BYD cuts prices on its low cost “Corolla killer” EV to as low as $A19,200

BYD, one of the world’s fastest-growing car makers, and now likely the world’s biggest electric car maker, has launched two new electric versions of its lowest cost sedan, with prices starting as low as the equivalent of $19,200.

The new versions of the Qin Plus EV sedan were launched at an event in China last week with two BEV variants of the 4.78 metre long sedan, as reported by cnevpost.

These new variants come with 420 km and 510 km of CLTC range, while being powered by BYD’s Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) blade battery. We can expect that range to be between 350 km and 450 km on the WLTP cycle used in Australia.

That range is from a powertrain combo that includes either a 48 kWh or a 58 kWh battery pack, paired with a 100 kW motor.

On the inside, it features a smaller 12.8-inch BYD rotatable infotainment screen, similar to the one found in the early generation of Australian-delivered BYD Atto 3.

It still features all the main controls and gear selectors found on many BYD models, including buttons where you’d expect them.

The Qin Plus EV was launched in early 2024, dubbed at that time as the Corolla killer with a pricing starting at $23,500.

That, of course, has come right down in just over 18 months by over $4,000, hinting at the intense price competition in the Chinese EV market.

In May 2025, it was reported that the company cut prices on some of its models by up to 30% across multiple battery electric and plug-in hybrid models in its home market of China.

At that time, models such as the affordable BYD Seagull electric hatchback were priced at the equivalent of under $A12,000 for a limited time.

According to those reports, the price reductions were based on increasing dealer stock levels, and those price cuts were to help run down this inventory fairly quickly, with the discounting period finishing by June 2025.

In Australia, BYD has multiple low-priced models on the market but with competition heating up in recent months, the company has been offering between $2,000 and $4,000 on certain in-stock models.

This has helped grow its sales, and in August, it was in the top-10 overall car brands for sale during the month.

With the company cutting prices on its already affordable EV models in China and its global expansion well underway, we’d keep an eye out for any other key developments.

For now, EV prices appear to be heading one way, as shown by the new Qin Plus EV sedan, and that’s downwards, helping with the affordability of electric cars across the board.