BYD’s ongoing global expansion continues, and next year, it will start building the popular Dolphin and Atto 3 EVs in Europe. European carmakers are already petrified of the surging Chinese giant and will soon have to deal with BYD building vehicles in their back yard.

The company is constructing a large production facility in Hungary and according to its European boss, Stella Li, it’ll be ready to ramp up production towards the end of 2025. According to Li, BYD’s initial plans called for the tiny Seagull to be the first model built in Europe, but priorities have shifted, likely because the Dolphin and Atto 3 should sell in higher numbers than the Seagull.

Read: 2026 BYD Dolphin EV Breaks Cover With A Prettier Face And A New Powertrain Option

Speaking with German business magazine Capital, Li noted the ramp-up at the Hungarian plant will take two to three years, and that a third model is next for production on European soil, slotting between the Dolphin and Atto 3. This new model, referred to as the ‘Atto 2’ by Li, is expected to be a rebranded version of the Yuan Up that was shown earlier this year and is already available in China. It’s noticeably smaller than the Atto 3 and has a more rugged and upright design, a bit like the Mercedes-Benz GLB, but smaller. The Seagull will also become the fourth model built at the Hungary plant.

Securing its place in the European market won’t be easy for BYD. The growth in EV sales has slowed across the region throughout much of 2024. In response, BYD is expected to start offering more of its plug-in hybrids in Europe.

In October, Stella Li announced that BYD would build the majority of the EVs it sells locally in Europe following the enforcement of import tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. BYD is working to establish a new supply chain in Europe, will assemble battery packs in Hungary and Turkey, and will only need to import battery cells from its home country.

BYD is working on a mid-lifecycle update for the Dolphin EV, four years after its debut. The facelifted version of the small electric hatchback is expected sometime next year, with styling upgrades and the addition of a new powertrain option.

Photos of the 2026 BYD Dolphin appeared on the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology website, months ahead of the official unveiling. The highlight is the redesigned headlights that extend on the front fenders, slightly reminiscent of the original Chevrolet Bolt.

Review: 2024 BYD Dolphin Swims Ahead In The Low-Cost EV Stakes

Other changes at the front include the slimmer grille and the smaller bumper intakes. The profile is largely carried over with the exception of new 16-inch and 17-inch wheels. The tail looks familiar, but gains a cleaner design for the bumper and the taillight graphics, bringing it closer to the more recent BYD Seal 06 GT.

According to the MIIT documents, the facelifted EV measures 4,280 mm (168.5 inches) long, 1,770 mm (69.7 inches) wide, and 1,570 mm (61.8 inches) tall, with a 2,700 mm (106.3 inches) wheelbase. This makes it 155 mm (6.1 inches) longer than the Chinese-spec Dolphin that debuted in 2021, and only 10 mm (0.4 inches) shorter than the global-spec version that followed in 2023.

We didn’t get to see the interior, which could gain new tech features and slightly redesigned trim.

The 2026 BYD Dolphin will be available with three different outputs, generating 94 hp (70 kW / 95 PS), 174 hp (130 kW / 177 PS), and 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) respectively. The least and most powerful versions match the outputs of the current model, but the middle-spec EV is a new addition to the lineup.

More: BYD Is A Human Rights Villain, New Study Claims

The refreshed Dolphin will be fitted with BYD Blade LFP battery packs. Current battery options in China include 44.93 kWh and 60.48 kWh units, allowing a CTLC range of 420 km (261 miles) and 520 km (323 miles) respectively.

Judging from the fact that BYD showed a slightly refreshed Dolphin lineup in early 2024, the facelifted model will likely reach the local market in mid-to-late 2025. The EV is currently priced between ¥99,800-129,800 ($13,800-17,900) in China, AU$36,890 (US$ 23,600) in Australia, and €36,990 ($38,940) in Netherlands before any local EV subsidies.