BYD has officially confirmed that it will launch a new electric hatchback in South Africa this September.
Earlier this year, it was discovered that BYD had filed a trademark application for the name “BYD Seagull,” which is one of its smallest and most affordable cars.
The Chinese automaker has slowly been building up its arsenal of electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa, which now includes the Atto 3 and Dolphin crossovers, the Seal sedan, the Sealion 6 and Sealion 7 SUVs, and the Shark bakkie.
The Seagull will therefore serve as the brand’s entry-level vehicle, though its price tag has yet to be announced.
BYD emphasized that it will make EV ownership more accessible and affordable for South Africans, so we imagine it will be one of the cheapest models of its kind on the market.
Interestingly, it won’t be called the Seagull, as the carmaker has elected to call the small hatchback the Atto 1 instead.
In previous reports, it appeared that the car would either be called the Seagull or the Dolphin Mini, the latter of which makes a clear distinction of the hatchback’s place in BYD lineup.
In any case, you can expect to see the BYD Atto 1 in showrooms in one month’s time.
What to expect
The Atto 1 is 3,990mm in length, 1,715mm in width, and 1,590mm in height, making it slightly smaller than the Dolphin or the GWM Ora.
As another comparison, it is roughly the same size as the Mini Cooper SE – one of the few other electric hatchbacks sold in South Africa.
Power is sourced from either a 30kWh or 42kWh battery, which afford a driving range of 220km and 320km, respectively.
All versions of the BYD are front-wheel-drive, incorporating a single electric motor that has different outputs, depending on the derivative.
The base units have access to 65kW, while the higher-end models can produce up to 115kW.
As far as charging times are concerned, the hatchback can support DC charging speeds of between 65kW and 85kW, the latter of which will replenish the larger batteries from 10 to 80% in less than 30 minutes, according to the manufacturer.
One other thing to note is that the Atto 1 supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging, meaning the car’s battery can essentially be used as a mobile power bank to run appliances.
BYD will only announce the vehicle’s full spec sheet closer to launch, but it did hint at a few of the features that buyers can look forward to.
Despite its entry-level status, it still comes with driver aids such as ABS, electronic stability control, cruise control, parking sensors, and a rearview camera, which should make things easier for users on a day-to-day basis.
Taking a look inside, you’ll find BYD’s signature rotating infotainment system, taking the form of a floating 10.1-inch touchscreen that can switch between portrait and landscape orientations.
The touchscreen supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as voice commands.
A few other items seen on the units sold overseas include LED headlights, a 7.0-inch digital driver display, leather upholstery, a wireless phone charger, and automatic air conditioning.
More information on the BYD Atto 1 will be announced closer to its launch date in September 2025.
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