BYD Atto 3 News

BYD is a relative minnow in the Australian car market. Yes, it’s had some modest success with its range of electric cars, but it’s still well-short of reaching the top 10 in sales and having a real impact on the market… or is it?

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BYD has taken a step towards releasing what could be yet another affordable smash-hit electric model, as the brand trademarked the ‘Atto 3 Up’ name in Australia.This name could sit on locally-delivered versions of the Chinese-market Yuan Up, with Volkswagen likely to challenge use of the Up! name it used (and still holds the trademark for) on its city-sized hatchback, which was discontinued in Australia in 2014.The BYD Yuan Up is also known as the Yuan Pro in other markets outside China, but it seems the brand will stick with relatability should the model launch in Australia.It is offered with a 130kW/290Nm front-mounted electric motor and up to 380km of NEDC-rated range from a relatively small 45kWh battery. A charging capacity of up to 65kW on DC means a charge time from a quoted 30 - 80 per cent in 20 minutes.As with other BYD models, the Yuan Up features a high standard specification, including 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and up to a 12.8-inch central multimedia touchscreen on higher spec cars, as well as a synthetic leather interior. It relies on the same software and technology platform as the existing Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal already sold in Australia.It could be competitively priced, with higher-grade versions in China sitting at around the equivalent of AU$25,000 (likely closer to the mid-$30,000 mark if it follows the same pattern as other BYD models), leaving room for it to sit at a similar price to the Dolphin hatch (from $36,990) as an SUV alternative, but below the $44,499 starting price of the Atto 3.So far, the Yuan Pro (aka Atto 3 Up) has only been offered in left-hand drive. It is worth noting that BYD also holds many other as-yet-unused trademarks, including nameplates for other models from its Chinese range, like the Han luxury sedan, Song mid-size SUV, and even two options for the name of its sub-Dolphin city hatch, either Dolphin Mini (its name in South America) or Seagull (its name in China).Additionally, BYD holds multiple trademarks for its Denza premium arm, Fang Cheng Bao (Formula Leopard) off-road sub-brand, and its YangWang ultra-luxury marque, complete with separate trademarks for logos, symbols, and individual model names. It even holds a series of trademarks related to its SkyRail mass transit company, which already runs trains in South America and Singapore.BYD will no doubt seek to double down on its strong momentum in Australia with an expanded range to follow-up its plug-in hybrid Shark 6 ute, which has created quite some fanfare.When asked if this would include smaller models, the CEO of BYD’s local importer, David Smitherman told CarsGuide earlier this year the Seagull hatch was definitely a potential candidate, but the brand’s immediate focus would be on SUVs, strengthening the case for the Atto 3 Up being a smaller and cost-effective option in its line-up.He additionally indicated the brand was also strongly considering the Euro-focused E-Vali van as an option for its increasing base of fleet customers who had expressed interest in it.On top of this, the brand has said on multiple occasions it is very interested in the plug-in hybrid off-road focused Fang Cheng Bao Leopard 5 (essentially an SUV take on the Shark 6 platform), although hasn’t yet been able to confirm timing.Expanding its range is more important now than ever, with multiple rivals also from China eyeing the success of BYD, MG, and GWM, announcing their own debut models in 2025.These rivals include Xpeng, Geely, GAC, and Leapmotor, all of which have largely electric SUV-led ambitions in the next year.

BYD is looking to drive sales at the end of the year, slashing prices by $3000 on all of its passenger car models for a limited time. Additionally, the Chinese carmaker is offering a $1000 home charger installation voucher in the bundle. This deal applies to the end of November across all BYD models currently on sale, including the Dolphin hatch, Atto 3 small SUV, Seal sedan and Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid medium SUV. It is the latest move in BYD asserting dominance in the Australian new-car market, with loft ambitions first to take a top-five place among manufacturers followed by a challenge on giant Toyota that currently has a lock on first place. The brand plans to sell 25,000 cars this year, double 2023’s sales figures. By the end of October, BYD had registered 16,913 new cars in Australia, with 1732 done last month.It will need to really lift its game to hit the 25,000 target, more than doubling its October sales figures for the last two months of the year to over 4000 in a typically quiet time for new-car sales.BYD was not able to quantify how successful the promotion yas been yet but a spokesperson told CarsGuide "sales are in the thousands to date across the festival BYD campaign."The $3000 discounts bring the Dolphin electric hatch (340km-427km WLTP range) down as low as $33,890 before on-road costs, in Dynamic guise. Close but not enough to undercut the MG4 Excite 51kWh that is still on offer for $32,990 drive-away.The popular Atto 3 Standard drops to a competitive $41,499, while the Seal Dynamic sedan — that already undercut Tesla’s base Model 3 — is a quite ridiculous $46,888, before on-road costs. Finally, the plug-in hybrid Sealion 6 Dynamic drops its price below an equivalently-equipped Toyota RAV4 hybrid at $45,990, before on-road costs. Discounts have been instrumental in driving electric car sales in Australia with brands such as Tesla and MG finding bursts of serious success by slashing prices. Not everyone is on board, though, with critics noting the effects on resale value and price stability. 

Just two months after celebrating production of its nine millionth vehicle (and 15 months after celebrating its five millionth) BYD has gone and shocked the automotive world again – and broke its own record in the process.

Is BYD going to go match other Chinese brands with significant discounts on electric vehicles (EVs)? Or will it release an even cheaper city car based on the Seagull hatch?

BYD has teased a new electric SUV set to be revealed at the Paris Motor Show in mid-October.

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

Canada has followed the lead of the US and European Union in announcing it will impose a big tariff on Chinese-made EVs. According to the Canadian government, the 100 per cent tax will apply to all vehicles imported from China, including those built by Tesla, who currently ships its Chinese-made EVs to Canada.