BYD is set to introduce yet another affordable electric vehicle, but this one will be a little different. It is the first kei automobile made by BYD. You know, those little cars that take over the streets of Japan? The future kei automobile was first seen in public when BYD’s tiny EV was recently spotted.
The first little EV made by BYD was seen in public.
Rumours circulated last week that BYD was working on its first kei car, which would rival popular models from Japanese automakers including Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi.
Kei cars, sometimes referred to as “K-Cars“, are a kind of extremely small automobile that are no larger than 3.4 metres (134 inches). The Seagull, also known as the Dolphin Mini abroad, is BYD’s smallest EV at the moment and is 3,780 mm (148.8 inches) in length.
Because they are so little, the mini cars are perfect for navigating Japan’s congested metropolitan streets. In comparison to larger cars, they are also more economical and efficient.
IT Home (via CarNewsChina) first observed BYD’s little electric vehicle this week during a road test, and it had a recognisable appearance. It has the small, boxy appearance of a standard kei automobile with folding side doors, as you can see.
A new platform for the model is reportedly being developed by BYD. According to reports, it will come with a 20 kWh battery with a WLTC range of 180 km (112 miles). It is anticipated that BYD will have a cost advantage by utilising its proprietary Blade LFP batteries.
The anticipated starting price of BYD’s next micro EV is 2.5 million yen, or roughly $18,000. That is comparable to last year’s best-selling EV in Japan, the Nissan Sakura (2.59 million yen).
In Japan, 1.55 million kei automobiles were sold last year, making up about 40% of all new car sales. For the third consecutive year, Honda’s N-Box was the best-selling kei vehicle (gas or electric).
As Nikkei observed, some are already labelling BYD’s electric kei vehicle “a huge threat”. A Suzuki salesman replied, “Young people do not have a negative view of BYD. If the business introduced low-cost models in Japan, it would pose a serious challenge.
In Japan, BYD already sells a number of electric vehicles, such as the Seal, Dolphin, and Atto 3 SUV. The new Sealion 7 midsize electric SUV, which retails for 4.95 million yen ($34,500), was introduced by the business last month.
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