Less than a week after BYD’s Dolphin EV rolled into the country claiming the crown of ‘most affordable EV’, with a starting price of R540,000, Enviro Automotive, an “importer and distributor of several Chinese brands,” has arrived to rain on their parade. The company has confirmed it is bringing the Dayun S5 Mini SUV to South Africa later this year, with a price below R400,000.
Known as the Dayun Yeuhu in China, the Mini SUV EV is set to debut in SA in the last quarter of 2024 and will be joined by a “range of budget-friendly electric cars” also targeting the sub-R400,000 price point. Aside from the S5 Mini, it is not exactly clear what those models will be.
Bite-sized S5 Mini EV
The Dayun S5 is a four-seater compact hatchback SUV whose standout feature is its 31.7kWh ternary-lithium battery capable of going 330km before it needs a recharge. Stick it in a DC fast-charging station, and Enviro reckons it’ll take as little as 60 minutes to fully charge — though we’d imagine it’s realistically a little less capable. You know how it is with marketing.
You’re also trading off any high speeds for the lack of petrol and sub-R400,000 price, with the front-mounted electric motor only managing a top speed of 100km/h. If you’re fine never reaching the furthest lane on the highway, Dayun makes it up to you with an 8in infotainment system, 15in aluminium-alloy wheels, a multifunction steering wheel and “advanced driver assistance systems.”
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If you’re wondering how it’ll fare against a Ford Ranger on the road, the Dayun S5 stands 3,695mm long, 1,685mm wide, and 1,598mm high — most closely resembling the rough size of a Renault Kwid.
The company also confirmed that the S5 Mini will be supported by a three-year/60,000km vehicle warranty and service plan, as well as the more expensive five-year/120,000km warranty when it eventually hits roads later this year. An exact date is not scheduled, though Enviro Automotive is targeting a Q4 2024 release.