Major Tesla rival launching 9 more cars in South Africa

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD has an aggressive model rollout plan in South Africa — with nine new models launching in the country in the next year or so.

MyBroadband spoke to several sources close to the manufacturer’s plans at the Festival of Motoring and learnt that its current modest line-up of two models is set to grow to 11 by the end of 2025.

BYD might still be an unfamiliar name to many South Africans due to its initial offerings being limited to China.

However, the manufacturer has started making big waves outside its home country thanks to its value-focused EVs across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and several South American countries.

It sells the second-highest number of fully-electric cars of any carmaker, with Tesla being the only company that sells more.

However, Tesla’s advantage is rapidly shrinking as BYD expands its reach outside China.

In the second quarter of 2024, BYD shipped 426,039 fully-electric cars globally, a year-on-year increase of 21%. Tesla shipped roughly 18,000 more units, but its tally was 5% lower than in the same period a year ago.

BYD also operates in one growing segment where Tesla does not — plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

Including these models with its sales in Q2 2024 takes its tally to nearly 1 million, making BYD the world’s biggest new energy vehicle maker by a country mile.

BYD launched its first model in South Africa — the fully-electric Atto 3 compact SUV in mid-2023.

With pricing starting at R768,000, it was among the top three most affordable EVs on South African showroom floors at the time.

BYD’s second model in South Africa was the Dolphin hatchback, launched locally in the second quarter of 2024.

Starting from R539,990, it became the cheapest fully electric car in South Africa, excluding vehicles that cannot reach maximum legal highway speeds.

The third model BYD plans to roll out locally is the Seal, a premium mid-sized sedan competing with the Tesla Model 3 in several markets.

BYD recently showcased the first Seal models in South Africa at the Festival of Motoring. The company confirmed the Seal will launch locally in October 2024.

It is unclear exactly which Seal models or trims will be offered locally.

If BYD follows a similar trend as it did with the Dolphin and Atto 3, it is likely to be similar to what it has launched in Australia, an automotive market comparable to South Africa.

The Seal comes in three versions in that country:

• Seal Dynamic — rear-wheel drive (RWD) model with single motor producing 150kW power and 310Nm torque, paired with 61.4kWh battery pack, 460km WLTP range
• Seal Premium — RWD model with single motor producing 230kW power and 360Nm torque, paired with 82.5kWh battery pack, 570km WLTP range
• Seal Performance — all-wheel-drive (AWD) model with single motor producing 390kW power and 670Nm torque, paired with 82.5kWh battery pack, 520km WLTP range

The Performance model’s acceleration from a standstill to 100km/h takes 3.8 seconds, while the mid-range version can do the same in 5.9 seconds.

In Australia, the Seal Dynamic starts at AU$49,888, which was just about R600,000 at the time of publication, while the top-end Performance model is priced at AU$68,748 (R1.23 million).

Given the price differences between the other BYD models in South Africa and Australia, it is likely that local pricing will be a bit higher.

Even so, the Seal seems nearly certain to become the most affordable fully-electric sedan in South Africa. As it stands, the cheapest electric sedan is Mercedes-Benz EQE, which starts from around R1.72 million.

Affordable plug-in hybrid also coming to South Africa

Many EV sceptics in South Africa will be more interested in what could be BYD’s first plug-in hybrid in the country.

The BYD Sealion 6 — known as the BYD Song Plus in China — boasts an 18.3kWh battery providing up to 92km of all-electric range but also features a regular petrol tank. Combined, these can provide over 1,000km of range on a single charge and refill.

The entry-level Dynamic model with the regular 1.5-litre engine has an effective 160kW of combined power and 300Nm torque, while the Premium boasts a 238kW output and 550Nm torque, allowing for acceleration from standstill to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds.

The Dynamic is priced from AU$48,990 in Australia, roughly the same as the fully-electric Seal.

That means when it arrives locally in early 2025, it will likely be the most affordable PHEV in South Africa, significantly undercutting the BMW X1 PHEV’s price tag of R1.05 million.

BYD also offers a fully-electric version of the Sealion, although it remains to be seen whether this model will be launched in South Africa.

Plug-in bakkie and cheapest electric hatchback

Two more models our sources claim will become available locally are the all-electric Dolphin Mini and the Shark PHEV.

The Dolphin Mini is a small hatchback sold as the Seagull in China and is BYD’s most affordable model.

In its home country, it sells for between 78,800 and 95,800 yuans (R198,354 and R241,146).

Considering BYD’s current models sell for about double their Chinese prices in South Africa, its price tag should be between R400,000 and R500,000.

The Shark is a plug-in hybrid bakkie likely to appeal to South African car buyers.

It boasts a 320kW output capable of accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds.

The Shark features a 29.6kWh LFP battery that supports an all-electric driving range of up to 100km.

The potential pricing of the Shark in Australia recently popped up in an online government database seen by Drive.com.au. It will reportedly be priced at AU$68,000, or R1.22 million.

Another intriguing model that might be on BYD’s South African menu is the Seal 07 DM-i, which boasts the company’s latest highly-efficient hybrid drivetrain.

With a mix of intelligent battery usage and an astounding thermal efficiency, BYD has claimed this model consumes 3.4 litres per 100 kilometres, making it capable of 2,000km on a single charge and tank refill.

What is perhaps more important is its price, which ranges between 139,800 and 195,800 yuan (R352,058 to R493,103) in China.

Real-life tests have shown the range can be anywhere from 1,800km to 2,400km, depending on specific driving circumstances.

YouTuber Wheelsboy’s own test found it capable of 1,350km with 90% highway speeds, working out to an economy of 4.5 litres per 100km.