This year’s celebration of the ocean giants’ arrival in Algoa Bay will include the official launch of the BYD Dolphin – the first fully electric hatchback vehicle to be made available in the Eastern Cape.

The mid-size hatch, which retails from R539 900, is the second model to be released by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD (Build Your Dreams) in the province.

It follows the arrival of its Atto 3 sports utility vehicle in December, marking further expansion of the world’s biggest EV maker into the South African market.

The annual Welcoming the Whales Festival, which will be held at the Willows Resort and Conference Centre in Gqeberha on 2 June, celebrates Humpback whales on their northward migration to Kenya and Gabon while creating awareness of the need to protect marine life.

BYD vehicles are sold through the Kelston Motor Group in the province.

As the naming sponsor of the 3 km, 6 km and 9 km Whale Trail runs that form part of the festival programme, the Group believes there is no better time and place to introduce the Dolphin to the Bay’s motoring public.

The BYD Dolphin, backed by BYD advance blade battery technology and advanced safety features, boasts smart connectivity, voice control and driving assistance for an enhanced electrified driving experience.

The five-seat, front-wheel drive vehicle comes in Dynamic Standard Range and Premium Extended Range. These ranges register around 340 km and 427 km per charge respectively.

As in the case of the Atto 3, where plastic “dragon scales” are incorporated into part of the external design, the Dolphin also carries its own theme. Interior door handles, for example, are shaped like fins.

It comes in an array of colours that are anything but ordinary: “Amethyst Purple”, “Coral Pink” and “Surfing Blue” and “Urban Grey” are just some of the options, but not only on the exterior.

They also brighten the vehicle’s vegan leather seating and interior side panels (for those who may not know, vegan is synthetic leather made from agricultural waste products and other green materials).

Kelston head of marketing, Bev Venter, explained that BYD wanted the Group to launch the vehicle at an event where families could enjoy themselves.

“And that is exactly what the Welcoming the Whales Festival is about. So, for us, there was perfect synergy in announcing the Dolphin’s arrival on Eastern Cape shores at the event.

“The association between ‘Dolphin’ and ‘marine life’ is obviously great but, more importantly, the whole festival is focused on the environment and BYD’s vision, ‘Cool the Earth by one per cent’ is very much in tune with this.”

Kelston will host two activation stands – one at the entrance and the other at the Whale Trail start/finishing line.

Visitors will have the opportunity to test drive the Dolphin, while the Group will give away food vouchers for the various stalls set up at Willows.