BYD sells most of its cars under one name in China and different names abroad. The Yuan UP is exported as the Atto 2, the Yuan Plus as the Atto 3, the Seagull as the Dolphin Mini, Dolphin Surf or Atto 1, and the Song Plus as the Seal U or Sealion 6. Two traps catch buyers most often: the export “Sealion 6” is not the China-market Sealion 06, and the export “Sealion 5” is not the Sealion 05 EV. If you import China-market cars, as most buyers in Ethiopia do, your invoice will carry the Chinese name, so you need both.
👉 Not sure which car a supplier is quoting? Send us the name and the VIN. We’ll tell you what it is. Ask us on WhatsApp · Atto 3 and Sealion 05 EV in Djibouti, CIF →
The name map
This table covers BYD’s main electric models that independent exporters ship from China. Export names vary by country, and BYD changes them over time, so check the market you are buying for.
| China-market name | Export names (where) | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Seagull (海鸥) | Dolphin Mini (Latin America), Dolphin Surf (Europe, South Africa), Atto 1 (Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand) | Four-seat city car, 3780 mm in China-market form |
| Dolphin (海豚) | Dolphin (most markets; some Latin American markets also use “Dolphin Plus”) | Five-seat hatchback, 4125–4150 mm |
| Yuan UP (元UP) | Atto 2 (Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand), Yuan Pro (Brazil, Argentina, Mexico), Yuan Up (Colombia), S1 Pro (Costa Rica) | Small SUV, 4310 mm |
| Yuan Plus (元PLUS) | Atto 3 (most markets), Yuan Plus (China and some Latin American markets) | Compact SUV, 4455 mm |
| Song Plus (宋PLUS) | Seal U (Europe, electric and DM-i), Sealion 6 (Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia, mostly the DM-i plug-in hybrid) | SUV, 4785 mm in EV form |
| Sealion 06 (海狮06) | No widely used separate export name | Mid-size SUV, 4810 mm, not the export Sealion 6 |
| Sealion 05 EV (海狮05 EV) | No widely used separate export name | Compact electric SUV, 4520 mm, not the export Sealion 5 |
| Sealion 07 EV (海狮07 EV) | Sealion 7 | Mid-size electric SUV. The Sealion 07 DM-i is its plug-in hybrid sibling |
Lengths are from BYD’s China-market configuration sheets. Export-market versions can differ (see below).
Four pairs that look alike but are different cars
1. Sealion 6 (export) vs Sealion 06 (China). The export Sealion 6 is the Song Plus, sold in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Thailand, mainly as a plug-in hybrid. The Sealion 06 is a separate China-market model on a different platform. One character apart, two different cars. Our Sealion 06 EV vs Song Plus EV comparison shows how far apart they are.
2. Sealion 5 (export) vs Sealion 05 EV (China). The export Sealion 5 DM-i is a plug-in hybrid based on the Song Pro, sold in markets including Cambodia, the Philippines and Australia. The Sealion 05 EV is a fully electric China-market SUV. If you want the electric one, “Sealion 5” is the wrong word to use with a supplier. Our Sealion 05 EV vs Atto 3 page covers the electric car.
3. Dolphin vs Dolphin Mini / Dolphin Surf. The Dolphin Mini and Dolphin Surf are not small Dolphins. They are Seagulls. The Dolphin is one size class up, with five seats against four. See BYD Dolphin vs Seagull.
4. Yuan Pro (old China model) vs Yuan Pro (Latin American name for the Yuan UP). BYD had an earlier China-market small SUV called the Yuan Pro, which the Yuan UP replaced. In Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, the new Yuan UP is sold as “Yuan Pro”. A used “Yuan Pro” from China and a new “Yuan Pro” from Mexico are different generations. See BYD Atto 2 (Yuan UP) versions.
Same name, different car: export versions are not always China versions
A shared name doesn’t guarantee a shared specification. The clearest case is the Seagull:
- The China-market Seagull is 3780 mm long, with a 55 kW motor and 30.08 kWh or 38.88 kWh batteries.
- The European Dolphin Surf is 3990 mm long, 210 mm longer, with reworked front and rear styling, and uses 30 kWh or 43.2 kWh batteries with 65 kW or 115 kW motors.
