BYD launching three EVs in Japan throughout 2023

China’s largest electrified carmaker BYD is planning to enter the Japanese market with three fully-electric models expected to go on sale next year.

Their first model is the familiar Atto 3, a compact SUV which goes on sale in Japan in January 2023.

The Atto 3 is available to test drive in New Zealand from today with customer deliveries expected to take place from the end August.

BYD’s second model to go on sale in Japan in the middle of 2023 will be ‘The Dolphin’, a small EV hatchback.

This is followed by ‘The Seal’ which is a compact sedan and will debut in the second half of 2023 in Japan.

It is unknown whether New Zealand will receive the hatchback and sedan models as new vehicles. But given they will be for sale in Japan means we’ll eventually see them as second hand imports at some stage. 

Japan will be a major test ground for BYD considering Toyota, Nissan and Honda dominate the market. Marketing, product design and engineering will each come into play for the new entrant’s success.

BYD is also expanding into Europe with models going on sale in Norway and the Netherlands.

The brand mainly sells EV passenger vehicles in China, but it also distributes electric buses in nations like the United States.

BYD delivered 646,399 vehicles globally during the first half of 2022 with that number set to grow as the brand continues to expand.

Due to the high level of local interest, BYD New Zealand has managed to secure additional vehicles from the factory and urges prospective buyers to contact their local dealer as soon as possible.