The 500,000th BYD Dolphin EV Rolls-Off The Production Line

BYD shows no signs of slowing down, as the Chinese EV giant celebrates yet another production milestone. This time around, the 500,000th unit of the BYD Dolphin EV hatch just rolled-off the production line, following the success of its EV SUV sibling who hit the same milestone last week.

This momentous feat not only makes the Dolphin as one of the best-selling EV models by the marque, but also making it the best-selling hatchback model in the Chinese market for 19 consecutive months.

The BYD Dolphin EV is one of the best-selling EV hatches in several international markets, too

Aside from stellar sales volume in its local market, this quirky EV hatch also garners universal appeal on the international front, where the Dolphin recently crowned as the best-selling EV model in Brazil last month. Meanwhile, sales in other markets like Thailand were also impressive, with up to 481 units delivered in its first month in said kingdom’s market.

Recently made its debut in Malaysia last July, the Dolphin EV is also poised to penetrate several key Western markets this year, where it recently completed its first test-drive event in the UK, garnering widespread acclaim from the local media there.

The Dolphin EV arrives as the most affordable new EV model in Malaysia, priced from RM100,530!

Arriving as the most affordable EV model in our market, BYD Malaysia’s brand principal Sime Darby Beyond Auto (SDBA) offers the Dolphin EV hatch in two variants, with the baseline Standard Range starts at RM100,530, while the range-topping Extended Range model tagged higher at RM125,530. Both are on-the-road prices excluding insurance and other additional costs.

Underpinning the same e-Platform 3.0 EV architecture as its bigger sibling,  the Dolphin EV is juiced by either a 44.9-kWh (Standard) or 60.48-kWh (Extended) ‘Blade’ lithium-ion battery pack, with the latter garnering it with a maximum EV range of 427 KM on the WLTP cycle.

Both variants are powered by the same front-mounted-and-drive (FWD) single electric motor setup, where the Standard Range gets a lower total system output of 94 HP (70 kW) and 180 NM, while the top-specced Extended Range model gets higher state-of-tune at  201 HP (150 kW) and 310 NM. This setup allows the Extended Range model to hit 100 KM/H in 7.0 seconds, while the baseline Standard Range gets a slower century sprint time at 12.3 seconds.

BYD Dolphin Extended Range (left) & Standard Range (right)

Aside from peppier motor setup, the Extended Range model also gets a bevy of additional equipment. This includes the variant-exclusive two-tone colourway, snazzier and larger 17-inch wheels, as well as a more performance-biased suspension system with a multi-link setup at its rear axle. Meanwhile, the Standard Range rolls on smaller 16-inch wheels, while its rear axle is equipped with the more comfort-biased Torsion Beam damper setup.

We recently had the opportunity to test-drive both variants of the Dolphin EV, so be sure to check out our first-drive report in both written and video forms...