The BYD (EV) Thread

5 Most Affordable EVs in South Africa in 2025

We’ve rounded up the five most affordable passenger EVs you can buy in South Africa in 2025.

EVs are becoming more accessible in the local market, with the latest model launched in South Africa priced comfortably under R400 000. The official arrival of the BYD Dolphin Surf has redefined what an affordable EV is in South Africa, undercutting its most obvious competitor by R60 000. The result? The top five most affordable EVs in SA are all produced by Chinese automakers, with one marque dominating the list.

5. BYD Atto 3 — from R768 000

4. GWM Ora 03 — from R686 950

3. BYD Dolphin — from R539 900

2. Dayun S5 — from R399 900

1. BYD Dolphin Surf — from R 339 900

www.carmag.co.za

5 Most affordable EVs in South Africa in 2026 [Update]

We’ve rounded up the five most affordable passenger EVs you can buy in South Africa in 2025. See the full list below.
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
First impressions of the BYD Dolphin Surf: South Africa's most affordable electric vehicle

Summary

At this price point, the BYD Dolphin Surf looks like a winner at first glance.

It’s perfectly suited for the daily commute and people who don’t venture too far from urban areas. It’s also ideal for students and even as a second car for families that don’t need large vehicles to get around town every day.

It will be interesting to see how South Africans react to it in the next few months.

It comes with a three-year/60,000km Service Plan, a three-year/100,000km warranty, and an eight-year/200,000km Power Battery warranty.

There’s a launch “early adopter package” that includes a R10,000 discount, a V2L socket, portable charger, point-to-point cable, a 7kW home-charger wall box and a R999 a month insurance package through Absa.

Pricing:

BYD Dolphin Surf Dynamic: R389,900
BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort: R339,900

 
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Now I’m not sure if this is the right one… hmm

Apologies for the kak photo
 
BYD Dolphin Surf (2025) Launch Review

What does the 2025 BYD Dolphin Surf cost in South Africa?

BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort R339 900
BYD Dolphin Surf Dynamic R389 900

Prices (correct in September 2025) include a 3-year/100 000 km vehicle warranty (with an additional 5 years and 100 000 km for the battery pack) as well as a 3-year/60 000 km service plan.

At the launch event of the 2025 Dolphin Surf, held in Cape Town, BYD also announced an “Early Adopter Package”, which the brand said included a “V2L socket, portable charger, point-to-point cable, a 7kW home-charger wall box, a R999-a-month insurance package (Absa), and a R10 000 cash incentive.”

Summary

BYD’s new little city slicker bucks the trend by providing electric mobility at a competitive price. Before the recent arrival of the Dolphin Surf, the best-known “affordable” compact electric hatchback was the GWM Ora 03, a bigger offering with more range, but one that started at well over R600k.

Our first taste of the cute Dolphin Surf was promising. Sure, some aspects of the model irked us, but they’re arguably overlookable at this price point. Our new-car market sorely needs more affordable new-energy vehicles, and it will be fascinating to see to what extent buyers warm to BYD’s pint-sized newcomer. We eagerly look forward to doing a thorough assessment of this product in the near future.

 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1968952954574266809

businessexplainer.co.za

Eskom and BYD Sign Deal

Eskom has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with BYD Auto South Africa, the local division of the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, to explore opportunities in South Africa’s emerging electric vehicle (EV) sector. The agreement, signed on September 16, 2025, supports the launch of...
businessexplainer.co.za businessexplainer.co.za
 
Yangwang U9 Xtreme hits 308mph, becomes world's fastest ever production car

BYD’s all electric hypercar hits record top speed during latest run

It’s official: the Yangwang U9 Xtreme (formerly called the Track Edition) is now the fastest production car in the world, having hit 308.4mph at ATP Patenburg’s high speed oval in Germany.

Three hundred and eight miles per hour. Yep, a mere couple of weeks after smashing the electric production car top speed record, it’s now gone one better to become the fastest road-legal car – electric or otherwise – on the planet.

It dethrones the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, which managed 304.8mph in 2019, having already toppled the Aspark Owl (272.6mph) and Rimac Nevera R (268.2mph). We say toppled, it absolutely obliterated them.

It was again piloted by German race driver Marc Basseng, no stranger to speed records and seemingly a man with nerves of absolute steel. Last year he managed a personal best of 233mph in the ‘standard’ U9. Today, he’s one of a select few people to have made it into the 300mph club.


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