BYD Song Ultra EV: 440 Miles Range for $26,000 Changes Everything | Taha Abbasi

BYD just dropped a bombshell that should have every automaker paying attention, and Taha Abbasi is breaking down the implications. The new BYD Song Ultra EV delivers over 440 miles of driving range for approximately $26,000. Read that again. Four hundred and forty miles. Twenty-six thousand dollars. This is the moment the EV affordability argument died.

The Specs That Matter

The Song Ultra EV is BYD’s first B-segment electric SUV under the Dynasty lineup. At 4,850mm in length with a 2,840mm wheelbase, it’s a properly sized family SUV — not a city car making range claims on a tiny battery. The single front-mounted motor delivers 362 horsepower (270 kW), and buyers can choose between a 75.6 kWh or 82.7 kWh battery pack.

Those battery options deliver CLTC ranges of 385 miles and 441 miles respectively. Now, Taha Abbasi always notes that CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) numbers tend to be 20-30% higher than real-world driving, so expect roughly 310-350 miles in actual use. But even at the conservative end, that’s competitive with vehicles costing three times as much.

The LiDAR Surprise

Perhaps the most significant detail is the roof-mounted LiDAR system visible in preview images. This suggests the Song Ultra will feature BYD’s “God’s Eye B” advanced driver-assistance system, which includes Level 3 highway and city driving capability. For a vehicle in this price range, that’s remarkable. Tesla charges $99-199/month for FSD. BYD is including Level 3 capable hardware in a $26,000 SUV.

As Taha Abbasi has analyzed in his coverage of the {internal_link(‘taha-abbasi-tesla-vision-cameras-winning-autonomous-driving-2026’, ‘autonomous driving technology landscape’)}, the LiDAR vs. vision debate continues to play out in the market. BYD’s approach — using LiDAR at a price point where most Western automakers can’t even offer basic radar — demonstrates the manufacturing cost advantages Chinese companies have achieved.

The Global Pricing Threat

To put the Song Ultra’s pricing in perspective: a base Tesla Model Y starts at approximately $44,990 in the US. A Hyundai IONIQ 5 starts around $43,000. The BYD Song Ultra offers more range than both for roughly half the price. Even with potential import tariffs (currently 100% for Chinese EVs entering the US), the base economics are staggering.

This is why Taha Abbasi has consistently argued that the real EV revolution won’t be led by premium vehicles — it will be driven by affordable, high-capability models that make the combustion engine obsolete on pure economics. The Song Ultra is that vehicle for millions of buyers in China, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and eventually Europe.

What This Means for Tesla

Tesla’s answer to the affordability challenge has been the Model Q (or “Model 2”), the long-rumored $25,000 compact vehicle. But that car remains in development while BYD is shipping the Song Ultra this year. The competitive gap in the affordable segment is growing, and every month it grows, BYD builds more data, more brand loyalty, and more manufacturing scale.

That said, Tesla’s advantages in software, Supercharger network, and brand perception in key Western markets remain strong. The Song Ultra won’t be available in the US anytime soon given the tariff environment. But in the markets where BYD and Tesla compete directly — China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia — this vehicle changes the equation dramatically.

The Bottom Line

As Taha Abbasi sees it, the BYD Song Ultra EV represents a new benchmark for what’s possible in electric vehicles. 440 miles, $26,000, with Level 3 autonomy hardware. If this doesn’t wake up legacy automakers, nothing will. The EV transition isn’t slowing down — it’s accelerating, and the companies that can deliver capability at an affordable price will win the next decade.

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About the Author: Taha Abbasi is a technology executive, CTO, and applied frontier tech builder. Read more on Grokpedia | YouTube: The Brown Cowboy | tahaabbasi.com