海豚BYD Dolphin

BYD Dolphin: range, price, specs and where it is sold

Facts checked

The Dolphin was the first model in BYD's Ocean series and the first car built on e-Platform 3.0, the architecture that underpins most of the company's current electric range. It was announced in 2021 under the code EA1 and renamed before sale; the 500,000th car was built in September 2023.

Chinese specification for the 2025 model year, launched on 8 July 2024, covers Blade batteries of 44.93 and 60.48 kWh with CLTC ranges of 420 and 520 km and outputs of 70 or 150 kW. As with the Seagull, the export car has a longer body: 4,290 mm against 4,125 mm in China, on the same 2,700 mm wheelbase. BYD's United Kingdom leaflet quotes a 60.4 kWh battery and 265 miles, about 427 km, of WLTP range.

Unlike most BYD models the Dolphin keeps its name everywhere, which makes it one of the simpler cars in the range to follow across markets. It is sold in the United Kingdom, Germany and much of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico and Brazil, and was awarded five stars by both Euro NCAP and ANCAP in 2023.

Key facts

Name in Chinese 海豚 Hǎitún “HIGH-twun” 海 hǎi 'sea' + 豚 tún 'pig' — the ordinary Chinese word for a dolphin
BrandBYD
BodyHatchback, segment B
PowertrainBattery-electric
Launched China 2021; export 2023
Platforme-Platform 3.0
Headline output150 kW
Battery44.93 kWh or 60.48 kWh
Dimensions 4,290 × 1,770 × 1,570 mm, wheelbase 2,700 mm

What it is called where

The same car carries different names in different markets. This is the crosswalk, so a reader who knows one name can find the other.

Names the Dolphin carries.
Market Name Note
China Dolphin 海豚
Export markets Dolphin

Range

Published ranges for the Dolphin.
Range Cycle Variant
427 km WLTP WLTP 60.4 kWh, export (published in the UK as 265 miles)
420 km CLTC CLTC 44.93 kWh, China
520 km CLTC CLTC 60.48 kWh, China
410 km NEDC NEDC Essential, Australia
490 km NEDC NEDC Premium, Australia

Price

Starting prices, each with its currency and the date it was current.
Where Price Note
China CNY 99,800 as of starting price of the 2025 model year launched on 8 July 2024, from BYD's own Chinese order page; versions run to CNY 129,800
GB, Comfort, from BYD UK's own configurator; Design GBP 31,730 GBP 30,230 as of
DE, Comfort, from BYD Germany's own configurator; Design EUR 35,990 EUR 33,990 as of
AU, Essential, from BYD Australia's own configurator; Premium A$36,990 AUD 29,990 as of
BR, from BYD Brazil's own order page BRL 149,990 as of

A Chinese sticker price is not what the same car costs abroad: tariffs, specification and local taxes all differ. The price translator converts it at a stored rate and says so.

Where the Dolphin is sold

Market status for the Dolphin.
Market Status Since Note
China Sold 2021 Announced in 2021 as the EA1 and renamed Dolphin; the 500,000th car was built in September 2023.
United Kingdom Sold 2023 Sold in the United Kingdom; BYD publishes a 2025 specification leaflet for it.
Germany Sold 2023 Listed in BYD Germany's electric range at up to 427 km WLTP.
Australia Sold October 2023 ANCAP records the model as on sale in Australia and New Zealand from October 2023.
Japan Sold September 2023 Launched in Japan in September 2023.
Mexico Withdrawn September 2023 Launched in Mexico in September 2023 but not listed in BYD Mexico's line-up when checked in September 2026.
Brazil Sold Sold in Brazil.
United States Never sold BYD has never retailed passenger vehicles in the United States.
Thailand Sold BYD Thailand publishes a Dolphin model page.

Crash-test results

Quoted from the testing bodies. This site does not rate cars itself.

Published crash ratings for the Dolphin.
Body Year Stars Result
Euro NCAP 2023 5 Read the Euro NCAP result
ANCAP 2023 5 Read the ANCAP result

BYD Dolphin: questions people ask

What is the range of a BYD Dolphin?
BYD's United Kingdom figure is 265 miles, about 427 km, on the WLTP cycle with the 60.4 kWh battery. Chinese CLTC figures are 420 km for the 44.93 kWh car and 520 km for the 60.48 kWh car, and BYD Australia quotes 410 and 490 km on the older NEDC cycle.
How much does a BYD Dolphin cost?
In China the 2025 model year opened at CNY 99,800 with versions to CNY 129,800. BYD Australia listed A$29,990 for the Essential and A$36,990 for the Premium in September 2026.
What is the BYD Dolphin called in China?
海豚 (Hǎitún), which is simply the Chinese word for dolphin. This is one of the few BYD models that keeps the same name in every market.
Where is the BYD Dolphin sold?
China, the United Kingdom, Germany and much of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico and Brazil. It is not sold in the United States.
Is the BYD Dolphin safe?
Euro NCAP gave it five stars in 2023 with 89 per cent for adult occupant protection and 85 per cent for vulnerable road users. ANCAP awarded five stars the same year with almost identical scores.

Related

Sources for the BYD Dolphin

  1. BYD Europe B.V., DOLPHIN 2025 UK specification leaflet. Read . Export dimensions, 60.4 kWh battery and weights
  2. BYD UK, BYD DOLPHIN. Read . Up to 265 miles WLTP, 201 hp and the Blade battery description
  3. BYD Australia, BYD DOLPHIN. Read . Australian NEDC ranges of 410 and 490 km and outputs of 70 and 150 kW
  4. BYD Australia, BYD DOLPHIN configurator. Read . Australian prices for Essential and Premium
  5. BYD Germany, BYD Elektroautos. Read . Dolphin listed for Germany at up to 427 km WLTP
  6. Euro NCAP, BYD DOLPHIN — Euro NCAP assessment. Read . Five-star 2023 rating and category scores
  7. ANCAP, BYD DOLPHIN — Safety Rating & Report. Read . Five-star 2023 rating, category scores and the October 2023 Australian on-sale date
  8. CnEVPost, BYD launches 2025 Dolphin. Read . Chinese prices, 44.928 and 60.48 kWh batteries, 420 and 520 km CLTC, 70 and 150 kW and Chinese dimensions
  9. CnEVPost, BYD launches Dolphin in Japan. Read . Japanese launch date
  10. CnEVPost, BYD announces new all-electric EA1 named Dolphin. Read . The EA1 code name and the naming decision
  11. BYD Japan, BYD Japan model line-up. Read . Japanese line-up confirmed as Atto 3, Dolphin, Racco, Seal, Sealion 6 and Sealion 7
  12. BYD UK, BYD DOLPHIN configurator. Read . UK prices for Comfort and Design
  13. BYD Germany, BYD DOLPHIN Konfigurator. Read . German prices for Comfort and Design
  14. BYD Company Ltd, 2025款海豚 order page. Read . Official Chinese recommended prices for all four variants
  15. BYD Brazil, BYD DOLPHIN order page. Read . Brazilian price
  16. BYD Thailand, BYD DOLPHIN. Read . Confirms the Dolphin is sold in Thailand