BYD Atto 3 2025 News

One of the world’s largest carmakers' recent entry into Australia is proving fruitful, as China’s BYD finds itself sitting amongst the nation's top 10 brands.But BYD hasn’t only just managed to nab itself 10th or even 9th - in June 2025 the brand was the fifth-most popular behind Toyota, Ford, Mazda and Hyundai.In fact, in the entire first half of the year BYD has sold 23,355 cars in Australia putting it ahead of competitors like Isuzu (21,883), MG (21,674), Nissan (20,604) and Subaru (19,910).The first six best-selling brands in terms in the first half of 2025 will be familiar: Toyota, Mazda, Ford, Kia, Hyundai and Mitsubishi. But then? GWM and BYD.While GWM’s growth compared to the first half of 2024 is up a steady 17.0 per cent, BYD’s rise since the same period last year is meteoric. Compared to its 9548 sales up to June 30 in 2024, BYD’s 23,355 sales so far this year means it’s up 144.6 per cent.Eighth on the ladder year-to-date is an impressive feat for a brand most Australians likely hadn’t heard of just a couple of years ago, but the brand recognition brought about by its Atto 3 and the few models launched since has clearly worked.The brand has even made it into the ute market before mainstays like Kia, with its plug-in hybrid Shark 6 ute having broken the five-figure sales barrier. The brand has shifted 10,424 Sharks since its launch earlier this year.It’s unsurprisingly BYD’s most popular model, followed by the Sealion 6 PHEV (4375 YTD) and its electric Sealion 7 sibling (3756 YTD).The Atto 3 remains popular enough despite sales halving compared to the same point last year, now 1854 units this year-to-date, followed by the Seal sedan (1609 YTD, down 60.7 per cent) and Dolphin hatch (1337 YTD, up 7.1 per cent).The only thing that seems like it could see BYD come undone is a report from last week via Reuters that production at some BYD factories has been “cut by at least a third”, but it’s yet to be seen whether this is confirmed, or whether this will have a direct impact on Australian sales.

BYD is gearing up for a massive new-model rollout that should cement its place in Australia's top 10 car brands.

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BYD’s upgraded Atto 3 electric car creeps closer to launch.The updated small electric SUV has been spotted testing in China, according to CarNewsChina, not long after it was revealed via homologation documents in its home market.The updated Atto 3 isn’t a revolution, but rather an evolution of the existing model.Styling and tech tweaks will headline the revised version.It comes with a new front bumper with a larger air intake and it has a fresh rear bumper, too.This is joined by a new rear spoiler and redesigned tail-lights.These changes are complemented by a few additional black and chrome highlights.One of the big changes is likely to be the addition of advanced self-driving technology. A new camera in the front bumper points to the inclusion of this tech, which BYD is reportedly going to rollout across its entire line-up regardless of vehicle cost.It is believed BYD has focused on urban self-driving and highway self-driving features in its next-gen technology.BYD has reportedly moved very fast developing the technology, getting up to speed in about two years.It has been reported BYD has worked with Chinese tech giants Huawei and DJI to develop the software needed to fit the self-driving technology in its vehicles.The advanced software helps the vehicle maintain its spot in the lane while driving and can even assist with changing lanes in vehicles fitted with the future tech.There are no interior shots yet, but it is likely there will be some tweaks inside too.There isn’t expected to be any changes underneath the Atto 3, which means it will maintain the same battery and motors as current versions.Two battery options are currently available: a circa-50kWh unit delivering a driving range up to 345km, and a roughly 60kWh pack providing up to 420km of range.Both batteries are lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which do without rare earth metals such as nickel and cobalt. They are cheaper to build but less energy dense than the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries found in higher-end electric cars.Sales of the Atto 3 plummeted in Australia in 2024, dropping from about 11,000 in 2023 to less than 6000. This is likely due to BYD beefing up its local range with three new models providing more options for buyers and the Atto 3 starting to show its age.Sales should get a bump this year thanks to the new entry-level Atto 3 Essential variant arriving in January that drops the price below $40,000.

If you think Chinese car brands can't teach Toyota, Ford or GM anything about making vehicles better, think again!

Australia’s electric car price wars are heating up once again, with BYD becoming the first-ever brand to advertise an electric car for under $30,000. Starting at $29,990, before on-road costs, the new Essential variant will lead the two-grade Dolphin range, sitting $6900 below the outgoing Dynamic ($36,890) and top-spec Premium ($42,890).

Sales of Chinese electric cars are booming despite heavy tariffs effectively locking them out of the US, Canada and the European Union.