BYD’s Dolphin intensifies rivalry with Casper, Ray

BYD Korea’s all-electric hatchback Dolphin / Courtesy of BYD Korea

BYD Korea’s compact electric hatchback — the Dolphin — is rapidly gaining traction, posing a growing threat to its two established rivals: Hyundai Motor’s Casper Electric and Kia’s Ray EV.

Sales of the all-electric hatchback have exceeded expectations just a few months after its February launch, with monthly sales reaching 652 units in March.

According to the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker, cumulative orders have already surpassed 2,000 units, underscoring the model’s strong popularity driven by its unmatched price competitiveness.

The entry-level EV made its debut in Korea in the mid-20 million won range after tax benefits. The pricing has drawn interest from price-sensitive customers seeking practical EVs.

Industry officials attributed the Dolphin's smooth market entry to supply constraints from the two rival models. It takes more than 20 months for customers to receive the Casper Electric after they sign contracts, while the Ray EV also requires around 10 months for delivery to customers.

“Some demand for the two domestic compact EVs looks to have moved to the Dolphin due to the delayed delivery,” an auto industry official said. “Dolphin’s pricing and overall commercial value do not fall behind the two rival models.”

Hyundai Motor's Casper Electric / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

The Dolphin is capable of traveling up to 307 kilometers on a single charge, according to certification by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. The figure is on par with the Casper Electric's 315 kilometers and much higher than the Ray EV's 205 kilometers.

BYD tapped into Korea’s passenger car market in January last year, and has since proven safety for its other key models, such as the Atto 3 and Sealion 7 SUVs.

Industry officials said initial concerns over quality from Chinese vehicles have gradually eased and contributed to the Dolphin’s favorable reception in the local market.

“Since BYD’s entry into Korea, it has largely avoided major quality controversies and stably increased its sales volume here, which also helped the Dolphin EV extend its sales,” another industry official said.

BYD Korea is reinforcing consumer confidence through strong after-sales support. The carmaker offers an eight-year or 160,000-kilometer warranty on its drive battery. The company also plans to expand the number of its nationwide service centers to 26 by the end of this year.