Chinese automaker BYD is making significant inroads in South Africa’s used EV scene, with sales soaring by 673% in the first half of 2025 and plans to triple its dealership network by 2026, signalling a disruptive shift in the local electric vehicle market.
Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD is quickly gaining ground in South Africa’s used car scene, showing strong early signs of success—even though official new vehicle sales figures haven’t been released yet. According to Autotrader’s Mid-Year Car Industry Report, sales of used BYD models shot up by a remarkable 673% in the first half of 2025. This kind of growth outstrips several other Chinese automotive brands active in the area, like Chery, GWM, Jaecoo, and Omoda, which suggests that BYD’s footprint in the local EV market is steadily expanding.
Now, if you take a look at some other numbers—they’re pretty telling too. The number of views on BYD listings jumped a whopping 744% year-on-year, and customer inquiries about BYD vehicles increased by an incredible 1,369%. Such figures clearly indicate that more and more South African consumers are showing interest and demand at the used vehicle level. It’s like they’re curious or even eager to get their hands on this brand’s offerings. Still, it’s worth noting that BYD’s market share is, at this point, still growing—its models haven’t yet cracked the top 10 most sold used EVs in the country.
Getting into specifics, BYD began its South African adventure with just one EV model—the Atto 3 SUV—and four dealerships. Since then, the company has expanded its local lineup to include four more vehicles: the Seal, which is a fully electric, pretty upscale sedan; the Sealion 7 SUV; and two plug-in hybrids, the Sealion 6 and Shark 6. These latter three models were only introduced during the period the report covers, so their impact on used sales up to June 2025 is still quite limited. By mid-2025, BYD's local lineup grew to six models.
What’s more, the Dolphin and Atto 3 ranked as the eighth and ninth most-listed EVs on Autotrader for the first half of 2025. BYD’s strategy seems solid; it kicked off modestly in 2023, with just one EV and only four dealerships. Fast forward to mid-2025, and the company now offers six different models and operates through 15 dealerships—showing quite an aggressive push for growth.
Looking ahead, BYD has some quite ambitious plans: they aim to expand their dealer network to between 30 and 35 locations by the end of 2026. That’s roughly a tripling of their current presence, which is around 13 to 15 outlets. This move definitely demonstrates a dedicated effort to carve out a stronger space in South Africa’s competitive automotive scene. Industry experts also note that this expansion fits well with the rising local demand for new energy vehicles—sales increased from about 7,800 units in 2023 to over 15,600 in 2024. Pretty impressive, right?
One upcoming model to watch is the Dolphin Surf (also called the Seagull or Dolphin Mini, depending on the market). It’s set to launch locally on September 14, 2025. This compact hatchback aims at the more budget-conscious end of the EV market, with insiders suggesting a price tag close to R350,000. That’s quite a bit lower than the R400,000—sometimes more—seen for some used Dolphin models. By introducing a competitively priced option, BYD seems to be making strides toward making EV ownership more accessible to a broader range of South Africans, which could really help boost its market penetration.
Even with all these promising signs, BYD has yet to release official sales numbers for new vehicles in South Africa. That makes it tricky to nail down exactly what share of the market they hold or how new sales compare to used vehicle trends. Interestingly enough, the entire South African EV scene shows a bit of a paradox: while sales of fully electric cars on platforms like Autotrader went up by 65% in the first half of 2025 compared to last year, official registration data shows a 24% dip in new EV sales over the same period. It’s a peculiar situation, possibly hinting at a shift toward buying used EVs or maybe delays in data reporting.
Looking at the used EVs bought through Autotrader, premium European brands like Volvo and BMW still rule the roost. The Volvo EX30 was the top seller during the first half of 2025, with 64 units, followed by the Volvo XC40 and the BMW i3. But, with BYD’s growing dealer network and diverse range of models, it’s starting to challenge these established players more seriously.
All in all, BYD’s impressive performance in South Africa’s used EV market, along with their plans to expand and a new affordable model on the horizon, indicate a significant shake-up in the country’s electric vehicle scene. Although they’re still not reporting official new car sales figures, their rapid dealership growth and surging consumer interest strongly suggest that BYD is positioning itself to be a serious contender—maybe even a rival to the likes of Tesla—as South Africa moves further into its electric future.
Source: Noah Wire Services
