► BYD Dolphin Surf to launch in UK later this year
► Expected retail price under £20k
► A new rival to the likes of Dacia’s Spring
The boss of BYD in Europe has confirmed that the Chinese car maker will continue its aggressive expansion plans by importing the Dolphin Surf to the region – finally realising the brand’s potential to bring cut-throat pricing to the EV sector.
Today BYDs are good value but don’t always undercut the competition by as much as you might expect, considering the press Chinese cars receive. The arrival of the BYD Dolphin Surf over here should send shockwaves through the established European car makers.
Stella Li, BYD executive vice president, confirmed to CAR that the Dolphin Surf, also called the Seagull and Dolphin Mini in other geographies, would arrive in the UK as an entry-level electric car.
‘The Dolphin Surf is coming to the UK,’ she said. ‘You’ll know it as the Seagull in some parts of the world and we sell it as the Dolphin Mini in the US.’
BYD Dolphin Surf: how cheap will it be?
Li would not be drawn on cost, but we understand that a price point below £20,000 is proposed, making this Chinese hatchback a strong prospect to join the ranks of the cheapest electric cars on sale today.
Measuring 3.8 metres in length, the Seagull is designed as a city car for busy Chinese conurbations but product planners predict it will sell well over here too. It is one of a raft of new BYD models due to land on these shores before the end of next year, fuelling the brand’s astronomic growth curve. ‘Our Q1 sales in 2025 will be bigger than the whole of last year in the UK,’ Li (below) said. ‘BYD will offer 13 models in Europe within 18 months,’ she added.
Today, BYD sells just five models – and the product expansion will be joined by fierce growth in the UK dealer network, as the car maker intends to grow its retail footprint from 62 to 120 outlets by the end of 2025.
Proof, were it needed, that BYD is the Chinese car maker to watch. Where others discuss rampant expansion plans, it is actually walking the walk – and delivering real growth.
Check out our BYD car reviews