- UPDATE: BYD Australia issues safety bulletin for Atto 3 child restraints
- The story to here
- October 13: 2023 BYD Atto 3 EV scores five-star ANCAP rating – but only in New Zealand
UPDATE: BYD Australia issues safety bulletin for Atto 3 child restraints
EVDirect, the Australian distributor for the BYD Atto 3, has advised owners not to install a child restraint in the middle seat.
It follows its five-star ANCAP safety rating, which has sparked legal concerns for Australia after it was revealed the score applies to New Zealand variants only.
The safety bulletin – sent by email over the weekend – asks owners to “not use the rear centre seat to attach any child seat”, with the electric small SUV lacking a top tether for the middle seat.
Image: BYD Atto 3 safety bulletin, courtesy BYD EV Owners Australia
A top tether for the centre seat has been a long-standing requirement for a five-seat passenger vehicle in Australia.
“BYD Australia is in the process of resolving this issue and will shortly provide you with a further update,” added EVDirect.
It then asks owners to click a button “to acknowledge that you have read and understand [sic]”.
Images taken by local owners reveal there could be provision for an ADR-approved top tether, however, it is positioned behind the seat fabric, which potentially breaches compliance laws.
The Australian Design Rule 34/03 states: “Clearance shall be provided around each ‘Upper Anchor Fitting’ to allow latching and unlatching, without the use of tools, of the ‘Attaching Clip’ to the ‘Upper Anchor Fitting’ when it is installed in the vehicle.”
For more information on the BYD Atto 3 safety rating, read below.
Jordan Hickey
The story to here
October 13: 2023 BYD Atto 3 EV scores five-star ANCAP rating – but only in New Zealand
Independent crash test authority ANCAP has awarded the Chinese BYD Atto 3 five stars – but not for Australian market cars.
The battery-electric Atto 3 small SUV scored well in each of the four key areas of assessment, said ANCAP, with New Zealand variants achieving a five-star safety rating in both Standard Range and Extended Range guise.
Top marks were given for protection provided to the driver in the side impact and far-side impact test, while front and rear seat occupant measures also scored well, and maximum points were achieved for child occupants in the side impact and frontal offset crash assessments.
The active safety capability of the Atto 3 was also shown to be top notch, with the standard-fit pedestrian and cyclist-detecting autonomous emergency braking system offering good levels of performance in forward, reverse, daytime and night-time test scenarios.
“This five-star ANCAP safety rating for the BYD Atto 3 will no doubt come as welcome news to New Zealand buyers looking for a safe and green choice within its price-point,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.
However, ANCAP said it is now working with BYD to get Australian-supplied Atto 3 vehicles rated for locally-specified models too.
In Australia, the BYD Atto 3 comes in two forms: a Standard Range using a 49.9kWh battery and a single motor capable of producing 150kW/310Nm and a claimed driving range of 345 kilometres, or an Extended Range offering 420km and the same power and torque going to the front wheels but utilising a 60.4kWh battery.
The Standard Range Atto 3 is $44,381 before on-road costs, while the Extended Range is $47,381 + ORC.
In New Zealand, the same variants are on sale but for NZ$55,490 (AU$49,618) and NZ$59,990 (AU$53,642) respectively.
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Keyword: BYD Atto 3: Safety bulletin issued after NZ-only 5-star ANCAP rating