You know the drill. For years, the South African EV market has been a playground for the 1%. You want a car that runs on electrons? Cool. Go drop a few million on a BMW i , a Volvo C40 Recharge, or some other piece of shiny unobtanium. It was a beautiful, but totally irrelevant, conversation for 99% of the country.
Now, BYD is trying to change that.
Their new Dolphin Surf just hit our shores, with a price tag under R400,000. That’s not a typo. That’s a real number. It’s the kind of price that makes you sit up and actually consider an EV. We’re not talking about some futuristic gadget for the Sandton elite; we’re talking about a car that costs roughly what you’d pay for a new, mid-spec Polo or a Corolla. It’s a direct shot at the heart of the “normal person” car market. This is the first EV in South Africa that feels less like a status symbol and more like a smart purchase.
For your R400k, you’re getting a small, but smart car. It’s got BYD’s “Blade Battery,” which is their whole thing—super safe, super durable. You get a few range options, but the big one is the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) tech. It seems like it was made for a South African audience. This thing can act as a massive power bank. So when Eskom decides to take a nap, your car can power your WiFi, your TV, maybe even your damn kettle. That’s not just a feature; it’s a selling point that hits right at the core of our daily frustrations.
And to be clear, this isn’t some flimsy golf cart. It scored a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. It’s got the bells and whistles—a big touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, the whole shebang. They didn’t strip it down to hit that price point. It’s properly equipped.
BYD Auto SA’s, Ming Xing, said it best:
“Sustainable mobility shouldn’t be out of reach—it should be an everyday reality for real people.”
Finally, a marketing line that doesn’t sound like it was written in a boardroom fueled by cold brew and empty promises. It’s about utility, not exclusivity.
BYD is betting that if you offer South Africans an electric car at a petrol car’s price, they’ll make the switch. It’s a risk, but it’s a calculated one. And for the first time, going electric isn’t a fantasy, It’s an actual option.
The Car Itself
- Compact but roomy: Just under four meters long, yet surprisingly spacious inside. City-friendly without feeling cramped.
- Battery choices:
- 30kWh (220km WLTP range)
- 38.8kWh (295km WLTP range)
- Blade Battery tech: BYD’s globally praised system, known for safety and durability.
- Vehicle-to-Load (V2L): Your car doubles as a power bank. Run your gadgets, kettle, or even a Wi-Fi router during loadshedding.
- Tech inside: 10.1-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a voice assistant that responds to “Hi BYD.”
BYD is backing the Dolphin Surf with a robust warranty and service package: a 3-year/60,000 km Service Plan, a 3-year/100,000 km Complete Vehicle Warranty, and an 8-year/200,000 km Power Battery Warranty.
Pricing:
BYD Dolphin Surf Dynamic: R389,900
BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort: R339,900
You can test drive the Dolphin Surf at your nearest BYD dealer, visit https://byd.com/za for more information.
*This article has been updated to include pricing and warranty
