BYD South Africa Triumphs at the Top Gear South Africa Magazine Awards 2025

Image: courtesy of motorpress

BYD South Africa has been named Manufacturer of the Year 2025 at the prestigious Top Gear South Africa Magazine Awards, with the BYD Shark 6 also securing Utility Car of the Year 2025.

These accolades represent a meaningful milestone as the brand continues to strengthen its presence and long-term commitment to the South African market. The Manufacturer of the Year award recognises BYD’s leadership in new energy mobility, technological innovation, and its growing impact within the local automotive landscape. It reflects the brand’s global expertise in intelligent mobility solutions and its ability to translate that leadership into relevant, high-value offerings for South African consumers.

The BYD Shark 6, awarded Utility Car of the Year, signals a new generation of performance-driven utility vehicles. Designed for versatility and durability, it combines robust capability with advanced electrified technology, including Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality. The result is a vehicle uniquely suited to South Africa’s diverse terrains, evolving energy realities, and dynamic lifestyle needs.

At the core of BYD’s competitive advantage is its proprietary Blade Battery technology, recognised globally for exceptional safety standards, durability, and efficiency. Complementing this is the brand’s e-Platform 3.0, an advanced electric vehicle architecture engineered to deliver enhanced range, faster charging capability, structural integrity, and intelligent driving integration. Together, these innovations reflect BYD’s vertically integrated approach to research, development, and manufacturing- a model that has positioned the company as a global leader in sustainable mobility.

“These awards are an important milestone for BYD in South Africa, but more significantly, they mark the beginning of our long-term growth journey in this market. South Africa plays a pivotal role in BYD’s regional strategy. We are expanding our national footprint, strengthening our network, and investing in the infrastructure, partnerships, and talent required to support the transition to tangible new energy mobility.

Our commitment extends beyond vehicle sales. We are here to contribute to economic growth and to the broader mobility ecosystem. As we accelerate our expansion, our focus remains clear: to deliver world-class innovation while building sustainable value within the South African economy.” said Steve Chang, Managing Director of BYD South Africa.

Nomonde Kweyi, Marketing Director of BYD South Africa – MEA Region, added:

“At BYD, our progress in South Africa is not driven by a marketing agenda; it is driven by technology, by purpose, and by our responsibility to deliver meaningful mobility solutions to the markets we serve.

As a global leader in intelligent mobility and energy solutions, BYD’s philosophy has always centred on engineering excellence, safety, sustainability, and long-term value creation. That same ethos underpins our approach in South Africa.

To be recognised by Top Gear South Africa and, most importantly, by South African consumers, is both an honour and a validation of this technology-led commitment. These awards affirm that when innovation is purposeful and aligned to market needs, excellence follows naturally.”

As BYD continues its expansion across South Africa, the brand remains focused on accelerating electric and hybrid mobility adoption, strengthening customer access through network growth, and contributing meaningfully to the country’s transition toward cleaner, more efficient transportation solutions.