BYD Australia has announced it will introduce the all-electric Atto 1 city hatch here next month, with the promise it will become the nation’s most affordable electric vehicle (EV).
The BYD Atto 1 – sold as the Seagull in China and the Dolphin Surf in Europe – will land at the same time as the larger Atto 2 small SUV, which BYD had previously confirmed for local showrooms but hadn’t announced timing until now.
Both compact EVs will be joined by the Toyota RAV4-rivalling Sealion 5 PHEV mid-size SUV and the bigger Sealion 8 PHEV large SUV in early 2026, which will rival the Mazda CX-80 as the first seven-seat BYD model to appear in local showrooms.
Local pricing, specifications and further details are yet to be announced, but the company has made a confident claim about pricing for the Atto 1: “The Atto 1 will be Australia’s most affordable EV by some margin,” said BYD Australia chief operating officer, Stephen Collins, in a statement.
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“As we’ve seen with those incredible sales numbers overseas, we expect really strong pre-order interest locally.”
At 3780mm long and 1750mm wide, the Atto 1 is slightly bigger than the Kia Picanto but smaller than the Mazda 2, neither of which are available as an EV.
In China, the Atto 1 costs between just ¥69,800-¥85,800 (A$14,812-A$18,207) depending on model grade.
While prices won’t directly convert to Australian models, the Atto 1 will be positioned below the existing BYD Dolphin hatch’s current starting price of $29,990 before on-road costs – meaning it could potentially start from $25,000 or less.
In the UK, where it’s sold as the Dolphin Surf, the Atto 1 costs around two-thirds the price of the Dolphin, and there’s a similar difference between the two models in China, which would equate to a price closer to $20,000 here.
In China, the Atto 1 is powered by a single electric motor driving the front wheels, delivering 55kW of power and 135Nm of torque, fed by a BYD Blade LFP battery in either 30.08kWh or 38.88kWh capacities.
UK versions are offered with 30kWh and 43.2kWh battery packs, quoting WLTP driving ranges of 220km and 321km, respectively.
The entry-level model in the UK rides on 15-inch wheels and has ‘vegan leather’ seat trim, a 10.1-inch rotatable infotainment touchscreen including satellite navigation as well as Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity.
Higher-spec variants not only score the larger battery, but also gain 16-inch alloys, with the top-spec flagship fitted with heated front seats, wireless smartphone charging and a 360-degree camera.
The BYD Atto 2 has also been confirmed for Australia with a 130kW/290Nm single-motor electric powertrain and two model grades – ‘Essential’ and ‘Premium’ – but further details are yet to be announced.
Both trim variants will come with a 51.13kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) ‘BYD Blade’ battery. While no driving range has been confirmed, it will be longer than that of the largest 45.1kWh battery version sold overseas, which has a claimed WLTP range of 312km.
A rival the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia EV3, the BYD Atto 2 debuted in China in March 2024 and is sold under other names overseas including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro.
It’s expected to cost less than $39,990 before on-roads, which is the starting price of the larger Atto 3 EV SUV – the first BYD model offered in Australia when the brand launched locally in 2022.
The arrival of the Atto 1 and 2 will give BYD Australia three ‘Atto’ models, although the Atto 1 will be an outlier given it’s a hatch and not an SUV like the Atto 2 and Atto 3.
November will also see the launch of BYD’s premium sister brand Denza in Australia, with the Denza B5 and B8 plug-in hybrid 4WD SUVs confirmed as the first models in the new Chinese luxury brand’s local lineup.
MORE: Explore the BYD showroom
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