BYD is certainly making a splash ahead of its launch in Japan next month. According to Nikkei Asia, the Chinese automaker is pricing its flagship Atto 3 below the Nissan Ariya and Tesla Model 3 to make the brand an affordable EV option.
Currently, the company is offering the Atto 3 at 4.4 million yen (~$43,700 CAD), beating Tesla and Nissan by almost 600,000 yen (~$6,000 CAD).
The goal is for BYD to become the affordable option in the country, which has slowly embraced EVs.
BYD is setting up 22 sales locations in Japan starting in January, with the goal of opening more than 100 stores by 2025. The Atto 3 will make its debut in the country in January.
With the compact hatchback, Dolphin is arriving in mid-2023 and the Seal sedan in q3 or q4 2023.
Atsuki Tofukuji, President of BYD Auto Japan, had this say about the companies launch:
We hope to enhance our presence in Japan little by little as consumers look for more options for green cars amid the shift to a carbon neutral society.
BYD has been in Japan for years, accounting for around 70 per cent of the country’s electric bus market.
However, the brand is not well-known on the passenger vehicle side.
This aggressive marketing and pricing could lead to a big splash for BYD, but only time will tell if Nissan or Tesla adjust pricing to match the Atto 3.
