Chinese carmaker BYD has shaken up South Africa’s auto market with the launch of the Dolphin Surf, a compact electric vehicle priced from R339,900 ($19,570). That makes it the country’s cheapest EV, undercutting rivals such as the Dayun S5 by R60,000 ($3,500) and pushing electric mobility closer to the mass market.
The Dolphin Surf comes in two trims: the “Comfort,” with a 30kWh battery delivering a 232km range, and the “Dynamic,” with a 38.8kWh battery stretching to 295km.
Both models use BYD’s Blade Battery and e-Platform 3.0 technology, designed for greater safety and efficiency. While performance remains modest—the top speed is 130km/h, and 0–100km/h takes more than 14 seconds—the cars are built for urban practicality, not highway thrills.
A standout feature is Vehicle-to-Load technology, which lets the car double as a mobile power bank. In a load-shedding-prone country, that could prove a killer feature. The “Comfort” can power the average household for around 30 hours, while the Dynamic stretches that to nearly 39. Each vehicle comes standard with a 7kW home wall charger.
Between the lines: BYD has paired affordability with a tech-heavy cabin, including a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, and even a karaoke mode. With warranties of up to eight years on the battery, the Dolphin Surf is positioned to win over sceptical buyers.
Zoom out: The Dolphin Surf’s aggressive pricing could make it the car that finally takes EVs mainstream in South Africa. At its near-$20,000 price, does it mean every South African can afford it? That’s left for the market to decide. But we see this easily triggering a pricing war between deep-pocketed Chinese EV makers in the country, looking to establish market dominance.
