BYD launches affordable Atto 1 and Atto 2 EVs
BYD set to launch two new small and affordable electric vehicles (EVs), the Atto 1 and Atto 2, with pricing to challenge ICE-powered rivals.
Already one of Australia’s fastest growing new car brands and a fixture on monthly top 10 sales lists, BYD is about to turn up the heat on rivals by launching two new, small and affordable electric vehicles.
The Chinese car maker is gearing up to launch two new entry-level electric vehicles, the Atto 1 and Atto 2, promising that the Atto 1 will be Australia’s most affordable EV.
The company has stopped short of confirming pricing for either new model but has given strong indications the Atto 1 will come with a circa $25,000 starting price tag.
If so, this will make the Atto 1 considerably less expensive than the BYD Dolphin Essential and GWM Ora which are currently Australia’s cheapest EVs with a recommended retail price of 29,990 at the time of writing.
Interior of BYD's Atto 1 EV.
The sharp pricing for BYD’s newest battery electric model also means it will undercut similar-sized ICE-powered models including the Suzuki Swift ($24,490 MRLP), Mazda 2 ($28,190 MRLP), and Toyota Yaris ($28,990 MRLP).
Already on sale in Europe as the BYD Dolphin Surf and in China as the BYD Seagull, the single-motor front-wheel drive Atto 1 comes in two variants with different power outputs and two different size BYD Blade batteries.
The entry-level Essential delivers 65kW/175Nm and features a 30kWh Blade Battery with up to 220km of range.
The Premium steps up to 115kW/220Nm and gets a 43.2kWh battery offering up to 310km (WLTP).
Both variants feature a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, synthetic leather seats, and generous boot space, along with six airbags, a 360-degree camera, and BYD’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).
DC fast charging is rated at up to 65kW for the Essential and 85kW for the Premium, with the latter able to charge from 10-80% in about 30 minutes.
Sitting above the pint-sized Atto 1 hatch and slotting between it and the existing Atto 3 will be BYD’s other new model, the Atto 2 compact SUV.
Once again, BYD hasn’t provided pricing but its positioning in the brand’s line-up means the Atto 2 is likely to start from about $35,000.
The BYD Atto 2.
Electrically powered Rivals for include the Chery E5 and MG S5, while ICE-powered rivals include the Mitsubishi ASX, Suzuki S-Cross, and Toyota Corolla Cross.
As with its hatchback stablemate, the Atto 2 will come in two variants, but in this case the model designations are Dynamic and Premium.
Both feature the same 130kW/290Nm outputs and 51.3kWh Blade battery offering up to 345km of WLTP range. Peak DC fast charging rate is 82kW meaning a 10-80% charge takes about 39 minutes.
They’re both expected to be well equipped but the Atto 2 Premium adds such additional features a 360-degree camera (vs a rear-view camera on Dynamic), a larger 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen (v 10.1-inch on Dynamic), power-adjustable front seats, and an immersive eight-speaker audio system (versus four speakers in the Dynamic).
Boot space is a generous 1,320 litres and BYD’s advanced DiPilot driver-assist suite is standard across the range.
BYD sales have been on a tear in Australia, with the brand moving from 16th overall in October 2024 to eighth this year, with the brand’s chief operating officer Stephen Collins saying recently that the company aims to be a top-three brand by this time in 2026.
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