BYD introduced its Dolphin G DM-i plug-in hybrid, which will become the UK’s smallest PHEV supermini when sales begin this autumn. The company expects a starting price under £20,000.
The B-segment Dolphin G targets competitors like the Toyota Yaris, Renault Clio, and Volkswagen Polo. BYD uses its Super Hybrid plug-in system from the Atto 2 DM-i compact SUV.
DM-i stands for Dual Mode Intelligent.
The powertrain combines a 1.5-liter petrol engine with an electric motor that drives the front wheels. The engine works as a generator rather than directly powering the car.
BYD claims the Dolphin G DM-i delivers a combined range of 621 miles using both petrol and electric power. Full technical specifications will be released when the car officially launches in June – ahead of this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
European Development Strategy
The Dolphin G represents BYD’s first car developed specifically in Europe for European buyers. This mirrors Kia’s approach with its EV4 model.
The car is a sibling to the Dolphin Surf EV.
Stella Li, BYD’s executive vice president, explained the strategy at the Financial Times’s recent ‘Future of the Car’ event in London. She said BYD wants European customers to “think of BYD as a European brand.”
“The European B-segment is one of the most important parts of the market, and with the Dolphin G DM-i, we want to redefine what customers can expect from a compact car in the electric era.”
“By bringing long electric range, intelligent hybrid technology and advanced digital features into an accessible compact vehicle, we are making sustainable mobility smarter, more practical and available to many more people across Europe.”
The Dolphin G will likely be manufactured at BYD’s new factory in Szeged, Hungary. This aligns with the company’s strategy to build cars tailored specifically for European drivers’ preferences and requirements.
