Electric vehicles from Chinese electric vehicle company BYD are the most commonly seen electric vehicles in Malaysia. Although BYD started operations in Malaysia in 2014, BYD's electric vehicles will be launched in the country in late 2022. The company is making waves in the automotive industry with its innovative and affordable electric vehicles.
Table of Contents
1. What company cares of BYD electic cars in Malaysia?
2. Which BYD electric cars are available in Malaysia?
3. How many are BYD showrooms in Malaysia?
4. How do I book a test drive for a BYD electric car?
What company cares of BYD electric cars in Malaysia
BYD, an abbreviation for ‘Build Your Dream’, was founded in 1995. The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, China. BYD produces a variety of electric vehicles, including passenger cars, buses, and trucks. BYD is the number one company in the electric vehicle market in China and around the world.
BYD recently entered the Malaysian electric vehicle market by selecting Sime Darby Motors as its distributor. Sym Darby Motors, which is unfamiliar to us, is a Malaysian automobile company that engages in automobile assembly, distribution, retail, and even used car business through its subsidiaries.
Cars handled by this company include Korea's Hyundai and Kia Motors, as well as BMW, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, Ford, Audi, Porsche, McLaren, and Lamborghini. In addition, the parent company, Sime Darby, and its group companies engage in businesses such as hospitals, pop oil, construction, and real estate, and also owns a Malaysian soccer club called 'Sime Darby FC'.
Coming back to BYD from Saim Darby, BYD has launched two electric vehicles in Malaysia: Atto 3 and Dolphin.
Which BYD electric cars are available in Malaysia?
According to Sime Darby website, there are 5 BYD elelctric cars are available. But I only saw 2 types of cars, which are Dolphin and ATTO 3.
- BYD ATTO 3: This is an SUV model.
- BYD Dolphin: This is a compact hatchback model.
- BYD E6
- BYD Seal: This is a sedan model.
- BYD TANG: This model is also expected to be available in Malaysia1.
Dolphin is a compact electric vehicle that follows BYD ATTO 3, a large electric SUV. Dolphin is a new compact electric vehicle that offers the automotive industry what it seeks: an affordable electric vehicle. Although I didn't think of a dolphin at first impression of the car, the sleek shape of the car goes well with the name Dolphin. Dolphin is a one-box compact hatchback similar in size to Chevrolet's Bolt EV.
Dolphin can travel approximately 340 km on a single charge. Dolphin is equipped with a fast charging system that can charge the battery to 80% in just 30 minutes.
How many are BYD showrooms in Malaysia?
According to an article in March 2024, there are 21 BYD dealerships across Malaysia. But the number of their showroom could be different when you are reading this post. Anyway 9 dealershop outlets are located in Kuala Lumpur, two of which are not far from my home. One of the two dealerships was only a 10-minute drive from my house, but instead of going there, I went to the other dealership.
The two BYD dealerships were located in locations that were easily visible while driving. After having lunch nearby, we went to the BYD dealership and saw BYD's electric car parked there. ATTO 3 and Dolphin are on display in the showroom. There was a couple in the showroom who looked more like a couple than a young person.
The first question the dealer at the showroom asked us was what type of housing we lived in. So when he told me that he lived in a house, the dealer was very happy and explained at length about electric cars and charging. As a special event, installation of an electric vehicle charger, which usually costs about 3,000 ringgit (about 840,000 won), is said to be free.
Charging electric vehicles is probably the biggest issue, but it is said to be okay when eating home-cooked meals using your own charger. So it is better suited for commuting to work rather than long distance driving. Although it is said that local charging stations are easy to find. And a DC charger is installed outside the showroom. So, I tried charging the Dolphin inside the showroom with a DC charger.
The dealer showed us the exterior, trunk, and interior of the Ato3 and Dolphin in turn. We were more interested in the cute little dolphins. Dolphin is very comfortable with a small interior space and ample legroom.
Dolphin has a starting price of approximately 99,900 ringgit (approximately USD 21,000). 100,000 ringgit is the price range of Japanese cars sold in Malaysia, such as Toyota's Vios and Honda's City, which are in the Avante class in Korea. Therefore, the price of the Dolphin can be seen as the price range of the car preferred by the middle class in Malaysia.
And the Malaysian government has exempted electric vehicles from road tax from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2025. After paying road tax, drivers are issued a sticker and place it on the windshield of their vehicle. For a 1500cc vehicle, the annual road tax is 90 ringgit (about USD 19). For reference, it is said that in the near future, instead of issuing stickers, there will be an online certification system. In 4 years from 22, you can save about USD 76.
How do I book a test drive for a BYD electric car?
In order to book a test drive for a BYD electric car in Malaysia, you need to go to Sime Darby website and submit the form.
But The dealer said I could test drive the Dolphin even though I didn't book in advance. Maybe there were not so many people in the showroom that time. So we took the pink Dolphin in the parking lot. Dolphin went out smoothly and quietly. When the car slowed down, there was a slight noise. It is said that the noise is made partly for the sake of pedestrians at low speeds.
The spacious GPS display could be changed from landscape mode to portrait mode. (Oh! It was amazing seeing it for the first time) Even though the display was set to Chinese, there was no problem driving it. I haven't reset it to English, but I think it's probably possible.
The vehicle demonstrated quick acceleration and excellent handling. The turn signal sound was quiet, so I checked again to see if the turn signal was on. It was my first time driving an electric car and there were some unfamiliar parts, but I don't think it will take long to get used to it.
Returning to the showroom parking lot, the electric car test drive came to an end. We took business cards and parted ways with the dealer.
If you want to drive a BYD electric car, book a test drive first. Enjoy your BYD drive.
'Life in Malaysia' 카테고리의 다른 글
| The 3 Best Selling Perodua Cars in Malaysia (1) | 2024.03.19 |
|---|---|
| 4 places to buy furniture in Malaysia (0) | 2024.03.15 |
| 4 Factors of Monthly Cost of Living for a Family in Malaysia (1) | 2024.03.15 |
| 5 Advantages of Immigrating to Malaysia (0) | 2024.03.14 |
| 5 Disadvantages of living in Malaysia compared to Seoul (0) | 2024.03.14 |