February 2026 marked a previously improbable milestone in the Brazilian automotive market: an electric car at the top of retail sales. The protagonist was the BYD Dolphin Mini, with 4,810 units registered in the month and a lead of nearly one thousand vehicles over the second-placed Volkswagen Tera, according to data from Fenabrave.

This achievement carries symbolic weight but is not limited to a single month. It reflects the strategy developed by BYD in Brazil over the past three years: investing in a more affordable electric car, rapidly expanding the product range, strengthening sales channels, consolidating local industrial operations, while simultaneously preparing for an upward move into the premium segment.

For Alexandre Baldy, Senior Vice President of BYD Brazil, the February result demonstrates that Brazilian consumers have evolved more quickly than expected. In an exclusive interview with Forbes Brasil, the executive emphasised that this accomplishment reflects a deeper transformation in the Brazilian automotive market.

(Source: Forbes Brasil, on 30 March)