So a “Dolphin Surf” review from Europe tells you little about a China-market Seagull you’re importing. The same applies across the range: the Atto 2 DM-i, a plug-in hybrid version launched in October 2025, shares the Atto 2 name with the electric car but has a petrol engine.
For an importer, the rule is simple: the specification on the vehicle’s own documents is what counts, not the name and not a review from another market. Before you pay, confirm:
- VIN and model year.
- Powertrain: fully electric (EV) or plug-in hybrid (DM-i).
- Battery capacity in kWh and motor output in kW. Same-name versions can differ a lot. The 401 km Atto 2 comes with a 70 kW or a 130 kW motor.
- Trim: airbags, driver assistance and screen size vary by trim.
Our inspection and condition report records all of these on each unit, and our checklist of import traps covers the other common mistakes.
Why this matters for Ethiopian buyers
Many cars reaching Ethiopia are China-market units bought through independent exporters, not export-spec cars from BYD’s official channels. For those cars:
- Local listings often use Chinese names. Ethiopian classified sites list the “BYD Seagull” under its China-market name. Your customer may know the car as Seagull while a review they read calls it Dolphin Surf.
- The paperwork carries the Chinese name. The purchase invoice and certificate from a China-market car will usually say Yuan Plus, not Atto 3. That is the same vehicle, not a discrepancy. Make sure your clearing agent knows both names.
- Infotainment comes set up for China. China-market cars ship with Chinese-language systems by default. Ask your supplier what language setup the unit will have when it is delivered.
- Warranty is territorial. A China-market car exported by an independent exporter doesn’t automatically carry BYD’s Chinese warranty abroad. Agree after-sales terms with your customer up front.
For the rules on importing electric cars into Ethiopia, see our Ethiopia EV import guide.
What we have for Ethiopia right now
We hold China-market BYD EVs already landed in Djibouti, quoted CIF Djibouti:
- Atto 3 (China name Yuan Plus) in 430 km and 510 km versions. See Atto 3 430 km vs 510 km.
- Sealion 05 EV 430 km. See Sealion 05 EV vs Atto 3.
CIF Djibouti covers the car, export clearance in China, sea freight and insurance to the Port of Djibouti. The inland leg to Ethiopia and Ethiopian duties are on the buyer’s side. For other models, we quote factory-fresh or nearly-new units from China. Browse current stock, or see how many cars fit in a container for order sizes.
More naming guides and comparisons
- Chinese model names vs export names, across all brands
- Yuan UP vs Yuan Plus (Atto 2 vs Atto 3)
- Qin Plus vs Seal 05 DM-i: same car, two names?
- BYD Seagull export guide
- How to choose a Chinese car exporter
FAQ
Is the BYD Yuan UP the same as the Atto 2?
Yes. Yuan UP is the China-market name. The same car is sold as the Atto 2 in Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, as the Yuan Pro in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, and as the S1 Pro in Costa Rica.
Is the BYD Yuan Plus the same as the Atto 3?
Yes. Yuan Plus is the name in China and some Latin American markets. Atto 3 is the name in most other export markets.
Is the BYD Dolphin Mini a Dolphin or a Seagull?
A Seagull. Dolphin Mini is the Seagull’s name in Latin America. In Europe and South Africa the Seagull family is sold as the Dolphin Surf, and in several Asian markets and Australia as the Atto 1.
Is the BYD Sealion 6 the same as the Sealion 06?
No. The export Sealion 6 is the Song Plus, mostly sold as a plug-in hybrid. The Sealion 06 is a different China-market SUV.
What is the BYD Song Plus called outside China?
Seal U in Europe, in both electric and DM-i plug-in hybrid versions. Sealion 6 in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia, mainly as a plug-in hybrid.
Is the BYD Sealion 5 the same as the Sealion 05 EV?
No. The export Sealion 5 DM-i is a plug-in hybrid based on the Song Pro. The Sealion 05 EV is a fully electric China-market compact SUV.
Is the Yuan Pro the same car as the Atto 2?
It depends on where the car comes from. In Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, “Yuan Pro” is the local name for the Yuan UP / Atto 2. In China, the Yuan Pro was an earlier model that the Yuan UP replaced. Check the model year and VIN.
Photo: Alexander Migl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.