The BYD Atto 3 approved for sale in Australia just weeks before deliveries begin.
A government approval notice was published today, saying the Chinese electric SUV complies with Australian Design Rules (ADRs).
Approval requests are typically made months in advance, so it’s unusual for this particular approval notice to be issued just weeks before deliveries are to begin.
It lists tare weights of 1680kg and 1750kg respectively for the Standard Range and the Extended Range.
Interestingly, the towing capacity with and without brakes is 0kg.
17-inch alloy wheels are also listed as standard fit for the base model, although the Australian website notes standard 18-inch alloys for both variants.
Distributor EVDirect emailed customers earlier this month that local deliveries of the Atto 3 will be delayed by 6 to 8 weeks and will begin in August, not July as previously announced. there.
Delays not only mean deliveries, but also time for test drives in August or September.
It then informed Standard Range model customers that it would further delay because BYD is prioritizing Extended Range production.
“Unfortunately, we have received advice from BYD in China that production of the standard Atto 3 will not begin until mid-October and deliveries to Australia are expected to begin. from November to December,” EVDirect said in a letter to customers.
“This is due to the high-volume production requirements of the extended range option.”
It gives customers the chance to keep their place in the queue by ensuring the Extended Range is the same color as the estimated August/September 2022 delivery.
EVDirect says nearly 90% of customers have chosen the Extended Range model.
If you’re not already in the queue, you’ll have to wait until December 2022 or January 2023 for the new Standard Range according to the site.
Over the past week, the wait time for new Extended Range orders has also moved to December/January according to EVDirect’s website.
Customers will pick up the car from the Experience Center location, not the tram location as previously planned.
However, the service will still be available at both Eagers and mycar locations.
There is also the option of having your BYD vehicle delivered to you for a fee, if you live more than 50 km from the Eagers location.
The company says it will release warranty and service information soon.
BYD vehicles were previously offered in Australia – you may have taken a previous generation BYD e6 taxi in Sydney – but the new EVDirect push Atto 3 The small electric SUV is the Chinese brand’s biggest step here.
While not a household name in Australia, BYD is a giant in the field of ‘new energy vehicles’, as well as cars producing electric buses and even batteries for other companies. Warren Buffett is a major shareholder.
Currently, the company has a monopoly on producing electric and hybrid vehicles.
BYD has set up an Australia-focused line at one of its factories in China and plans to start producing the first 15,000 cars for this market. It’s the kind of sane supply that only Tesla can compete with.
In addition to the Atto 3, two more BYD models will go on sale online and in store in December 2022 in Australia, expected to be a small EV hatch and a midsize EV sedan.
Atto 3 will occupy the center of the electric vehicle market in Australia, bringing MG ZS EV a direct competitor while also vying for potential buyers of Kia Niro EV and Nissan Leaf – even more expensive vehicles.
It costs from $44,990 depending on your state, with the Extended Range model costing more than $3000.
The extended range costs $3000 more and offers 420km range on the WLTP cycle – a 100km increase on the standard range.
Both variants use BYD’s in-house ‘Blade’ LFP battery, with the base car packing 50kWh capacity and 60kWh extension models.
The battery powers the 150kW and 310Nm front-wheel-drive electric motors, capable of propelling the Atto 3 from zero to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds.
Features a 400V charging architecture, with a maximum AC charging capacity of 7kW and DC charging up to 80kW.
BYD claims it has done more than 3000 orders for the Atto 3 already, has made it on the list of Australia’s best-selling EVs.
To put this 3000 figure into context, overall market electric vehicle sales in Australia from January to June 2022 including Tesla reached 9680 units, about half of which were Model 3.
The company says the Atto 3 is currently undergoing safety testing by Euro NCAP in Europe, which will allow it to receive an ANCAP rating.
Only four paint colors will be offered: standard white, along with grey, blue and red. The latter three will cost an extra $700.
EVDirect also says there will be only one interior trim and one alloy wheel option, at least at first.
Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay are in development and will be added as over-the-air updates.
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