The Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) maker BYD – short for Build Your Dreams – is making its official entry into the South African market in the coming months.
The first model bound for local roads is the Atto 3 battery-powered crossover which is scheduled to debut in the late weeks of June.
The Atto is the second Chinese EV that is in the pipeline for our market, following in the footsteps of the recently-unveiled GWM Ora which will undoubtedly be the BYD’s biggest competitor.
What to expect
BYD has kept quiet about the local specifications of the upcoming Atto 3, however, the EV is on the road in numerous other markets and its specifications remain consistent between them.
Driving the Atto in Australia is a single electric motor connected to the front axle producing 150kW and 310Nm, allowing it to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds.
The system draws power from either a 49kWh or 60kWh battery depending on whether the standard or extended-range model is chosen, with the smaller module providing a range of 345km and a maximum DC charging speed of 70kW, whereas the bigger one takes the driving potential up to 420km and accepts an 80kW DC current.
Standout features inside the Atto consist of a 5-inch digital driver’s display, climate control, multi-colour ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, a multifunction steering wheel, heated and electric front seats, and a 12.8-inch “rotating” touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite navigation, and music streaming.
It also sports adaptive LED lights, 18-inch alloys, keyless entry and start, a one-touch tailgate, 360-view cameras, front and rear parking sensors, hill-descent control, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warnings, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, and front and rear collision warnings.
Combined with seven airbags and ABS with automatic emergency braking, the fitments scored it a 5-star Ancap safety rating.
The EV also offers 440 litres of boot space which can be expanded to 1,340 litres with the rear seats down, and it comes in at 4,455mm long, 1,875mm wide, and 1,615mm tall.
BYD Atto 3
Keyword: Chinese electric-car maker BYD launching in South Africa – What’s coming