The Chinese EV maker aims to launch several more models there this year alone
BYD’s name might not be as big as Tesla on a global level, but in it’s home market, the Chinese automaker actually sold more electric and hybrid cars than the Californian EV giant. Not wanting to be solely dependent on the Chinese market, BYD has been expanding its footprint overseas, starting with the launch of the fully-electric Tang SUV in Norway last year.
Now, BYD has its sights set on Australia, where it will launch several new energy vehicles this year alone. Kicking off the product offensive is the Atto 3, a small electric SUV known as the Yuan Plus in its native China. The company says it will be competitively priced against “high-quality petrol cars”.
It is, however, interesting to note that pricing for the Atto 3 depends on where it is sold. But before we delve further into that, let’s take a look at the lineup. The EV will be offered in two variants, namely Superior and Superior Extended Range. The former is fitted with a 50.1-kWh battery while the latter gets a 60.4-kWh unit.
Back to the pricing, the Superior is priced at AUD44,381 (RM135,984), while the Superior Extended Range comes with a AUD47,381 (RM145,176) price tag. In some states like Tasmania, the entry-level variant has a slightly lower drive-away price, making it one of the most affordable EVs in the country next to the MG ZS EV. In Western Australia, the price is considerably higher. However, it is worth noting that each state has its own EV incentives.
Regardless of variant, the Atto 3 has a front axle-mounted electric motor generating 150 kW (204 PS) and 350 Nm of torque, which allows it to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 7.3 seconds. The Superior offers 320 km of operating range, while the Superior Extended Range lives up to its name with 420 km. Both figures are based on the WLTP test cycle.
For charging, both variants comes with a Type 2 connector that allows AC charging up to 7kW. Also equipped is a CCS Type 2 port that supports DC fast charging up to 80 kW, which is capable of replenishing the battery capacity from 20% to 80% in 45 minutes.
On top of that, the Atto 3 also supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) or bi-directional charging, which can supply up to 2.2 kW of power that can be used to run electrical appliances, tools, gadgets or even camping equipment.
As part of its offensive in Australia, BYD is reportedly making a significant investment in a production line with an annual capacity of 15,000 vehicles. The automaker has also inked a five-year deal with Eagers Automotive to make the local dealership its exclusive retailer in the country with a 49% stake in the joint venture.
