BYD Atto 3 EVO Performance Skipped for Australia
The BYD Atto 3 EVO Performance model won’t launch in Australia due to low expected demand and fewer snow-covered roads, according to the brand’s local chief product officer, Sajid Hasan.
The Atto 3 EVO is an updated version of the mid-size electric SUV. Australian order books opened in August with two model grades: the front-wheel drive Dynamic variant priced at $41,990 plus on-road costs, and the rear-wheel drive Premium model at $46,990 plus on-road costs.
Performance variant available in New Zealand
In New Zealand, the Atto 3 EVO is offered in an all-wheel drive Performance model grade, featuring front and rear electric motors with a combined system output of 330kW and 560Nm. It completes the 0-100km/h dash in 3.9 seconds.
This model is priced at $NZ75,990 plus on-road costs, which is approximately $A61,276. It is $NZ10,000 ($A8063) more expensive than the mid-spec Premium model and $NZ16,000 ($A12,903) more than the entry-level Dynamic.
Low demand and snowy roads factor into decision
According to Hasan, the Performance model was ruled out for Australia due to low expected demand, although this could change if there is overwhelming customer and dealer demand.
He noted that New Zealand gets the all-wheel drive variant because snow-covered roads are more common there. New Zealand’s geography includes regions with frequent snowfall, particularly in the South Island.
If introduced, the Atto 3 EVO Performance would likely serve as a cheaper alternative to other battery electric SUV performance variants such as the Skoda Elroq RS, Zeekr 7X Performance AWD, Hyundai Ioniq 5N, Tesla Model Y Performance, and BYD’s own Sealion 7 Performance.
Performance-focused variants of electric vehicles typically make up a smaller fraction of sales compared to their regular counterparts. However, they still hold a place in the Australian market. In August, Skoda’s Australian director stated that 50 percent of local Enyaq sales are expected to be the all-wheel drive, performance-oriented RS model.
Potential for Other Performance Models
Mr. Hasan acknowledged interest in performance variants like the Sealion 7 and Seal Performance models, already available in Australia. He stated that if demand exists, a local release of such models could be considered.
