Chinese carmaker, Build Your Dreams (BYD) has recently introduced the successful e6 electric MPV for private buyers in the Indian market. The company is now ready to launch its second product in the electric passenger vehicle category. A new media report claims that the BYD Atto 3 electric SUV will be unveiled in the October-December 2022 quarter. It is expected to be showcased to public at the 2023 Auto Expo in January and sales will commence in early next year.
Based on the E3 platform, the BYD Atto 3 is close to 4.5 meters in length and is on sale in select right-hand-drive markets like Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. The new model will come as a SKD (Semi-Knocked down) unit and will be assembled at BYD’s lant in Sriperumbudur near Chennai. The new model is expected to be priced somewhere around Rs 30 lakh.
BYD has recently become the largest EV maker globally by defeating Tesla. The company is focusing on increasing its retail presence in major Indian metros. Sanjay Gipalakrishnan, senior vice president, Electric Vehicle Passenger Business, BYD India, said the company’s network will be gradually increased to 25 cities in a year along with charging infrastructure. The Souther India is a big market for EVs and contributing to nearly 60 percent of overall sales.
It will rival the likes of the MG ZS EV, the Hyundai Kona EV and the soon-to-be-launched Mahindra XUV400. It measures 4,455mm in length, 1,875mm in width and has a wheelbase of 2,720mm. The SUV weighs between 1,680-1,750kg. The BYD Atto 3 comes with a permanent magnet synchronous motor that produces 204hp and 310Nm of torque. It is claimed to achieve 0-100kmph acceleration in just 7.3 seconds.
The BYD Atto 3 is available with a choice of two battery packs – 49.93kWh and 60.48kWh. While the former is claimed to have a range of 320km, the later has a WLTP range of 420km. It comes with brand’s Blade Battery Technology, which is claimed to be safer and can tackle bad conditions better than other battery technology. The battery can be charged using a 3-pin AC or a Type-2 AC charger. It also supports up to 80kW DC fast charging, which is claimed to charge the battery pack in less than 1 hour.
Source – AutoCar Professional
