BYD bombshell: sub-$30K EV for Australia

BYD has dropped a bombshell on the Aussie new car market, announcing a new entry-level BYD Dolphin compact EV from under $30,000, becoming Australia’s cheapest EV.

The five-door city runabout has been on sale in Australia for over a year and is brand’s slowest selling model in this country, behind the Seal, Atto 3 and Sealion 6. But in a move set to send shockwaves through the Australian auto industry it has opened the order books for the new Dolphin ‘Essential’ model-grade, its $29,990 (excluding on-road costs) price slashing almost $7000 from the current price leader.

The game-changing move is expected to reignite interest in EVs among younger motorists and budget car buyers and fires a warning shot across the bow of its Chinese rivals who also offer affordable EVs, such as GWM and MG.

The arrival of BYD’s ultra-affordable EV in March lines up with a fresh wave of goverment-backed low-interest EV loans.

The MG4 Excite previously one of the cheapest EVs in Australia, positioned at $30,990 drive-away, but it was a limited time offer and is now $34,990 drive-away. The GWM Ora is priced at $33,990 drive-away after several price drops.

Factoring in on-road costs, the BYD Dolphin Essential will likely be a $32,000 proposition, give or take.

So how has BYD managed to bring the first sub-$30,000 EV into Australia? Well, it’s de-contented the vehicle, removing several features from the Dolphin such as heated seats, rain-sensing wipers, auto-folding wing mirrors, the wireless phone charger, tinted windows and a panoramic sunroof.

But the single front-mounted e-motor powertrain (70kW/180Nm) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) 44.9kWh battery remain.

Range is claimed to be 340km range (WLTP), also unchanged.

The car also keeps its five-star ANCAP safety rating.

The CEO of EVDirect, the company that imports BYD vehicles to Australia, David Smitherman,

declared the sharply priced EV “…a win for the everyday Australian, and a significant moment in Australia’s automotive evolution.

“We’re delivering on our commitment to simplify the transition to new energy vehicles. The 'Essentials' range is designed to break down another barrier to EV adoption.”

BYD is also offering the larger Atto 3 Essential for $39,990, which also reaches a sharper price point via the removal of some features.

As BYD continues to build sales momentum with the Seal and Atto 3 EVs, the Sealion 6 PHEV and the new Shark 6 PHEV ute – of which local customer deliveries have just started – the brand’s low cost EV is another feather in the brand’s cap.

BYD – which stands for Build Your Dreams – has made it clear that it wants to be a top 10 player in Australia and even boasted that its new Shark 6 dual-cab ute will knock the Ford Ranger off its perch as Australia’s best-selling vehicle.

But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the brand, the construction of its upcoming Brazilian factory mired in controversy and shut down after the Brazilian government accused BYD's construction contractor of working in ‘slave-like conditions’.

More news has emerged from the Brazilian government that BYD’s construction partner, JinJiang, brought hundreds of construction workers into Brazil using “irregular visas.”

BYD is attempting to distance itself from its construction contractor but the revelations have tarnished the brand’s otherwise squeaky-clean reputation.

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