BYD Enters the Compact EV Segment with Dolphin Surf
BYD has launched its Dolphin Surf model in Europe, targeting the growing market for affordable, compact electric vehicles (EVs). The Dolphin Surf is BYD’s eighth European model and its smallest to date, measuring 3.99 meters in length, 1.72 meters in width, and 1.59 meters in height, with a wheelbase of 2.50 meters.
The compact EV is designed to be ‘perfect for narrow city streets with small, tight parking spaces’ due to its narrower body, according to BYD. The Dolphin Surf is based on BYD’s e-platform 3.0, a purely electric platform that also underpins larger European models like the Dolphin and Seal.
Key Features and Specifications
The Dolphin Surf comes in three variants: Active, Boost, and Comfort. The Active version features a 30 kWh battery and a 65 kW motor, with a WLTP range of 220 km. The Boost variant also has a 65 kW motor but is equipped with a larger 43.2 kWh battery, offering up to 322 km of range. The top-of-the-line Comfort version pairs the larger battery with a more powerful 115 kW front-wheel drive, achieving a WLTP range of 310 km.
BYD has focused on urban driving needs, highlighting a WLTP urban cycle range of up to 507 km. The Dolphin Surf features a blade battery using lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cell chemistry, which is considered more robust, safe, and cost-effective, although it has lower energy density compared to NMC cells.
Pricing and Market Positioning
The Dolphin Surf is available for pre-order in Germany, with deliveries expected to start in June. For the market launch, BYD is offering promotional pricing: the Active version will be available for 19,990 euros until June 30, 2025, after which the regular price will be 22,990 euros. The Boost and Comfort versions are also offered at discounted prices initially, at 22,490 euros and 24,990 euros respectively, before reverting to their standard prices of 26,990 euros and 30,990 euros.
BYD claims the Dolphin Surf offers competitive features such as voice control, 360-degree camera, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, NFC keyless entry, and vegan leather seats, some of which are not available in competitor models even as optional extras.
The launch of the Dolphin Surf intensifies competition in the compact EV segment, challenging established players like the Hyundai Inster, Renault 5, and the forthcoming VW ID.2. As the market continues to evolve, consumers are likely to benefit from increased options and competitive pricing, while manufacturers will need to maintain a strong presence in both sales and service networks to remain competitive.
