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The BYD (EV) Thread
- Thread starter FiestaST
- Start date
FiestaST
Honorary Master
CarSauce first drive of the Atto 2
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Cars.co.za review of the Sealion 6
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
BYD's European blitz is a challenge to the Old Guard
The electric vehicle landscape in Europe is undergoing a seismic shift, and the tremors are originating from China. Automaker BYD is on an unprecedented product offensive, introducing new electric cars at a pace never before seen on the continent and, for the first time, has outsold Tesla in monthly battery-electric vehicle sales.
The Chinese giant, whose name stands for "Build Your Dreams," is expanding its footprint and challenging established European manufacturers with a strategy that combines aggressive pricing, a diverse model range, and a commitment to local production.
Data from April 2025 showed BYD selling 7,231 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), edging past Tesla's 7,165 units for the first time. This is a huge achievement, considering BYD only began its serious European expansion beyond a few select markets in late 2022.
The newly launched BYD Dolphin Surf is in charge of this drive. This compact electric hatchback, a European version of the popular Seagull model from its home market, has landed in the UK with a starting price of just €21,870. This positions it as a direct competitor to some of the most affordable electric cars available, such as the Dacia Spring, which starts {{at £14,995}}. The Dolphin Surf Active base model offers a 30 kWh battery and a claimed range of 220 km, while higher trims feature a 43.2 kWh battery pushing the range to 322 km.
But to dismiss BYD as a budget-friendly EV manufacturer would be a mistake. The company's ambitions stretch far into the premium and luxury segments. It is preparing to launch its high-end Denza brand in Europe by late 2025. The first model, the Z9GT, is a sleek shooting brake aimed squarely at the likes of the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo. With 952 horsepower from a tri-motor setup in its all-electric version and a design penned by former Audi and Lamborghini design chief Wolfgang Egger, Denza is BYD's clear signal that it intends to compete with Germany's finest.
The rapid introduction of six distinct models in less than a year covers the most critical segments of the European market. "I have zero problem in saying I don't think there has ever been such a product offensive done in Europe as the one BYD is doing," commented Alfredo Altavilla, a special advisor for BYD in Europe, at a recent launch event. This aggressive rollout includes not just pure electric cars but also plug-in hybrids in regions where charging infrastructure is less developed.
www.arenaev.com
The electric vehicle landscape in Europe is undergoing a seismic shift, and the tremors are originating from China. Automaker BYD is on an unprecedented product offensive, introducing new electric cars at a pace never before seen on the continent and, for the first time, has outsold Tesla in monthly battery-electric vehicle sales.
The Chinese giant, whose name stands for "Build Your Dreams," is expanding its footprint and challenging established European manufacturers with a strategy that combines aggressive pricing, a diverse model range, and a commitment to local production.
Data from April 2025 showed BYD selling 7,231 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), edging past Tesla's 7,165 units for the first time. This is a huge achievement, considering BYD only began its serious European expansion beyond a few select markets in late 2022.
The newly launched BYD Dolphin Surf is in charge of this drive. This compact electric hatchback, a European version of the popular Seagull model from its home market, has landed in the UK with a starting price of just €21,870. This positions it as a direct competitor to some of the most affordable electric cars available, such as the Dacia Spring, which starts {{at £14,995}}. The Dolphin Surf Active base model offers a 30 kWh battery and a claimed range of 220 km, while higher trims feature a 43.2 kWh battery pushing the range to 322 km.
But to dismiss BYD as a budget-friendly EV manufacturer would be a mistake. The company's ambitions stretch far into the premium and luxury segments. It is preparing to launch its high-end Denza brand in Europe by late 2025. The first model, the Z9GT, is a sleek shooting brake aimed squarely at the likes of the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo. With 952 horsepower from a tri-motor setup in its all-electric version and a design penned by former Audi and Lamborghini design chief Wolfgang Egger, Denza is BYD's clear signal that it intends to compete with Germany's finest.
The rapid introduction of six distinct models in less than a year covers the most critical segments of the European market. "I have zero problem in saying I don't think there has ever been such a product offensive done in Europe as the one BYD is doing," commented Alfredo Altavilla, a special advisor for BYD in Europe, at a recent launch event. This aggressive rollout includes not just pure electric cars but also plug-in hybrids in regions where charging infrastructure is less developed.
BYD's European blitz is a challenge to the Old Guard
Chinese automaker BYD is rapidly expanding its presence in Europe, launching a range of electric cars from the affordable Dolphin Surf to the premium Denza brand, and has already beaten Tesla in monthly sales.
www.arenaev.com
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
CarSauce first drive of the Denza N9
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Auto Social UK review of the Sealion 7
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
killerbyte
Expert Member
Has anyone bought a Dolphin?
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Kumbi-M On Cars review of the Sealion 7
Very slim chance anyone on this forum has any BYD
Shark for all it's hype, I've seen a grand total of 2 on the road.
Apparently they are planning an aggressive network expansion, perhaps things will then start to change.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
I've seen a 1x Shark my end but a healthy amount of Atto's, none of the Sealions.
Speedster
Honorary Master
I saw a shark this morning. There's a dealer around the corner from my office now - I popped in a couple of weeks back to find out about the Sealion 5. I'm considering getting one once it launches locally.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Tim Rodie Drives Stuff review of the Seal U DM-i
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
CarSauce first drive of the Denza B8