China's Dolphin Mini makes a splash by winning 2025 World Urban Car award
- The BYD Dolphin Mini has been named World Urban Car
- The EV was selected at the 2025 World Car Awards
- It was a strong night all around for EVs
Published on Apr 17, 2025 at 5:12 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Apr 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The BYD Dolphin Mini – also known as the BYD Seagull – has been named World Urban Car at the 2025 World Car Awards.
The Dolphin Mini was launched in April 2023 and was an instant hit for BYD.
Within 24 hours of the EV being released, BYD had received 10,000 orders, and by November 2023, it had produced a whopping 200,000 units.
Now, the car can officially call itself an award winner after scooping the title of World Urban Car at the World Car Awards.
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The BYD Dolphin Mini is now an official award winner
Established a little over two decades ago, BYD Auto is one of China’s hottest car brands.
It’s the best-selling carmaker in China and is the third most valuable car manufacturer in the world.
Earlier this month, the marque announced the launch of two 1,100HP EVs that can charge to 248 miles of range in five minutes. Impressive stuff.
The BYD Seagull – or Dolphin Mini – can’t quite match that but its 30kWh can be charged from 0 percent to 80 percent in 30 minutes using a household AC power plug, which is not too shabby, right?
Oh and it only costs $10,000.
Not only that, but the EV is now officially an award-winner.
The car was crowned World Urban Car at the 2025 World Car Awards in New York last night (April 16).
Organizers confirmed that it was the first win for BYD at the World Car Awards and the first ever win for a Chinese brand.
Last year, the 2024 World Urban Car was the Volvo EX30.
EVs did very well at the annual World Car Awards
It was a good night all ’round for EVs at the annual awards.
Alongside the Dolphin Mini’s win, the Kia EV3 was named 2025 World Car of the Year – a consecutive win for the carmaker, which won the same title last year for the EV9.
Elsewhere, the Volvo EX90 was named 2025 World Luxury Car, while World Car Design of the Year was won by Volkswagen ID. Buzz.
However, when it came to the 2025 World Performance Car, it was the hybrid Porsche 911 GTS that was declared the winner.
The flurry of wins for all-electrics comes as many carmakers are boosting their EV offerings amid the changing automotive landscape.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
