New BYD Dolphin Mini comes to Brazil in 2028 with 129 hp and compact size

BYD has confirmed that it will bring to the country the new generation of the Dolphin Mini, a hatch sold in China as Seagull and which will undergo a significant transformation. The announcement was made by brand executives in Brazil, a few days after China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) revealed the first images and specifications of the car, on the 10th.

The strategy, however, is not one of replacement. Expected to land here from 2028, the new generation will coexist with the current Dolphin Mini. While today’s version will continue as a gateway — manufactured in Camaçari (BA) and still in the best-selling electric position in national retail, with more than 14 thousand units registered in the first quarter of 2026 alone —, the unprecedented will go up a step in the portfolio, with an eye on an audience willing to pay more for space, technology and performance.

And the changes go far beyond the mature look. With 4.20 meters in length, 1.81 m in width and 2.65 m in wheelbase, the new hatch grows 42.5 cm in length and 15 cm in wheelbase compared to the current one, ceasing to be a subcompact to assume compact dimensions. Not by chance, the size practically equals that of the rival Geely EX2, electric that has become an uncomfortable opponent for the brand: the two share the same 2.65 m wheelbase, and the BYD surpasses the competitor by about seven centimeters in length.

The gain in breath is also evident — the set now yields 129 hp, compared to today’s 75 hp and the 116 hp of the EX2 sold in Brazil —, while the homologated top speed rises from 130 km/h to 150 km/h. On the outside, the design is unprecedented and more fluid, and BYD gives up one of its trademarks: the taillights are no longer interconnected.

Despite the confirmation of the coming, decisive details remain confidential – among them, the battery capacity, autonomy and price for the Brazilian market. Chinese records only confirm the use of LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry, the same as BYD’s Blade family. With the new size, the Dolphin Mini is closer to the conventional Dolphin, a model immediately above in the range and offered in versions such as GS and Plus, which reinforces the manufacturer’s offensive to occupy different price and size ranges in the segment. Sold as Dolphin Surf in Europe and Atto 1 in part of Asia, the Seagull has established itself as one of BYD’s global sales champions since its debut in 2023.