BYD Dolphin electric-car arrival pushed back, due later this year alongside Seal sedan

Chinese electric-car giant BYD’s next two models for Australia – the city-sized Dolphin and larger Seal – are due closer to the end of this year than previously forecast.

The Australian arrival of the BYD Dolphin electric hatchback has been delayed to the second half of this year, ahead of the BYD Seal electric sedan due before year’s end.

BYD’s Australian distributor EVDirect has advised the Dolphin hatch is now due to open for orders in July 2023, and commence deliveries soon after – a delay compared to the first half of 2023 timing previously announced.

The Tesla Model 3-sized Seal sedan – previously confirmed for the “second half of 2023” – is now scheduled to open for orders and begin deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2023 (October to December), pending any further delays.

The latest round of delays places the opening of order books nine to 12 months behind the “late 2022” timing indicated in mid-2022, at which time deliveries were scheduled to commence in early 2023.

MORE: BYD Dolphin, Seal electric cars delayed for Australia, orders to open 2023

EVDirect managing director Luke Todd told Drive in recent weeks the company is aiming to confirm pricing and open orders for the Dolphin city hatch this July – pending any unforeseen delays.

The Australian distributor for the Chinese electric-car maker is yet to outline if the new models will wear the nautical-themed Dolphin and Seal names used overseas, or if different badges will be applied for Australia.

Given the vehicles are set to use their original names in other right-hand-drive markets – such as Japan and Thailand – Drive understands there is a chance the Dolphin and Seal may not be renamed for Australia.

Prices for both vehicles are some months away from confirmation.

Using overseas prices as a guide, the Dolphin may be priced from less than $40,000 plus on-road costs, while the Seal sedan may be priced from $60,000 to $80,000 plus on-road costs, similar to its Tesla Model 3 rival (from $60,900 plus on-roads).

These estimates would make the Dolphin one of Australia’s cheapest new electric cars, just undercutting the GWM Ora Standard Range hatch ($44,490 to $47,891 drive-away).

The MG 4 – another small electric hatchback from China – is priced from $47,990 plus on-road costs in long-range, highly-specified Essence form, though cheaper models with less driving range and fewer luxury features are also expected to be offered.

The Dolphin measures four metres long – similar to a Toyota Yaris or Suzuki Swift – and offers a choice of 30.7kWh and 44.9kWh battery packs in China, good for up to 400km of claimed driving range in lenient Chinese lab testing.

It is claimed to be capable of DC fast charging at up to 60kW, for a quoted 30 to 80 per cent recharge time of 30 minutes.

Right-hand-drive BYD Dolphin models in Thailand (pictured in purple) wear different bumpers to left-hand-drive versions sold in China (above).

Given the Thai styling has been seen on Dolphin prototypes testing in Australia, it is more likely this will be the appearance offered to Australian buyers.

Meanwhile, the Toyota Camry or Tesla Model 3-sized BYD Seal offers a choice of single-motor, rear-wheel-drive or dual-motor, all-wheel-drive layouts.

Buyers in China are offered a choice of 61.4kWh or 82.5kWh battery packs, good for 550km to 700km of claimed driving range – the latter estimated to translate to about 560km in stricter European WLTP testing.

Top-of-the-range dual-motor vehicles develop 390kW and 670Nm, for a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.8 seconds.

The post BYD Dolphin electric-car arrival pushed back, due later this year alongside Seal sedan appeared first on Drive.

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