China’s BYD adds second model to Japan EV line-up

CHINA’S BYD on Friday (Sep 1) said it will start selling its second electric vehicle (EV) model in Japan this month, as it seeks to secure a foothold in a market that has given rise to some of the world’s best-selling auto brands.

The automaker said it will take orders for its Dolphin car from Sep 20, in what could become a worry for Japanese rivals which are struggling in China against BYD and other domestic manufacturers amid a rapid shift to EVs.

BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, will also announce Dolphin pricing on that date. The model starts from 116,800 yuan (S$22,086) in China.

The Shenzhen-based automaker only plans to sell battery-powered cars in Japan, not vehicles with other powertrain technology in which it is a big player in China’s market, such as plug-in hybrids.

It aims to offer a regular and a long-range version of the Dolphin compatible with Japan’s CHAdeMO charging standard. It then plans to introduce its Seal model around year-end or early next year.

BYD has not set a sales target for Japan. A spokesperson declined to disclose how many vehicles it needed to sell in Japan each year to be profitable.

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Since opening its first Japanese dealership in Yokohama in February, BYD has sold about 700 ATTO 3 electric sports utility vehicles, which sells for 4.4 million yen (S$40,859).

The automaker seeks to open over 100 dealerships by the end of 2025. This year, its Japan unit signed a car dealership contract with Japanese trading house Sojitz. REUTERS