Latest news with #BYDAtto2
Man of Many
a day ago
- Automotive
- Man of Many
BYD Atto 2 and Flagship Sealion 8 Set to Shake Up Australia
By Somnath Chatterjee - News Published: 19 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 5 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Chinese automaker BYD has confirmed that the Atto 2 compact vehicle and the flagship Sealion 8 will be arriving in Australia. and the will be arriving in Australia. The Atto 2 will slot in between the Dolphin and the Atto 3, with expected pricing to be sub-$35,000 . . Sealion 8 PHEV will serve as BYD's new three-row flagship SUV . . Both launches are scheduled in the next few months, with the Atto 2 to arrive first. It is no secret that BYD plans to dominate the Australian automotive market. Over the past few years, the Chinese automaker has steadily rolled out new budget-conscious models, surprisingly spacious lifestyle vehicles and a flagship release or two, but in 2025, BYD is stepping up its game. After moving from a private distributor to an in-house model, the brand is aggressively expanding its Australian presence, starting with the newly unveiled Atto 2 and Sealion 8. Both new vehicles, which operate on separate ends of the BYD spectrum, represent lucrative product launches for the ever-expanding BYD clientele. Better still, both new vehicles are expected to land Down Under in the 'next few months', meaning the rest of the industry better watch out. BYD Atto 2 confirmed for Australia | Image: BYD Automotive BYD Atto 2 As the brand's latest small SUV, the Atto 2 promises to further democratise EVs for Australian consumers, namely through price and convenience. The small but conservatively styled vehicle represents BYD's new entry-level crossover for the Australian market and essentially uses the same underpinnings as the Dolphin, albeit in a more universally appealing SUV body style. Two trims will be available from launch, Essential and Premium, both of which utilise a front motor with an output of 130kW/290Nm. BYD has noted a claimed range of 401km with a 51.3 kWh LFP battery; however, you can expect a more realistic figure of 300km on the WLTP test. BYD Atto 2 interior | Image: BYD Automotive Features Impressively, while the Atto 2 might be BYD's entry-level SUV, the feature list is far from bare-bones. According to Wing You, BYD Australia general manager, the new vehicle will arrive with staple brand additions such as a 12.8-inch touchscreen, 360-degree camera, and ADAS. 'With its exciting looks, superlative technology, and eminent versatility, the Atto 2 promises to be a game-changer in the small-size SUV segment,' Wing You said. 'The Atto family of vehicles is expanding in Australia, and we're confident this latest addition will be well received by local buyers.' Atto 2 Pricing While BYD has not officially confirmed the pricing, the expectation is that the new small SUV will be a step up from the $29,990 Dolphin. That being said, it could quite easily take the title of being the most affordable Chinese SUV by undercutting the likes of the Chery E5 ($39,990 before on-road costs) and the MG S5 (costing $40,490). In other words, it could be the most popular BYD SUV by occupying the sweet spot between the Dolphin and the Atto 3. BYD Sealion 8 confirmed for Australia | Image: BYD Automotive BYD Sealion 8 Meanwhile, BYD continues to enter the premium luxury segment with its largest product yet, while also ticking the box for a three-row SUV. The massive Sealion 8 is a plug-in hybrid SUV with a 110kW, 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that comes with either a front wheel drive configuration in the DM-i (Intelligence) hybrid trim with a 200kw electric motor plus a 19kW battery or the all-wheel drive DM-p (Performance) hybrid variant which adds a second 141kW motor at the rear axle while having a larger 35.6kWh battery. With a bigger battery pack than the Shark Ute, expect the pure electric range to surpass the pick-up at more than 100km. BYD Sealion 8 Performance In terms of performance, the large Sealion 8 DM-p has plenty of firepower with a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds, which is remarkably close to the smaller Sealion 7. The interiors, meanwhile, are plush, and you need not have to get these eccentric leather colours, but the cabin would be decked out with massage, heated and cooled seats for both the front and second row. It will also be the most cavernous BYD with a large storage capacity. Expect the pricing of the Sealion 8 to be north of $80,000 when it goes on sale here, and that means it will fight head-on with the Kia Sorento PHEV. BYD Sealion 8 interior | Image: BYD Automotive 'We've listened to our customers. We know the desire is here for a proper full-size, seven-seater PHEV SUV,' Wing You, BYD Australia general manager said. 'We're incredibly proud of what the SEALION 8 will represent for BYD in Australia. It's going to be a flagship model for us, and, in classic BYD fashion, it will exceed the consumers' expectations for tech, luxury, and value.' The Atto 2 will come towards the end of the year and the Sealion 8 will be launched by early next year while the launches will not stop there either as BYD looks to fill in all the gaps in its product range by introducing an even smaller car below the Dolphin which is the Seagull or Dolphin Mini. Plus, off-road fans would rejoice at the prospect of the Denza sub-brand, which brings an array of rugged SUVs. It seems BYD wants to clearly increase its market share in Australia over the next few years and will not stop until it does so. BYD Atto 2 confirmed for Australia | Image: BYD Automotive
