• BYD currently sells seven models in South Africa, including five pure electric vehicles and two hybrid models.
• BYD's dealership development in South Africa is in its early stages.

BYD (HKG: 1211) plans to invest in building up to 300 fast-charging stations in South Africa by the end of 2026 to accelerate its global expansion, said Stella Li, executive vice president of the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker.

Li mentioned the target during an interview with Bloomberg TV, adding that BYD's dealership development in South Africa is in its initial stages, according to a Bloomberg report today.

Several executives, including Li and BYD chairman and president Wang Chuanfu, are currently visiting South Africa, according to images shared today on Weibo by the company's brand and public relations head Li Yunfei.

BYD formally entered South Africa's passenger vehicle market in 2023 with the launch of its all-electric Atto 3. It currently operates more than a dozen dealerships there.

BYD now sells seven models in South Africa: the all-electric Sealion 7 SUV, Seal sedan, Dolphin compact car, Dolphin Surf compact car, Atto 3 SUV, and the hybrid Shark 6 pickup truck and Sealion 6 SUV.

The Atto 3 is known as the Yuan Plus in China, the Dolphin Surf is the Seagull, the Sealion 7 is the Sealion 07 EV, and the Sealion 6 is the Song Plus DM-i.

On June 5, Reuters reported citing Steve Chang, General Manager of BYD South Africa, that the company aimed to have around 20 dealerships in South Africa by the end of 2025.

BYD aims to expand this number to 30 to 35 next year, Chang said at the time.