Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD is set to introduce its Dolphin hatchback model to the South African market in 2024, with pricing starting at R550,000.
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This information was disclosed by a BYD representative to EV Charge co-founder Roberto Bruzanitti during a local test-drive event for the Atto 3 SUV EV, which marks BYD’s debut in the South African automotive market.
The representative indicated that the anticipated launch window for the Dolphin in South Africa would likely be around March or April 2024.
The Dolphin is a five-seater hatchback equipped with one of two front-axle-mounted motors, offering either 70kW output and 180Nm torque or 150kW and 310Nm. The more powerful variant can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in approximately 7 seconds.
In Australia, which shares a right-hand-drive market with South Africa, these configurations are referred to as Dynamic and Premium.
The Dynamic model, featuring the smaller motor, comes with a 44.9kWh battery pack delivering an estimated range of 340km on a single charge (WLTP cycle). Charging options include up to 60kW with DC public charging or 7.4kW with AC charging.
On the other hand, the Premium model is equipped with a 60.5kWh battery, offering a range of up to 427km between charges. It also supports faster charging speeds of 88kW for DC and 11kW for AC charging.
While the Dolphin’s interior boasts advanced technology, its design leans towards a more conservative approach compared to the Atto 3, featuring a rotatable 12.8-inch main display.
The Dolphin comes with a 6-year/150,000km warranty in Australia and a 6-year/150,000-mile warranty in the UK, although specific configurations for the South African market are yet to be confirmed.
With a starting price of R550,000, the Dolphin will be priced lower than the GWM Ora by R136,950, positioning it as the most affordable passenger EV in South Africa. Additionally, it will be approximately R218,000 cheaper than the entry-level BYD Atto 3.
The Dolphin has generally received moderate to positive reviews in both Australia and the UK.
Here are the standard features on the BYD Dolphin:
- Airbags
- Collision warning
- Electronic stability control
- Road sign recognition with speed limiter
- Blind spot alert
- Parking cameras (multiple)
- Rear parking camera
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Emergency steering assist
- Autonomous emergency braking advanced
- Autonomous emergency braking reverse
- Front cross traffic alert
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keeping assist
- Speed limiter
- Rear cross traffic alert
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Driver attention alert
