New BYD Dolphin Surf bound for UK as sub-£20k EV
Seagull is also known as the Dolphin Mini in some markets, but will be named the Dolphin Surf here
The BYD Dolphin Surf will be one of the cheapest electric cars in the UK when it goes on sale later this year.
Known simply as the Seagull in China, where it costs the equivalent of around £8000, the model will be made more sophisticated for its launch in Europe and the UK, including added safety technology.
BYD's executive vice-president Stella Li said that while the Dolphin Surf might "not be the cheapest" on sale, it would "be the best value".
It's not expected to cost less than the £15,000 Dacia Spring, the current cheapest electric car on sale, but is likely to undercut the likes of the Fiat Grande Panda and Citroën ë-C3 and cost less than £20,000 with a range in excess of 200 miles, too.
In China, it's offered with a choice of 30kWh or 38kWh battery packs, giving ranges of 190 miles and 252 miles, according to the country's CLTC testing regime. There is also a choice of 74bhp and 100bhp motors.
The model is also known as the Dolphin Mini in some markets, but Dolphin Surf has been chosen as the name for launch in the UK and Europe.
Before the Dolphin Surf will be the imminent launch of the Sealion 7, the seventh model in BYD's UK range and the sixth electric car.
UK country manager Bono Ge said BYD would go from 62 dealers now to 120 by the end of the year. The target is around 150-170 dealers longer term, a number similar to the likes of Ford and Vauxhall.
Ge said BYD would surpass last year's UK sales of 8700 by the end of this month, but declined to say how many cars the company expected to sell in 2025, or what the long-term target was.
Given BYD's goal is to be the world's largest car maker and the UK is seen as a key market for it, sales in excess of 100,000 will surely be the target to become a top-five challenger here. Ge said BYD's brand awareness increased from 1% at the start of 2024 to 31% at the end of it.
BYD has also launched its own-brand 1360kW chargers with two charging guns as a rival to Tesla's Supercharger network. Li said there was an ambition to launch these in the UK but that this was some way off.
]]>
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
GA law gives tenants at a Southwest Atlanta Apartment Complex protections against unsafe conditions
Tenants at the Bolden Townhomes in southwest Atlanta say they've been living without power for months and are demanding better living conditions. Channel 2's Eryn Rogers first reported on the situation last Sunday, and since then, housing advocates have taken action. On Friday, members of the Housing Justice League held a news conference at the complex, calling for accountability from the property owner, Edward Bolden of Bolden Capital Group. On Friday evening, Bolden had crews making visible improvements such as grass cutting and trash removal, but tenants say those efforts barely scratch the surface. 'I ain't seen this since I've been out here,' said tenant Reco Ford. Ford showed a cooler he uses in place of a refrigerator and expressed frustration with what he sees as superficial fixes. 'Y'all want to come and cut the grass, but that's just a front. We have bigger issues than that going on over here. We ain't got no power. Folks ain't got no refrigerator, no stove,' Ford said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Owner Edward Bolden of Bolden Capital Group sent the following statement: 'We take the concerns raised by the Oakland City community and residents of Bolden Townhomes very seriously. Our mission has always been to provide safe, stable, and accessible housing — and that remains our commitment. Over the past several months, we've faced complex challenges at this property, including unauthorized occupancy, utility theft, and damage to units. These issues have created difficult and unsafe conditions for our legal residents, our team members, and the broader community. In partnership with local law enforcement and under guidance of the law, we've taken necessary steps to protect the property and ensure a safe environment for those who reside here legally. We recognize that this situation is deeply concerning for many, and we're working actively to stabilize the property, improve conditions, and engage residents who meet our leasing requirements. Due to pending legal matters, we are limited in what we can share at this time, but we welcome ongoing dialogue with city officials and community leaders as we move toward resolution." Tenants dispute that they're squatters. Several showed rent receipts and keys to their units as proof that they are legitimate residents. The conflict comes amid growing attention on Georgia's tenant protections under the 'Safe at Home Act,' passed last year. State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), who co-sponsored the legislation, said the law requires landlords to maintain habitable living conditions. TRENDING STORIES: Atlanta-area rapper sentenced for bringing stolen loaded 'machine gun' into hospital labor unit 38-year-old GA man charged with grooming a minor Stolen vehicle leads to police chase along I-20 'If they've paid rent, it doesn't matter that they didn't have a written lease, but what is true under the bill we passed last year is that landlords are very specifically obligated to provide a habitable place to live,' Oliver said. She also explained that tenants must contact code enforcement to report violations. She said code enforcement is responsible for taking legal action against landlords who fail to meet the law's standards. 'If you're in violation of code, you're going to be fined. You're going to be sanctioned,' Oliver said. Meanwhile, tenants say they just want to live in safe and humane conditions. 'I feel like nobody, and I am somebody,' Ford said. Rogers reached out to Atlanta code enforcement to ask about possible violations at the Bolden Townhomes. Officials said they would follow up, but as of Friday, there has been no further response. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Bloomberg
4 hours ago
- Bloomberg
BYD Unleashes an EV Industry Reckoning That Alarms Beijing
The price war engulfing China's electric vehicle industry has sent share prices tumbling and prompted an unusual level of intervention from Beijing. The shakeout may just be getting started. For all the Chinese government's efforts to prevent price cuts by market leader BYD Co. from turning into a vicious spiral, analysts say a combination of weaker demand and extreme overcapacity will slice into profits at the strongest brands and force feebler competitors to fold. Even after the number of EV makers starting shrinking for the first time last year, the industry is still using less than half its production capacity.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Alex Bowman hits wall at Michigan as his rough stretch continues in NASCAR Cup Series
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Alex Bowman hit a wall with the front end of his No. 48 Chevrolet as part of a multi-car crash in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan on Sunday. Bowman got out of the car on his own and walked to an ambulance that transported him to the infield for an evaluation, which he passed. 'That hurt a lot,' he said. 'I've taken a lot of hits.' Austin Cindric's No. 2 Ford made contact with Cole Custer's No. 41 Ford and Daniel Suarez's No. 99 Chevrolet, leading to Bowman colliding with the wall on lap 67 of the 200-lap race. Bowman, who drives for Hendrick Motorsports, came to Michigan 12th in points and will drop in the standings after this latest setback. He has finished 27th or worse in seven of his last nine starts and didn't finish for a third time during the rough stretch. Bowman was in the top 10 in five of the first six races this year, including a runner-up finish at Homestead-Miami in March. He earned his eighth career Cup Series victory last year at Chicago. ___
