The BYD (EV) Thread

1.2bar for top spec but a healthy 359kw!
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Seems bit pricey as tiggo 9 top spec with more power is under 1bar.
 
BYD Atto 8 (2026) Price & Specs

The BYD Atto 8 crossover has officially arrived in South Africa, offering 7 seats and a plug-in hybrid powertrain boasting up to 359 kW. Here’s what it costs…

- BYD Auto launches Atto 8 PHEV in Mzansi
- Pair of 7-seater variants available at launch
- Performance AWD flagship makes 359 kW

South Africa’s rapidly growing plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) segment has just gained a fresh entrant in the form of the new BYD Atto 8, a dual-powered crossover that features seating for 7 occupants.

Known as the “Tang L” in its domestic market of China and as the “Sealion 8” in some other countries, the new Atto 8 measures 5 040 mm from front to back. For reference, that means it’s a little lengthier than the fully electric Volvo EX90 (5 037 mm) and almost as long as the Audi Q7 (5 072 mm).

The newcomer from the Chinese new-energy vehicle (NEV) brand is available locally in 2 guises: Atto 8 Premium and the Atto 8 Performance AWD. The former is priced from R1 059 900, while the latter kicks off some R200 000 higher, at R1 259 900.

In each case, the PHEV powertrain is built around a 110 kW/220 Nm turbocharged 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine. The front-wheel-drive Atto 8 Premium features a single electric motor (200 kW and 315 Nm) that draws its urge from a 19.0 kWh battery pack, with total system power standing at 205 kW. For this variant, BYD claims an all-electric range of 75 km and a combined range of 892 km.

What does the new BYD Atto 8 cost in SA?

DERIVATIVE PRICE

BYD Atto 8 Premium R1 059 900
BYD Atto 8 Performance AWD R1 259 900

The prices above include a 5-year/100 000 km vehicle warranty, a 5-year/100 000 km powertrain warranty, an 8-year/200 000 km battery warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.

 
BYD revealed every taxi driver’s dream - Linghui e7 with flash charging support

Taxi drivers and ride-hailing professionals have a common enemy: the clock. Every minute spent sitting at a charging station is a minute not making money. BYD, the giant Chinese automaker, thinks it has the answer to this problem. Through its new sub-brand Linghui, the company launched the e7 sedan. This car is obviously electric, but its real talent is in filling up its battery faster than most people can finish a cup of coffee.

The Linghui e7 is the very first model from the new brand. It starts at RMB 95,800, which is about €11,900. If you want the top-end version, the price goes up to RMB 115,800, or roughly €14,300. The price might be low, but the technology inside is quite advanced. BYD designed this car specifically for people who drive for a living. They want to make sure these electric cars spend more time on the road and less time plugged into a wall.

Speed is the main attraction here. The Linghui e7 uses BYD's second-generation Blade Battery coupled with "flash charging" technology. If the battery is at 10%, it can jump to 70% in only five minutes. If you have nine minutes to spare, the car can reach a 97% charge. Even in freezing weather as low as -30°C, the car only takes three extra minutes to charge. This is a huge deal for drivers in cold climates who usually see their EVs struggle when the temperature drops.

BYD is also thinking about its own image. Many of BYD's popular cars are used as taxis. This made some private buyers feel like they were driving a "cab" instead of a personal car. To fix this, BYD created Linghui as a dedicated commercial brand. The Linghui e7 uses the platform from the Sealion 06 but looks a little bit different. It follows a design style called "Innate Smile" - the front of the car has lines that curve upward, making the vehicle look like it is happy.


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BYD Dolphin Surf emerges as SA’s best-selling EV in March 2026

The BYD Dolphin Surf has emerged as the best-selling EV in South Africa in March 2026. Here’s how many units were sold…

The BYD Dolphin Surf launched in South Africa in September 2025 … and with an asking price starting from R341 900, it has been the most affordable EV in SA until recently (the Geely E2, which made its local debut in April 2026, is currently the most affordable EV in SA). Thanks to its palatable sticker price, the Dolphin Surf has proved popular for the Chinese automaker’s local arm, with the 239 new units leaving showroom floors making it the best-selling EV in SA in the third month of 2026. The number of Dolphin Surf units sold accounted for 40.5% of BYD SA’s overall March 2026 sales figure. The Atto 3, Dolphin, Sealion 5, Sealion 6, Sealion 7, Seal and Shark 6 bakkie – the latter of which we evaluated for a road test in 2025 – accounted for the remaining 350 cars sold by BYD on local shores in March 2026.

