BYD to launch 3 further EVs in South Africa

From the newsletter

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is set to launch the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid bakkie, the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid SUV and the all-electric Sealion 7 coupé-SUV in South Africa this year. It adds to the planned launch of the Dolphin Mini, its cheapest EV selling for $9,500, in the same market this year. 

• The four new models will bring BYD’s lineup of EVs and hybrids in South Africa to seven, the most of any automaker in the country. Once launched, they will increase the number of fully-electric models to 23 and hybrids to 11.

• BYD, the largest EV manufacturer in the world, currently sells the Dolphin, Atto 3 and Seal in the country. The introduction of the Dolphin Mini and the Sealion 7 will increase its full EV lineup to five. It will also have two out of 11 hybrid models available in the country.

More details

• The Shark 6 could be South Africa’s first plug-in hybrid bakkie when it’s launched. The double cab has a payload of 835 kg. Its hybrid powertrain combines a 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 29.5 kWh Blade battery.

• The Sealion 6, already available in other markets as the Song Plus or Seal U, will be BYD’s second entry into the SUV segment in South Africa. Meanwhile, the Sealion 7 will be available in two powertrain options: a single-motor rear-wheel-drive version and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version, both powered by an 82.5 kWh Blade battery.

• The much-awaited introduction of these models comes at a time when demand for EVs and hybrids in South Africa is growing. Last year, 1,257 battery EVs were sold there, up 35% from 929 units sold in 2023. Further, 737 plug-in hybrids were sold in 2024, up 100% from 368 units sold in 2023.

• Despite this range of options, which is expected to grow further in the next few years, the sales volumes for EVs and hybrids remain low compared to the country’s total sales. The hybrids formed just 0.14% of the 515,712 motor vehicles sold in 2024, while for EVs, it was 0.2%.

• The low sales volumes notwithstanding, an increasing number of automakers, especially Chinese-owned, have firmly set their eyes on Africa to propel their global growth ambitions. For instance, China’s Omoda and Jaecoo are set to launch new EV and hybrid models in South Africa this year, while Zeekr, another Chinese automaker, launched Zeekr 001 in Egypt last week.

• South Africa is especially attractive to EV automakers because its population has a higher purchasing power compared to most countries on the continent. The ratio of motor vehicle ownership there is high. 

Our take

• Despite BYD’s price cuts, its vehicles will still enter South Africa with hefty price tags. The country charges a 25% import tax on EVs, and that gives locally-made ICEs a major pricing advantage.

• Electric automakers eyeing South Africa should prepare for further tax hikes. Its government is proposing an increase of its Value-Added Tax by two percentage points, which will affect the price of goods including vehicles.

• The sales of used EVs and hybrids will likely surpass the sales of the new models that the likes of BYD are introducing into the market due to their lower pricing, especially as more South Africans feel economic pinch.