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Car trackers for a BYD: built-in tracking and theft risk, model by model

BYD South Africa describes no built-in tracking. Its “MY BYD” app page lists remote locking and unlocking, air conditioning, seat heating, lights and horn, and status checks on the doors, windows, tyres and charging, but no live location, geofence or stolen-vehicle tracking.1

Checked on 27 October 2026 against BYD South Africa’s app and customer-care pages and the specification sheets for the Dolphin, Seal, Atto 3, Sealion 7 and Shark 6.

BYDs in South Africa, at a glance
ModelTracking listedKeyless entry and startKeyNamed as a target
DolphinNone2Both trims2Portable card key2Not by any source we found
SealNone3Listed3NFC card key3Not by any source we found
Atto 3None4Listed4Not statedNot by any source we found
Sealion 7None; GPS listed with the infotainment5Listed5Remote key and NFC card key5Not by any source we found
Shark 6None6Listed6Not statedNot by any source we found

None of BYD’s South African specification sheets lists an immobiliser or an alarm.

Does BYD have built-in tracking?

Not as BYD South Africa describes its cars. Its app page, which isn’t in the site’s main menu, calls the app “The direct link between your car and the outside world”, and lists what it can do remotely: “door unlock/lock,air conditioning control,driver/passenger seat ventilation/heating,flashing lights/flashing lights and whistle,etc.” Showing where the car is isn’t on the list.1

We found no tracker fitted by BYD, no price or free period for the app, and no control room for stolen cars. BYD’s home, model and customer-care pages don’t mention one, and we found no insurer that accepts the app as a tracker.7 The 24-hour line BYD does run is roadside assistance, covering “5years/100,000Kms, whichever comes first”, which is for breakdowns.8

Can the BYD app show my car’s location?

Not according to BYD South Africa. The app page lists status checks on “power,doors and windows,tire pressure,mileage,power supply gear,charging status”, and pre-setting the temperature and air conditioning, but no location. It names no models either, saying only that “Depending on the model and feature of your vehicle,the availability of the services may vary.”1 None of the five South African specification sheets mentions the app.2,3,4,5,6

Are BYDs targeted in South Africa?

No BYD is on the lists we checked: Fidelity’s for 2025 and 2026, King Price’s 2026 top 10 or AutoTrader’s 2026 ranking.9,10,11,12 We found no report of how BYDs are stolen here.

The one security story is about the Shark. In October 2026 EWN reported that “a remote hack exposed security risks in the BYD Shark 6 Plug-In Hybrid”, citing an Australian ABC News demonstration in which the doors were locked and the wipers and headlights switched off remotely. A South African cybersecurity investigator told CapeTalk the flaw had been patched.13 That was a test in Australia, not a theft here.

BYD Dolphin

The Dolphin comes as the Dynamic Standard Range and the Premium Extended Range. Both have keyless entry and keyless start, and a portable card key; the sheet lists no immobiliser, alarm or app.2

Get tracker quotes for a Dolphin

BYD Seal

The Seal is sold as the rear-drive Extended Range Premium and the AWD Performance. Its comfort and convenience list, shared by both, includes keyless entry and start and an NFC card key.3

Get tracker quotes for a Seal

BYD Atto 3

The Atto 3 comes in Standard Range and Extended Range form, with keyless entry and keyless start on the feature list.4 Its page has a “Stay Connected” section, but it covers only “Intelligent Voice Control” and the promise that “We keep you connected and informed throughout your journey”, not tracking.14

Get tracker quotes for an Atto 3

BYD Shark 6

South Africa gets the Shark 6 DMO in one trim, the Premium, with keyless entry and start. The sheet lists no card key, immobiliser, alarm or app.6 It is the BYD in the Australian remote-hack report above.13

Get tracker quotes for a Shark 6

What to fit to a BYD

A tracker with a recovery service, since the BYD app doesn’t locate the car. Every BYD here is keyless, and several use a card key, so keep keys and cards away from where they can be read: Pineapple suggests a Faraday bag “to prevent the cloning of keyless access signals”, and our guide to keyless car theft explains why.15

Insurance may decide it for you. MiWay’s FAQ says that in South Africa “you’ll need an approved tracking device in place in order to get car insurance”.16

Our deals start from R99pm for a wireless recovery unit, or R149pm for a full insurance-approved tracker. Free installation, 36-month contract.

Choose your BYD in the form to see what’s on offer for it.

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Questions people ask

Does the BYD app track your car?

BYD South Africa’s app page lists remote locking, climate control and status checks, but no location or stolen-vehicle tracking, so it isn’t a substitute for a tracker.

Does BYD have a 24-hour line in South Africa?

Yes, for roadside assistance, which covers five years or 100,000 km. We found no BYD control room for stolen cars.

Was the BYD Shark hacked?

An Australian ABC News demonstration showed remote control of some Shark 6 functions, reported in South Africa by EWN in October 2026. A local investigator said the flaw was patched; it was a demonstration, not a theft.

Sources

  1. BYD South Africa, “app | BYD South Africa”, no date shown (read 27 October 2026). byd.com
  2. BYD South Africa, “Dolphin specification”, no date shown (file created October 2024). byd.com
  3. BYD South Africa, “Seal vehicle specifications, South Africa”, no date shown (file updated October 2024). byd.com
  4. BYD South Africa, “Atto 3 vehicle specifications”, no date shown (file updated September 2024). byd.com
  5. BYD South Africa, “Sealion 7 EV specifications, South Africa”, no date shown (file updated March 2025). byd.com
  6. BYD South Africa, “Shark 6 specifications, South Africa”, no date shown (file updated March 2025). byd.com
  7. BYD South Africa, “BYD South Africa”, no date shown (read 27 October 2026). byd.com
  8. BYD South Africa, “Customer care”, no date shown (read 27 October 2026). byd.com
  9. BusinessTech, quoting Fidelity Services Group, “9 cars hijackers are targeting in South Africa in 2025, with 4 new additions”, 3 February 2025. businesstech.co.za
  10. BusinessTech, quoting Fidelity ADT, “8 cars hijackers are targeting in South Africa, with one new addition”, 9 February 2026. businesstech.co.za
  11. King Price Insurance, “Most hijacked cars in South Africa (2026 crime statistics)”, 4 March 2026, last reviewed 28 April 2026. blog.kingprice.co.za
  12. Auto Trader SA, “SA’s most-hijacked car brands: the 2026 risk report”, 15 April 2026. autotrader.co.za
  13. Eyewitness News, “EV hacking risks: could cybercriminals remotely take control of your car?”, 5 October 2026. ewn.co.za
  14. BYD South Africa, “Atto 3”, no date shown (read 27 October 2026). byd.com
  15. Pineapple, “A comprehensive guide to safeguarding against hijackings in South Africa”, 25 September 2024, modified 10 June 2026. pineapple.co.za
  16. MiWay, “FAQs”, no date shown. miway.co.za