As a reminder, the BYD Dolphin Surf is powered by a single electric motor, fed by a 30.1 kWh battery pack in Comfort spec and a 38.9 kWh item in Dynamic guise. Both models produce 55 kW and 135 N.m of torque. The company claims operating ranges of up to 232 and 295 km for the Comfort and Dynamic, respectively. Both models have a maximum DC fast-charging capacity of 40 kW.

 
BYD Dolphin Surf emerges as SA’s best-selling EV in March 2026

The BYD Dolphin Surf has emerged as the best-selling EV in South Africa in March 2026. Here’s how many units were sold…

The BYD Dolphin Surf launched in South Africa in September 2025 … and with an asking price starting from R341 900, it has been the most affordable EV in SA until recently (the Geely E2, which made its local debut in April 2026, is currently the most affordable EV in SA). Thanks to its palatable sticker price, the Dolphin Surf has proved popular for the Chinese automaker’s local arm, with the 239 new units leaving showroom floors making it the best-selling EV in SA in the third month of 2026. The number of Dolphin Surf units sold accounted for 40.5% of BYD SA’s overall March 2026 sales figure. The Atto 3, Dolphin, Sealion 5, Sealion 6, Sealion 7, Seal and Shark 6 bakkie – the latter of which we evaluated for a road test in 2025 – accounted for the remaining 350 cars sold by BYD on local shores in March 2026.

As a reminder, the BYD Dolphin Surf is powered by a single electric motor, fed by a 30.1 kWh battery pack in Comfort spec and a 38.9 kWh item in Dynamic guise. Both models produce 55 kW and 135 N.m of torque. The company claims operating ranges of up to 232 and 295 km for the Comfort and Dynamic, respectively. Both models have a maximum DC fast-charging capacity of 40 kW.

Seeing quite bit these in my area now.

My main issue neither BYD/chery group even offers public charging:(

Public charger very lacking to support these cars.

Bmw/audi atleast have chargers at there dealerships.
 
BYD Atto 8: price and specs

BYD has launched the Atto 8 – a seven-seater plug-in hybrid SUV – in South Africa. See pricing below…

The BYD Atto 8, also known as the Tang L in other markets, is the latest new-energy vehicle (NEV) in the Shenzen automaker’s local model portfolio. The Atto 8 is available in two flavours: Premium and Performance AWD. Featuring BYD’s fifth-generation DM Super Hybrid Technology, the Atto 8’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain pairs the electric motor(s) with a 110 kW/220 N.m 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. Equipped with a single electric motor, the Premium model develops a combined system output of 205 kW and 315 N.m, sent to the front wheels via a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). The (all-wheel-drive) Performance derivative features twin electric motors for combined power and torque outputs of 359 kW and 675 N.m.

The FWD variant is fitted with a 19 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery offering a claimed EV-only operating range of 75 km and a combined range of 892 km from a full, 60-litre tank of fuel. The all-paw model features a larger, 35.6 kWh battery pack, which provides up to 130 km (claimed) of EV-only driving. The latter derivative has a claimed combined range of 844 km.

The Atto 8 Premium returns claimed fuel consumption figures of 2.9 L/100 km with a fully charged hybrid battery, or 6.9 L/100 km combined. The Atto 8 Performance AWD has a claimed consumption figure of 2.2 L/100 km when the battery is charged, and 7.8 L/100 km combined.

BYD Atto 8 price in SA

Thanks to the folks at duoporta, we can confirm BYD’s seven-seater PHEV SUV is priced from R1 059 900 and R1 259 900 for the Premium and Performance AWD derivatives, respectively. Included with the price as standard are a five-year/100 000 km vehicle warranty, eight-year/200 000 km battery warranty, and a five-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.

BYD Atto 8 Premium – R1 059 900
BYD Atto 8 Performance AWD – R1 259 900

 
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