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Dolphin Surf becomes BYD's 10th model available in Europe

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Car will be priced from 22,950 euros

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BYD gaining traction in Europe after revamp

(Adds details in paragraphs 7-12)

By Victoria Waldersee

BERLIN, May 21 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle

maker BYD's low-cost Dolphin Surf became its 10th

model available in Europe on Wednesday, with the Berlin launch

increasing pressure on European rivals to produce more

affordable alternatives.

The car will sell at three price points, from 22,990 euros

($26,100) for a 322-kilometre (200-mile) range, to 24,990 euros

for a 507-kilometre range.

Until the end of June, the three versions will be available

at a discounted price of 19,990-24,990 euros, sales chief

Patrick Schulz said on Wednesday.

The car piles pressure on European automakers to offer more

affordable electric alternatives, with cost still a major

barrier to wider adoption of EVs.

Only a handful of models, such as the Dacia Spring or

Leapmotor's T03, are on sale in Europe for under 20,000 euros,

although 11 new models priced under 25,000 euros will go on sale

this year, including Volkswagen's ID.2, the Renault

R5, the Fiat Grand Panda, and the Hyundai Inster.

"The compact segment is the next frontier for

electrification in Europe," Maria Grazia Davino, BYD regional

managing director for markets including Germany, said in Berlin.

"We think this market has huge potential."

The Chinese version of the vehicle, the Seagull, has fuelled

BYD's exponential rise in China, second only to Tesla's

Model Y in total sales in 2024 with over 442,000 registrations.

Globally, sales of the model have risen 45% this year so far

to 170,000, BYD said on Wednesday.

BYD, which last year surpassed Tesla to become the world's

largest EV manufacturer, is overhauling its European operations,

widening its dealer network, offering more hybrids and hiring

managers with local experience, after early stumbles in the

region stymied sales.

Sales data indicates the revamp is working. In Germany,

sales reached 2,791 in the first four months of the year, data

from Germany's motor authority KBA showed, fast approaching the

2,891 vehicles it sold all year in 2024.

That success is mirrored across Europe, where sales

quadrupled in the first quarter to 37,201 cars, in sharp

contrast to Tesla's sales, which plunged 37.2%.

BYD will enter 12 new markets in Europe this year, Davino

said, with sales locations to expand to over 1,000.

($1 = 0.8808 euros)