The Extended Range version of the BYD Atto 3 is proving a popular choice, accounting for nine out of 10 orders for the new low cost EV.
The rebadged version of the Yuan Plus – which the world’s third-largest carmaker BYD is making more of than ever before ahead of its arrival in Australia in mid-2022 – is available in two battery options.
The short-range Atto 3 starts at $44,381 before on-road costs. It is cheaper to buy in Tasmania where it is priced from $44,990 driveaway. For this, drivers get an estimated 320km range from a 50kWh battery. Real-world driving range is likely to be around 285km.
The long-range Atto 3, by comparison, is just $3,000 dearer. Its cheapest driveaway pricing is $47,990, adding another 10kWh to the battery and offering an estimated 420km driving range. BYD says this is based on the WLTP rating, and real-world driving range may be around 375km.
So it’s no surprise that The Driven has learned that the longer-range electric compact SUV is the model of choice for drivers.
Speaking with The Driven, CEO of BYD importer EV Direct Luke Todd says 90% of orders to date are for the long-range variant.
“Thousands of orders” taken
While Todd would not divulge the exact numbers of orders taken, he says that three-months worth of allocations “in the thousands” had already been accounted for.
First offered in blue, grey and white, EV Direct is also now offering a red exterior option which will start to arrive from October.
Best bang for buck
The revelation comes as the long-range BYD Atto 3 proved the “best bang for buck” in a recent analysis by The Driven.
The BYD Atto 3 is due to arrive in July, with test drives available from June.
One of just a few EVs on the market priced under $50,000, it is up against the MG ZS EV which will also make a return in mid-July.
However, as MG has raised the price of its ZS EV to $46,990 for the Excite trim and $49,990 for its Essence grade trim, the Atto 3 is currently the most affordable new EV in Australia.
MG told The Driven as of March it had taken 200 orders for the refreshed ZS EV, and it is understood there are nearly twice that due to land in July.
The Driven published a comparison between the ZS EV and the Atto 3 in February, which you can read here.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.