BYD eyes 2024 World Car of the Year titles with two EVs

KUALA LUMPUR: The Chinese electric carmaker BYD has secured the spotlight in the industry with its latest achievement as the world's leading EV brand. With a consistent stream of new EV releases, the company's two well-established models, the Seal and Dolphin, are now competing for recognition in the 2024 World Car of the Year Awards.

The World Car Awards have revealed the top ten finalists for the coveted 2024 World Car of the Year award, along with the top five finalists in other categories, including World Urban Car of the Year, World Electric Car of the Year, World Performance Car of the Year, World Luxury Car of the Year, and World Car Design of the Year.

The BYD Seal has been selected as one of the top 10 nominees for the 2024 World Car of the Year award, while the BYD Dolphin stands out among the top five candidates in the 2024 World Urban Car category.

Let’s have a quick look at the specifications of the BYD WCOTY nominees in Malaysia.

BYD Seal

The BYD Seal is a four-door coupe-styled sedan scheduled to be launched in Malaysia on February 23, 2024. It will be offered in three variants viz. Dynamic, Premium, and Performance, offering a driving range between 460 km and 570 km on a single charge. The EV boasts a design inspired by the ocean, featuring a sporty front fascia with an X-shaped layout and a sleek silhouette. The cabin also underpins the Ocean Aesthetics philosophy with a "Surging Wave" dashboard, water drop-shaped inner fastenings and a crystal gear shift lever.

In terms of features, the Malaysia-spec Seal is expected to come with a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment system, a head-up display, dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats, and several cutting-edge safety technologies.

BYD Dolphin

The BYD Dolphin is a five-seat compact hatchback launched in Malaysia last year. It is offered in two variants - Dynamic Standard Range and Premium Extended Range, priced at RM 100,530 and RM 125,530, respectively. The top-spec version comes equipped with a 60.48 kWh battery pack offering a range of up to 427 km on a single charge.

Described as the “New Wave”, the Dolphin also hails from the company’s Ocean series with design elements reminiscent of marine animals. The interior is modern and stylish with a floating central console, a dual-tone dashboard, and several creature comforts such as a 12.8-inch rotating infotainment unit, Apple CarPlay, voice assistant, automatic air-conditioning with PM2.5 air-filtration system, and advanced driver-assistance systems.

“We proudly welcome the inclusion of the BYD Seal and the Dolphin in the World Car of the Year’s finalists for 2024,” Mobility Access Philippines Ventures, Incorporated (MAPVI) President Antonio Zara III said.

“To have two models in top contention in this year’s awards is a notable feat while having three in the original eligibility list speaks volumes about BYD as a brand and as a global leader in the New Energy Vehicle space.”

The complete list of 2024 WCOTY nominees is as follows - 

2024 World Car of the Year	BYD Seal / Atto 4 Ford Bronco Hyundai Kona  Hyundai Santa Fe Kia EV9 Mazda CX-90 Subaru Crosstrek Toyota Prius Volkswagen ID.7 Volvo EX30
2024 World Urban Car of the Year	Abarth 500e BYD Dolphin Lexus LBX Suzuki Fronx Volvo EX30
2024 World Electric Car of the Year	BMW i5 Kia EV9 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV Volkswagen ID.7 Volvo EX30
2024 World Performance Car of the Year	BMW M2 BMW XM Ferrari Purosangue Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid
2024 World Luxury Car of the Year	BMW 5 Series / i5 Lexus LM Mercedes-Benz CLE Mercedes-Benz E-Class Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
2024 World Car Design of the Year	Ford Bronco Ferrari Purosangue Toyota Prius Volvo EX30 Zeekr X

The winners of the 2024 World Car of the Year Awards will be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) on February 26. 

Also read: BYD introduces a new small EV in China, the Yuan Up