KATHMANDU: BYD has officially launched its compact electric city car, the Dolphin Surf, in Europe.
Unveiled in Berlin on Wednesday, the Dolphin Surf becomes BYD’s 10th model available in the region and is set to intensify competition in the affordable electric vehicle (EV) segment. The new model is essentially the European version of BYD’s Seagull, a popular low-cost electric car in China.
While the Seagull is priced around $10,000 in its home market, the Dolphin Surf will sell in Europe from $26,100 to $35,100, depending on the variant.
As part of an introductory offer valid until the end of June, the starting price has been cut to $22,700 for the base trim, making it one of the most affordable EVs in Europe with modern features.
The Dolphin Surf will be offered in three trims: Active, Boost and Comfort. The base Active model includes an 87 hp motor and a 30 kWh battery, providing an estimated range of 221 km and a maximum charging speed of 65 kW.
The mid-tier Boost version retains the same motor but comes with a larger 43.2 kWh battery and an 85 kW charging capability, extending the range to 322 km.
The top-tier Comfort variant upgrades to a 154 hp motor, maintaining the same battery size and charging speed as Boost.
Although the range slightly decreases in this version, it adds premium features such as a 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging, heated seats, LED headlights and electrically folding mirrors.
All models come equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, heated and power-adjustable mirrors, and BYD’s proprietary Blade battery technology.
Even at its entry-level price, the Dolphin Surf offers a much better value than competitors like the Dacia Spring and Citroen e-C3.
BYD, now the world’s top EV maker, is rapidly growing in Europe. Recently BYD started Dolphin Surf production in Hungary to maintain the supply chain in Europe.
Until now, BYD has produced this model exclusively for left-hand drive markets. However, if a right-hand drive version is launched, it could enter the Nepalese market to compete in the small hatchback segment, which is currently dominated by the TATA Tiago.
Cimex Inc., the official distributor of BYD in Nepal, has seen strong sales with models like the Atto 3, Dolphin and M6 helping BYD become the leading Chinese EV brand in the country. While Cimex has not officially announced a launch schedule for the Seagull in Nepal, a test vehicle was spotted in the country a few months ago, indicating potential plans for its introduction.
