Chinese automotive manufacturing company, BYD Auto, has arrived in South Africa and has launched the new Atto 3 electric crossover!

Never heard of BYD? BYD is an acronym for “Build Your Dreams” and as far as Electric Vehicles (EVs) are concerned, it’s China’s Tesla equivalent.

In 2022, BYD was ranked as the largest EV producer and it produced over 1.8-million electric vehicles in 2022, even out-producing Tesla (over 1.3-million units) by a big margin. With mega growth expected in the EV market in China and around the world, BYD has its sights set on international markets, including South Africa, and the Chinese automotive juggernaut has now officially arrived, bringing the Atto 3 crossover to market.

BYD Atto 3 – Key Features

Chinese EVs have come a long way in terms of design. The Atto 3 crossover oozes style.

The BYD Atto 3 is an electric crossover that’s built on the firm’s e-Platform 3.0. It stands 4 455 mm long, 1 875 mm wide, 1 615 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2 720 mm.

As far as styling is concerned the Atto 3 is a rather attractive EV product in our opinion and it rides on 18-inch alloy wheels while features such as roof rails, panoramic sunroof, rear light bar, electric folding mirrors and a sleek front-end with attractive headlight units give the Atto 3 an overtly stylish appearance.

The Atto 3 is powered by an electric motor positioned over the front axle delivering generous outputs of 150 kW and 310 Nm and claims a zero to 100 kph sprint time of 7.3 seconds.

The Atto 3 is equipped with a 50.1 kWh battery as standard with a WLTP range of 320 km or an extended-range version with a 60.4kWh battery with a range of 420 km. For charging purposes, the Atto 3 is equipped with a Type 2 AC and Type 2 CCS (80 kW fast-charging) charging ports as well as a 220V emergency charging cable. Charging from 20% to 80% using the 80kW fast-charger will take 45 minutes.

More so, the Atto 3 can generate electricity using a Vehicle-To-Load (VTOL) system to power some appliances in your home during load-shedding and can generate up to 3.3 kW of electricity!

The Atto 3’s interior is modern and well-equipped with comfort and convenience features.

Moving inside, the BYD Atto 3 features a modern-looking cabin with a large 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 5.0-inch instrument cluster. Other notable features include a wireless charging pad, 8-speaker sound system, multifunction steering wheel, keyless entry, keyless start and electrically adjustable front seats.

Safety features include 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, electronic stability control, front and rear collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane keep warning, lane-keeping assist and rear cross-traffic alert.

BYD Atto 3 Price in South Africa

BYD Atto 3 (50.1 kWh) – R768 000

BYD Atto 3 (60.4 kWh) – R835 000

The BYD Atto 3 is sold with a 5-year / 100 000km warranty and 5-year / 100 000 km service plan.

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