BYD Dolphin & Seal EVs delayed, 2023 orders and deliveries confirmed

The BYD Dolphin and Seal have hit a slight delay for Australia, with pre-orders now expected to open in 2023 in order to cut delivery wait times.

The all-electric Dolphin city hatchback is slated to open its order books and commence deliveries in the first half of 2023, while the Seal sedan will follow in the second half.

Previously, local distributor EVDirect had said the new BYD electric cars would be on sale before the end of this year.

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“We had hoped to put the Dolphin on sale this year, but decided to hold the pre-sale date back to be closer to the actual delivery date,” EVDirect chief executive Luke Todd told Wheels Media this morning.

“We want to move towards being a brand that can release models closer to the actual delivery date.

Todd added that BYD's "massive production capability" meant that the brand should have stock in-country in 2023, ready to go as customers place their orders.

However, this doesn’t indicate that customer deliveries of the BYD electric cars have been pushed back.

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BYD Dolphin EV | Photo: CarNewsChina.com

The Dolphin electric hatch is expected to wear a price tag below $40,000 to undercut the only BYD model currently on sale, the Atto 3 small SUV, which starts at $44,381 before on-road costs and incentives.

The Dolphin was spied testing in Sydney this week, and a Chinese-market version is already on show in its Darlinghurst showroom featuring the Shenzhen automaker’s signature marine-like design theme, rotating 12.8-inch tablet infotainment system, and the lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery that’s said to be more durable and safer.

The Dolphin will directly rival the forthcoming MG 4 and GWM Ora Funky Cat small electric hatchbacks when they arrive in the new year, too.

Meanwhile, the BYD Seal sedan is the brand’s answer to the ubiquitous Tesla Model 3 with a more upmarket interior, a larger 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen and 10.25-inch driver’s display, a 'frunk' under the bonnet, and flush door handles. It’s expected to be priced around the $60,000 mark.

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It’s unclear whether the company will rename the Dolphin and Seal with the Atto naming convention, but both electric cars will launch in Japan with unchanged nameplates.

Independent distributor EVDirect has backtracked on multiple decisions prior to releasing the BYD Atto 3, including implementing odd warranty exclusions on specific parts. Showrooms, test drives and delivery handovers are facilitated by its Eagers Automotive dealer giant partner.