BYD is shaking up Europe’s supermini segment with the confirmed arrival of the Dolphin G DM-i plug-in hybrid.

The “game-changing” compact hatchback opens for orders in June delivering “best-in-class practicality” and a combined range of more than 621 miles (1000km).

It’s BYD’s first product designed specifically for overseas markets including Europe, springboarding a new line-up of compact and lower-medium models designed and developed on the continent.

The Dolphin G DM-i will sit alongside the existing fully electric Dolphin supermini, which is priced from £30,230, and will become the smallest plug-in hybrid in the UK.

BYD says the Dolphin G DM-i is designed for customers “seeking an accessible compact car that combines the zero-emissions ability of a pure EV with the long-distance flexibility of a hybrid”.

Powertrain details are yet to be revealed but details suggest the technology will be shared from the new Atto 2 DM-i compact crossover, which launches next week. Priced from £26,995, making it the UK’s cheapest plug-in hybrid, the Atto 2 DM-i offers two different variants, both featuring a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine but with different battery and motor setups, giving up to 93 miles of fully electric driving.

The supermini segment is a foundational cornerstone of the European automotive market and BYD said the brand is seeking to redefine “what customers can expect from a compact car in the electric era” with the arrival of the Dolphin G DM-i.

Executive vice president Stella Li elaborated: “By bringing long electric range, intelligent hybrid technology and advanced digital features into an accessible compact vehicle, we are making sustainable mobility smarter, more practical and available to many more people across Europe.”

Further details of the Dolphin G DM-i will be revealed in the coming weeks. First deliveries are due to start by the end of the summer.