Chinese electric vehicle juggernaut BYD Co. plans to launch its first electrified pickup truck for the global market later this year, throwing down the gauntlet to Toyota Motor Corp.’s popular Hilux, Ford Motor Co.’s Ranger and Isuzu Motors Ltd.’s D-Max.show a boxy dual-cab truck daubed in orange and blue camouflage paint being road-tested in an unspecified location.
For instance, Toyota’s Hilux, Isuzu’s D-Max and Ford’s Ranger pickups are the top three selling vehicles in Australia. Isuzu last month unveiled an electric version of the D-Max. That range, and an aggressive wave of price cuts, have helped BYD dominate China’s EV market — the world’s largest, with a 33% market share last year.BYD launched its first EV in South Africa — the Atto 3 SUV — in mid-2023, priced from R768,000.
The company has registered a trademark for “Dolphin Mini” in South Africa. This is the name that the Seagull is sold under in markets outside of China.