BYD has confirmed that the Dolphin Cargo will make its public debut at the Commercial Vehicle Show this month, marking the brand’s first clear step into the UK light commercial vehicle market.

The move follows Professional Van’s report in February that the Dolphin Cargo was likely to be the first sign of a wider BYD commercial vehicle push in the UK.

The new model is based on the electric BYD Dolphin hatchback but has been converted for commercial use, with the rear seats removed and replaced by a solid bulkhead and a revised rear floor. BYD says the result is a compact electric van with more than 1,000 litres of load space.

Range is quoted at up to 265 miles, but rises to as much as 347 miles on the City WLTP cycle; handy, as the Dolphin Cargo is targeted squarely at urban delivery and service work rather than heavier-duty van use.

That positioning makes sense. Rather than launching straight into the mainstream van classes, BYD is starting with a smaller, car-derived commercial vehicle aimed at city operators and fleets in search of a compact, zero-emission option.

Full UK pricing and specification have yet to be announced, but the CV Show appearance confirms that BYD’s commercial vehicle ambitions in Britain are now moving beyond hints and into something more tangible.

It’s the first step for BYD, ahead of an expected debut of the Shark 6 pickup later in the year, and the large e-Vali electric van in 2027.

Phil Huff
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