BYD is planning a rapid expansion of its European and UK line-ups and will introduce two all-new models before the end of the year. The key arrival is likely to be the new Dolphin supermini that has been re-engineered for the European market, and a new saloon badged Seal that will go head-to-head with the Tesla Model 3. 

The Dolphin will arrive as BYD’s entry level model and comes with a specification likely to set new benchmarks for range and equipment. Measuring 4,290mm long, the Dolphin is 230mm longer than a Vauxhall Corsa-e, comes with a 60kWh battery and a WLTP range of 265 miles.  Rapid charging maxes out at 88kW on a DC connection while AC charging can be carried out at up to 11kW. The Dolphin will also come with Vehicle to Load (V2L) function as standard on high spec models while a heat pump is fitted as standard across the range.

The front-mounted motor delivers 204bhp to the front wheels, which is enough to propel it from 0-62mph in seven seconds. Thanks to an usually long wheelbase of 2,700mm (longer than the new Vauxhall Astra), the Dolphin’s cabin offers more passenger space than its sector rivals and offers a 345 litre boot that can be extended to 1,310 litres with the rear seats folded. 

BYD is planning to offer four as-yet-unnamed trim levels which will be available in a range of vibrant and unusual colours. UK pricing has yet to be confirmed, but European customers will be able to pick the Dolphin up for between €30,000 and €38,000 when order books open in the summer. BYD’s UK management expects the car to hit the market at around £27,000 - a figure that promises to undercut many supermini rivals - all of which offer smaller batteries and lower ranges. 

While the Dolphin is expected to land in the UK before the end of the year, BYD’s second new arrival, the Seal, is likely to arrive as early as this summer. Like the Dolphin, it is based on BYD’s e platform 3.0, but features a completely different layout. Aimed squarely at the best-selling Tesla Model 3 and the new Hyundai Ioniq 6, the Seal is the first BYD to feature Cell To Body (CTB) construction. This uses the battery pack as a structural element of the chassis rather than an additional element. By using CTB, BYD has been able to lower the floor of the car by 15mm and delivering more space for passengers. 

Customers will be able to choose from two drivetrain options, both powered by an 82kWh battery pack. The entry-level rear-wheel drive model offers 308bhp while the range-topping all-wheel drive version packs a 523bhp punch. This, according to BYD, is enough to take the Seal from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds. DC rapid charging can be carried out at speeds of up to 150kW while AC peaks at 11kW. WLTP range figures are 354 miles for the rear-drive model and 323 miles for the all-wheel drive model. 

Order books for the Seal are expected to open in the Summer with first deliveries expected shortly after.