The Dolphin is the second BYD EV offered in Japan after the Atto 3, with a starting price of around $24,570.

(Image credit: BYD)

BYD has launched the Dolphin compact electric vehicle (EV) in Japan, the second passenger car there from the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker after the Atto 3.

BYD is offering the Dolphin in Japan in standard range and long-range versions with starting prices of 3.63 million yen ($24,570) and 4.07 million yen, respectively.

The base model comes with a 44.9 kWh battery pack and has a range of 400 kilometers. The long-range version comes with a 58.56 kWh battery pack and has a range of 476 kilometers.

The BYD Dolphin initially went on sale in China on August 29, 2021, and is currently offered in 3 versions in its home market with a starting price of RMB 116,800 ($16,013), RMB 123,800, and RMB 136,800 respectively.

The Dolphin offered by BYD in China measures 4,125 mm in length, 1,770 mm in width and 1,570 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,700 mm.

The company offers the model in Japan with slightly different dimensions of 4,290 mm in length, 1,770 mm in width, 1,550 mm in height and a wheelbase of 2,700 mm.

On July 21, 2022, BYD announced its official entry into the passenger car market in Japan with the unveiling of three battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the BYD Seal, Dolphin, and Atto 3. The Atto 3 is known in China as the Yuan Plus.

BYD will sell its cars in Japan through a network of dealers rather than directly operated stores, because the former is the most familiar way for Japanese consumers, the company said at the time.

BYD began selling EVs in Japan on January 31, with the first model being the Atto 3, which is priced at 4.4 million yen in Japan. The Seal has not yet begun selling in Japan.

BYD aims to open more than 100 showrooms in Japan by the end of 2025, the company said today, reiterating its previously mentioned goal.

BYD sold a record 274,386 NEVs in August, up 56.87 percent year-on-year and up 4.66 percent from July, according to figures it released earlier this month.

In August, BYD sold 25,023 NEVs in overseas markets, up 37.72 percent from 18,169 in July.

The Dolphin sold 32,745 units in August, up 39.52 percent year-on-year and 2.49 percent from July, and was the fourth best-selling BYD model last month.

($1 = 147.7700 yen, $1 = RMB 7.2939)

BYD starts selling EVs in Japan, first model Atto 3