BYD's Atto 2 plug‑in hybrid dominates German market and rolls out in South Africa

In Germany, BYD became the largest plug‑in hybrid brand, capturing more than 15% of the segment. Registrations surged 232% year‑on‑year in May, with 4,290 plug‑in hybrids sold and 2,113 of them the Atto 2 DM‑i – the highest single‑model PHEV sales figure in the country. Priced at €28,000‑31,000, the Atto 2 undercuts comparable BMW, Mercedes‑Benz and Volkswagen models by 15‑30% while offering comparable range. Across the EU, BYD registered 29,291 vehicles in January‑February, up 179% YoY, and its first‑quarter total exceeded 75,000 units, driven by vertical integration that gives a 15‑22% cost advantage.

Meanwhile, BYD launched the Atto 2 in South Africa with two trims priced at R450,000 (Comfort) and R490,000 (Dynamic). The compact SUV uses a 1.5‑litre petrol engine paired with a 7.8 kWh Blade battery, delivering 122 kW and 300 Nm via an e‑CVT. BYD quotes an electric‑only range of 39 km and a total range of 930 km, fuel consumption of 5.1 L/100 km, 0‑100 km/h acceleration in 9.1 seconds and a top speed of 178 km/h. The launch highlights remote‑control features and a digital key that can be shared with up to five users.