BYD surprised many last year with details of a small hatchback model that was destined to compete in Japan’s unique Kei car market as the 2026 BYD Racco, which translates from Japanese to BYD “Sea Otter”.
The model, which starts with a smaller 22-kWh battery-pack and 210 km of WLTC range and a starting price equivalent to $A19,000 in Japan, is now reported to be heading to other right-hand drive markets.
According to reports by IT Home, which cited Nikkei Asia, the company has announced that the car will be sold in Sri Lanka and Macau. This announcement was reportedly made at an event held at a BYD dealership in Hiratsuka in the Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo.
The model in currently only available in right-hand-drive configuration and in Japan, and the price of under $A20,000 – similar to the current driveaway offer of the Atto 1 electric hatch in Australia – undercuts popular models from Japanese car makers such as Nissan in their home market.
The base variant has a range of 210 km, and there is also another top-spec variant with a bigger 35.8 kWh battery pack which offers up to 320 km of WLTC range. The car has both AC and DC charging capabilities for top-ups.
The almost 3.4 metre long city car comes with rear sliding doors, a rear folding and sliding seats as well as the car packing an umbrella in the rear, which were shared.
The rear doors of the car slide along the length of the car, making it easier for passengers to get in and out. They are electrically operated as well, and is usually a feature seen in more premium peoplemovers/MPV.
There is also adjustable seating at the back, which allows for more cargo space in the boot or more legroom for passengers. These seats can also be folded and stacked. With the seats down, it has over 1,300 litres of boot space, which is more than many small SUVs on the market.
The expansion of this model’s availability in other countries is a good start for the model’s broader availability in markets closer to Australia. We will watch this space given the initial reviews out of Japan seem quite positive for the first non-Japanese electric Kei car.
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