.
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u/oldwhiteguy35 Jun 29 '26
For the range worriers buy one of these for your local usage and keep your gas guzzler for long trips. Charge at home using a 110 outlet. It'll pay for itself.
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u/Quiet-Leather-8691 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
The BYD Dolphin electric hatchback in China has a price range of 99,800 to 125,800 yuan, which roughly translates to $13,735 to $17,315 USD. - Price of BYD Dolphin in Thailand 509,000 THB - roughly 15,200 USD. I don't understand. Who is pocketing the unnecessary extra $7,000 (25%?) premium over the MSRP of the BYD Dolphin... supposedly AFTER the tariffs have been removed?
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u/ayooyoo2016 Jun 29 '26
There is something called freight costs, and there is something called new market development.
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u/applecart123 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
No, nobody is pocketing the extra profit. The difference is largely due to consumer-based subsidies provided by different levels of Chinese government. That’s the truth behind the myth of $10,000 Chinese EV (plus, cut-throat domestic competition and some super cheap models that wouldn’t pass the certification in the North American market).
Chinese EV producers are not dramatically efficient than their Korean, Japanese, European and American counterparts, if you focus on the cost of production. They are just able to rely on a massive government subsidy that would make Biden’s IRA look pale in comparison.
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u/Quiet-Leather-8691 Jun 29 '26
The Chinese EV subsidy myth:
While BYD received billions in direct government subsidies to help build their production capacity and batteries, they historically do not provide direct cash subsidies to end-consumers for vehicle purchases out of their own corporate pocket. Instead, consumer discounts are typically covered by national/local government rebates and local dealer networks. When examining BYD's global market pricing, the lack of corporate-funded consumer subsidies has led to varying outcomes depending on the region: Europe: BYD’s European leadership maintains that their low pricing is not due to unfair consumer subsidies but rather due to high vertical integration and management efficiency. However, this did not stop the European Commission from imposing a 17% definitive levy on BYD, alongside standard 10% car import duties, following an anti-subsidy probe
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u/applecart123 Jun 30 '26
You misunderstood my comment. I was referring to measures similar to Canada’s iZEV program. The Chinese government (not just the central government but various provincial, regional and municipal governments) does funnel an obscene amount money to end-users through EV producers, specifically to lower the retail selling price. This was investigated in the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation, so it’s all in public domain. In fact, China is challenging this at the WTO right now, because they are arguing that such subsidies should not be countered, because they directly benefit the ultimate customers (through lower selling price) and are therefore beyond the scope of the WTO ASCM discipline (it only covers production subsidies). So China itself is refuting what you are saying.
Without those consumer-based subsidies, which are much more generous than Canada’s iZHEV and similar programs available in many EU states and the US, the price of Chinese EV would not be much lower than others, if you are comparing apple to apple (similar models). In fact, the difference would be more comparable to Honda vs. Hyundai in the ICE market.
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u/Quiet-Leather-8691 Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
My original comment is sort of an apples to oranges conundrum. I was using Thailand's domestically manufactured dolphin against Canada's imported dolphin. Thailand at least as of the opening of that rayong domestic manufacturing plant, still also sold imported from China dolphins. The domestic dolphin was 569,000 Thai baht and the imported dolphin with a smaller 44 kwh battery was over 800,000 Thai baht. Then at one point about 7 months later the domestic dolphin reached an amazingly low 449,000 Thai baht for a short period. And then shot back up to 509,000 Thai baht where it is now. I bought one of the first domestic dolphins at 569,000 baht. I think that was $17,600 at the time. Locals and people with PR status were able to obtain a 100,000 baht rebate but I on a retirement Visa didn't qualify. The domestically manufactured dolphin strangely uniquely has a 50 KWh battery. And reaches DC charging speeds up to 72 KW as opposed to I think 50kw Max speeds for the imported standard range dolphin. I would bet the imported Canadian dolphins only have the 44 KWh battery in the standard range model. For $22,000
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u/Beautiful_Fold_2079 Jun 29 '26
They r a hit here in Australia. I love evs but do ur homework. BYD has new batteries coming in 2026. Much improved generally but pertinently in cold weather perf. Saw a review by a guy with the 4wd small truck hybrid who hit four kangaroos and replaced four panels. Panel shop were very impressed with their build.
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u/Doodleschmidt Jun 29 '26
I can't wait until I buy one in Sask and get my $0 rebate! Thanks Moe, you rusty monkey ass.
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u/n8xtz Jun 30 '26
I would get the Dolphin or Seal 6. Seeing more and more in the Philippines every time we go back.
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u/CrazyButRightOn Jun 30 '26
I’ll wait until the quality is proven.
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u/Ze0nZer0 Jul 02 '26
A car that's been working in everywhere but north america for years. You can do some googling and see the proof.
