BYD continues to progress in the Indian electric vehicle industry well ahead of Tesla, which is still in the negotiation stage with the government for a potential market entry.
According to local reports, BYD is now on track to bring its popular Seal and Dolphin EV to India.
Indian expansion efforts
BYD initially entered the Indian electric vehicle industry in early 2013 when it introduced its all-electric bus, K9, signifying a major milestone in both the automaker and the country. After completing the 88-day pilot program on the 335E bus line in Bangalore on May 31, 2014, the BYD K9 managed to expand its trial operations in major cities, New Delhi, Rajkot, and Hyderabad.
Since then, BYD India has continued to expand its product lineup to electric passenger vehicles, e-trucks, and e-forklifts, making the Chinese giant a frontrunner in the local EV industry.
BYD finally launched the popular Atto 3 in 2022 in India, marking its official penetration of the Indian electric passenger vehicle market.
Now, the Tesla challenger has more plans to solidify its presence in the Indian market further, making it more challenging for Tesla when it arrives in the country.
BYD Seal to hit the Indian market soon
Local reports claim that some BYD dealers have already started collecting unofficial orders for the Seal EV, which initially appeared publicly at the Auto Expo 2023. In fact, BYD has already updated its Indian website to include the Seal EV.
The electric mid-size fastback sedan would become the brand’s third new electric vehicle model in India’s passenger vehicle industry, after the e6 MPV and Atto 3.
The BYD Seal EV offers two Blade battery configurations, including a 61.4 kWh and an 82.5 kWh. The smaller battery enables a CTLT-rated driving range of up to 500 km, while the larger battery delivers up to a range of 700 km. It also comes with two powertrain options, including a single-motor and dual-motor setup (exclusive to the 82.5 kWh battery.
Dolphin trademarked
Apart from the imminent arrival of the BYD Seal EV, HT Auto revealed that the Chinese NEV giant has now trademarked the Dolphin EV in India.
The BYD Dolphin will be the brand’s cheapest offering in the Indian passenger electric vehicle market.
This electric hatchback also offers two battery pack configurations, including a 60.4 kWh and a 44.9 kWh. The larger battery pack offers a WLTP-rated range of up to 427 km, while the smaller 44.9 kWh battery enables 310 km-340km depending on the driving mode. More impressively, it comes with Vehicle to Load technology, enabling it to power electric appliances and charge via external devices.
These expansion efforts highlight BYD’s ambitious visions for India’s growing electric vehicle industry. The imminent arrival of the Seal and Dolphin EV will significantly aid BYD in attracting local customers, owing to the models’ enticing features, competitive performance, and affordable pricing.
