BYD Dolphin Surf To Lead European Production Push By Late 2025

Chinese automaker BYD will begin producing electric vehicles at its new Hungarian plant by late 2025, marking its first major European manufacturing foothold. Executive Vice President Stella Li confirmed BYD’s timeline for European production at the Munich car show.

Li noted that the Dolphin Surf compact EV will be the Hungarian plant’s debut model. According to Reuters, the move comes amid reports that BYD had considered delaying mass production until 2026 and initially operating the facility at below-capacity levels.

Local manufacturing to anchor European expansion

BYD’s car production facility in Hungary represents a major step in the automaker’s strategy to establish a long-term presence in Europe. The plant will enable BYD to better compete with European legacy automakers by reducing exposure to tariffs and shipping costs associated with China.

The plant’s first model, the Dolphin Surf, adapts the successful Seagull hatchback for European buyers. The BYD Dolphin Surf is expected to have a starting price of €21,870 and range options of between 220 km and 322 km, depending on the battery size.

Competitive push into premium market

The Dolphin Surf headlines BYD’s volume strategy in Europe. However, the Chinese automaker is also preparing to launch its Denza luxury sub-brand in Europe by late 2025.

The flagship Deza Z9GT, a shooting brake designed by former Audi and Lamborghini design chief Wolfgang Egger, will deliver up to 952 horsepower in its tri-motor configuration. With this model, BYD signals its intention to challenge Tesla’s dominance and to compete directly with Germany’s premium automakers.

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