BYD, the prominent Chinese vehicle manufacturer, is set to launch its most affordable model to date, the Atto 1, in South Africa. According to a report by CarMag, which recently visited the company in China, the vehicle is expected to be priced at below R400,000. If this price holds, it could position the Atto 1 as one of the most affordable electric vehicles (EVs) in the country, competing directly with models like the Dayun S5 from Enviro Automotive.
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The Atto 1, known as the Dolphin Mini or Dolphin Surf in other markets, will feature BYD’s advanced blade battery system and will be available in several versions, offering ranges of 220km, 310km, and 322km.
BYD is aggressively expanding its presence in South Africa, aiming to nearly triple its dealership network by next year. “By the end of the year, we will have about 20 dealerships around the country. The aim is to expand that to about 30, 35 in the next year,” said Steve Chang, BYD’s South Africa GM.
This expansion comes as competition in Africa’s largest automotive market intensifies, with other Chinese manufacturers like GAC, Chery, and GWM also making significant inroads.
BYD currently offers six models in South Africa, including the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 bakkie and hybrid Sealion 6. The company’s strategy is to capture the market early in preparation for a meaningful transition to new energy vehicles (NEVs).
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Chang emphasized the importance of this move, stating, “We want to educate and cultivate the market of South Africa and make sure that the South African consumers can catch up with the rest of the world.”
The overall NEV market in South Africa is growing, with sales more than doubling to 15,611 units in 2024 from 7,782 in 2023. However, the uptake of EVs and related investment in Africa remains slow compared to other emerging markets, hindered by factors such as limited charging infrastructure, an unstable power supply, and high import duties.
Despite these challenges, Chang affirmed South Africa’s strategic importance, noting, “South Africa is actually one of the most important automotive markets in the southern hemisphere. It’s probably the biggest market in all of Africa, so it’s a market that we have to look at and see how we can develop.”