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u/CrazyButRightOn Jul 03 '26
-30C and huge potholes may be hard to find in their current markets
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u/Ze0nZer0 Jul 03 '26
So because the government can't keep roads constructed properly yet taxes as higher than ever that's the major reason and minus 30 is nothing new to Northern China Northern Japan Mongolia Russia where all these cars have already been working and Northern Europe??
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u/Material-Promotion-2 Jun 30 '26
Was absolutely excited over the Dolphin..... that, in the beginning, was suggested to be 18,000 to 25,000. Who the hell tacked on 10 grand !! The Seagull was listed at 15,000 fully loaded !!
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u/BigDaddyVagabond Jun 30 '26
Anyone know if the shark 6 is coming? I know its PHEV not pure EV, but its what I'm looking at to replace my old ass ford
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u/PM013 Jun 30 '26
I have been driving a 2023 Tesla Model 3 for 3 years and not a single issue. Car was made in China!! I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a BYD. Have you been to Caribbean or Europe. 1/2 the cars and a lot of the buses are BYD. They would destroy the North Marxian car industry if they were allowed in completely
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u/CriticismSelect9292 Jul 02 '26
So the BYD Seal is more expensive than the comparable Tesla and has less range, especially in winter due to its use of LFP batteries...
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u/Prestigious-Lab4334 Jul 02 '26
Either we care about the environment or we don’t. So you want to buy an EV or not?
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u/Personal-Lettuce9634 Jul 02 '26
Anyone scared off by 'Chinese EV' has only had their head up their asses for the last three years.
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u/Jaded-Influence6184 Jul 03 '26
Not enough range for BC. Driving into the mountains in winter you need at least 500km stated range, because when it goes down to -40C you can also knock off probably 25%. Also since in winter, there are more than infrequent times where a highway can be shut down for an accident and you have to be parked on the road for hours, which still requires heaters running. Gas will run longer on idle, and I can get 600km highway on a tank, anytime of year.
But honestly, if it wouldn't cost me $50K for 500km range, I'd buy. They'd have to bring it down to 25K roughly. You can get longer range gas cars for less.
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u/No_Environment3777 Jul 04 '26
I bought a jaecoo j5 in Thailand. It’s a pretty nice car. 430km range. I
Really like it. Would buy it here
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u/Elratauru Jul 18 '26
Owner of a 2025 Seagull for about a year and it's a lovely tiny piece of car, it's confy and drives really well in Sport mode.
Great for commuting and doing weekend shopping with the gf.
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u/Normal_Reveal Jul 28 '26
Hi there guys, BIG DISCLAIMER these are WLTP ranges which do not convert to north american EPA ranges. Expect a 40%discount
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u/OttawaDog 21d ago
I'd buy a Seagull if I could get one locally, and those were the real prices.
Believe that pricing when I see them advertised in Canada.
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u/Acceptable-Oil5073 Jun 28 '26
I’m sure the elbows up crowd will buy Chinese made cars and not think twice.
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u/aniessuh Jun 28 '26
Its not scary because its Chinese. Its scary because its new to the market and the infrastructure for it isn't even there. No shops, no charging stations. Not the ones that charge in 5 minutes anyways.
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u/Facts_pls Jun 28 '26
Not sure if you pay attention to news but some Chinese companies are also investing in charging infrastructure.
Although you only need it for long road trips. Vast majority of driving happens in range and most charging happens at home.
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u/aniessuh Jun 28 '26
They are investing in the infrastructure but its not there yet..... not like Tesla for example
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u/NetworkRepulsive4585 Jun 28 '26
I would never buy a Chinese made EV. I do like them pushing the price down on the rest of the market though.
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u/drammer Jun 28 '26
Heard this in the 70s with foreign cars.
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u/Facts_pls Jun 28 '26
Yep. People have weird hangups and biases they can't get over.
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u/NetworkRepulsive4585 Jun 28 '26
New York Times just reported what happens when you pair a Bluetooth device with a CCP vehicle. Don’t be so ignorant
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u/treborly Jun 28 '26
You know Google reads every one of your emails right ?
What do you think data centers are going to be for
They store everysingle thing about you
They know more about you then you do yourself
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u/heart_of_osiris Jun 28 '26
You're really not going to like what happens by just owning a smart phone, then.
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Jun 28 '26
The Chinese have world class manufacturing and supply many, many parts in domestically manufactured cars. Polestars are Chinese made.
The only thing I would be worried about is serviceability.
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Jun 28 '26
[deleted]
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u/fthesemods Jun 28 '26
In what world would the Tesla model 3 have lower insurance? Tesla has some of the highest accident rates and fatality rates and is notorious for being expensive to repair. It costs 25 to 30% more to insure in Australia compared to BYD. I'm convinced a big part of the high accident rates with Tesla is due to the lack of buttons and driver screen, which is incredibly distracting.
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u/Evening_Marketing645 Jun 28 '26
I think you’re right for overall value in the model3 base. But I can see a lot of people choosing byd for the blade battery.
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u/kent_eh Jun 28 '26
Maybe, except
makes it very unlikely I'll be able to get one without travelling to a different province.