7NEWS
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
BYD Australia appoints ex-Honda director as new operating chief
Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. 'I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey,' Collins said in a statement. 'The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) 'With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value.' BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla -like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. 'Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future,' Mr You said in a statement. 'Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle.'
Perth Now
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
BYD Australia appoints ex-Honda director as new operating chief
Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. 'I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey,' Collins said in a statement. 'The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) 'With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value.' BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla-like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. Supplied Credit: CarExpert In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. 'Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future,' Mr You said in a statement. 'Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle.' MORE: Everything BYD
The Advertiser
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
BYD Australia appoints ex-Honda director as new operating chief
Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. "I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey," Collins said in a statement. "The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) "With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value." BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla-like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. "Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future," Mr You said in a statement. "Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. "I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey," Collins said in a statement. "The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) "With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value." BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla-like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. "Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future," Mr You said in a statement. "Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. "I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey," Collins said in a statement. "The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) "With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value." BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla-like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. "Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future," Mr You said in a statement. "Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Former Honda Australia director and chief operating officer (COO), Stephen Collins, has been appointed COO of BYD's new factory-backed Australian operation. Mr Collins joins BYD Australia as it takes over the local distributorship from EVDirect amid a raft of model launches, including the Atto 2 compact electric SUV and its first seven-seater, the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. "I'm excited to join BYD at such a pivotal time in its journey," Collins said in a statement. "The transition to fully factory backed distribution offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of automotive innovation in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: BYD Atto 2 (left); BYD Sealion 8 (right) "With BYD's global foundation, I'm looking forward to driving long-term growth that results in more Australians experiencing BYD's cutting-edge technology and commitment to redefining value." BYD launched in Australia in 2022 through importer EVDirect with bold ambitions to become the best-selling carmaker in Australia – planning to end decades of Toyota dominance at the top – by 2030. In the first five months of 2025, BYD has sold twice as many vehicles in Australia as Honda, with 15,199 sales for the Chinese brand against the Japanese carmaker's 6557. Collins spent 11 of his 13+ years at Honda Australia running the company, where he unified the brand's previously separate automotive, motorcycle and power equipment operations into a single business unit. He also oversaw the brand's controversial move to a Tesla-like agency sales model in July 2021, later adopted by Mercedes-Benz. The new distribution model saw automakers own all vehicle stock at dealerships – instead of selling vehicles to dealers – and introduced fixed customer pricing nationwide, with customers and dealers unable to negotiate on prices. Both Mercedes-Benz and Honda faced legal challenges from dealer groups who were against the transition to the model. While the German brand is still in court with a number of dealers, in December 2024 Honda Australia was ordered to pay $13.6 million to Brighton Automotive, a Victorian dealer, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled the carmaker broke its contract with the dealer early. Collins left