BYD confirms local Atto 3 pricing

Thursday, 23 June 2022

The Atto 3 won’t take the cheapest EV crown from MG, it turns out.

BYD has announced pricing of the electric Atto 3 SUV , expected to land in late August 2022.

Initial ‘extended range’ models will come with a 60kWh battery, offering 420km of range and a recharge time of an hour connected to a DC fast charger. BYD doesn’t specify what speed it charges at.

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Come December, buyers will be able to choose a smaller ‘standard range’ 50kWh version, which offers a claimed range of 320km.

Pricing for the standard range model starts at $52,990, while the extended range asks $57,990. On-road costs aren’t included, but both models are eligible for the $8625 Clean Car rebate, pushing them down to $44,365 and $49,365 each. The MG ZS EV starts at $49,990 before any rebates.

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Two versions will be on sale by the end of the year, using a 60kWh or a smaller 50kWh battery.

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In Australia, the Atto 3 retails for AU$44,990 including on-road costs, which converts into NZ$49,500. Warren Willmott, brand manager for BYD New Zealand, says that the reason for the slightly higher price in New Zealand is simply down to the distribution model the company has taken here; whereas BYD has taken a Tesla-style direct sales approach in Australia, Ateco Automotive is using a traditional dealership sales and service model in New Zealand.

However, Willmott confirmed that the cheaper BYD Dolphin would be coming here, renamed as the Atto 2 for our market. The Dolphin is a small city hatchback with a range of up to 405km, depending on the variant, and is expected to arrive here in the middle of next year.

To begin with though, it is just the Atto 3 which uses a single front-mounted motor producing 50kW of power and 310Nm of torque. They also get a 12.8-inch infotainment screen which can rotate 90 degrees, electrically adjustable seats and a sunroof.

A six-year/150,000km new vehicle warranty with 6-year roadside assistance package is standard, while the Blade Battery is covered by an eight-year /160,000km (whichever comes first) warranty.

Willmott also confirmed that the New Zealand market is important to the brand’s expansion strategy, and that “there is a strong commitment to a consistent supply of vehicles.”

Six dealerships will offer the mid-sized electric Atto 3 SUV at first, covering five main cities of Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch, with more locations planned.