Honda in November 2022 and was succeeded as the director by Carolyn McMahon, who handed the reign to Jay Joseph in February 2025 following Ms McMahon's appointment as Honda New Zealand president. In addition to Honda, Collins has spent time at Nissan Australia – which remains ahead of BYD on the local sales charts for now – and the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) during his automotive career. In his new role at BYD, Collins will report to BYD Australia general manager Wing You, with the brand climbing up the sales charts to finish 12th for the month of May 2025. "Stephen brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial in shaping the next steps of BYD Australia's future," Mr You said in a statement. "Our team is growing, and we think that's only going to enhance the customer experience for anyone considering a BYD vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2025 BYD Atto 2 small electric SUV confirmed for Australia
The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. While pricing is yet to be confirmed, the Atto 2 should be cheaper than the mid-size Atto 3, which starts from $39,990 before on-road costs – making it considerably more affordable than the new Kia EV3's $48,990 starting price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is priced from $54,000 before on-road costs. In China, the Atto 2 starts at ¥96,800 (A$20,835), which is less than the BYD Dolphin hatchback (¥99,800 or A$21,480) that's currently priced from $29,990 drive-away in Australia. Based on its specs in China – where it is called the BYD Yuan Up – the Atto 2 measures 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high, making it 145mm shorter than the Atto 3. However, it's larger than light SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Qashqai – and the electric Jeep Avenger – but not as big as Australia's most popular SUVs, like the mid-size Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Indeed, the Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which expands to 1370L of space with the second row folded. In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. While pricing is yet to be confirmed, the Atto 2 should be cheaper than the mid-size Atto 3, which starts from $39,990 before on-road costs – making it considerably more affordable than the new Kia EV3's $48,990 starting price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is priced from $54,000 before on-road costs. In China, the Atto 2 starts at ¥96,800 (A$20,835), which is less than the BYD Dolphin hatchback (¥99,800 or A$21,480) that's currently priced from $29,990 drive-away in Australia. Based on its specs in China – where it is called the BYD Yuan Up – the Atto 2 measures 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high, making it 145mm shorter than the Atto 3. However, it's larger than light SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Qashqai – and the electric Jeep Avenger – but not as big as Australia's most popular SUVs, like the mid-size Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Indeed, the Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which expands to 1370L of space with the second row folded. In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. While pricing is yet to be confirmed, the Atto 2 should be cheaper than the mid-size Atto 3, which starts from $39,990 before on-road costs – making it considerably more affordable than the new Kia EV3's $48,990 starting price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is priced from $54,000 before on-road costs. In China, the Atto 2 starts at ¥96,800 (A$20,835), which is less than the BYD Dolphin hatchback (¥99,800 or A$21,480) that's currently priced from $29,990 drive-away in Australia. Based on its specs in China – where it is called the BYD Yuan Up – the Atto 2 measures 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high, making it 145mm shorter than the Atto 3. However, it's larger than light SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Qashqai – and the electric Jeep Avenger – but not as big as Australia's most popular SUVs, like the mid-size Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Indeed, the Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which expands to 1370L of space with the second row folded. In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. While pricing is yet to be confirmed, the Atto 2 should be cheaper than the mid-size Atto 3, which starts from $39,990 before on-road costs – making it considerably more affordable than the new Kia EV3's $48,990 starting price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is priced from $54,000 before on-road costs. In China, the Atto 2 starts at ¥96,800 (A$20,835), which is less than the BYD Dolphin hatchback (¥99,800 or A$21,480) that's currently priced from $29,990 drive-away in Australia. Based on its specs in China – where it is called the BYD Yuan Up – the Atto 2 measures 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high, making it 145mm shorter than the Atto 3. However, it's larger than light SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Qashqai – and the electric Jeep Avenger – but not as big as Australia's most popular SUVs, like the mid-size Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Indeed, the Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which expands to 1370L of space with the second row folded. In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
