Latest news with #SajidHasan
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Australian testing to play critical role in global BYD model development
Australia will play a vital role in the development of BYD models sold around the world, not just locally, says the Chinese automaker. Testing of models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute – which was extensively evaluated in Australia ahead of its local release in January 2025 – is designed to ensure local suitability, but models not sold here such as the Yangwang U8 large SUV from BYD's luxury brand have also been spied testing on Australian roads. Ford is the only automaker that still develops vehicles from the ground up in Australia, but several others including Kia and more recently GWM and Mitsubishi also conduct local chassis tuning in and for this market. However, Australian input was critical for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab – a competitor for the top-selling, locally designed and engineered Ford Ranger sold around the world – just as it has been for other rivals including the upcoming Kia Tasman, which was repeatedly seen testing here ahead of its mid-year release. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Yet BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert the local arm's evaluation and engineering signoffs will be used to finetune suspension and other settings for the automaker's global products. "It's important that we do local confirmation testing, rough-road durability, hot weather, climate, tow testing – all those kinds of things are being done to make sure that the products are suitable for Australian customers," Mr Hasan said. "For models like that [Shark 6], particularly off-road focussed vehicles, we're in a fortunate position that in Australia, our roads represent 80 per cent of the world's variety of roads. "So we are a very critical market for right-hand drive development, and the kind of tuning and testing that gets done here is used in other areas of the world." The development of the Shark 6 included engineers from BYD's Chinese headquarters joining Australian testing teams, with a particular focus on suspension as part of a broader vehicle assessment program. BYDs sold in Australia – including the upcoming Atto 2 small SUV and the brand's first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8 – will ride on locally tuned suspension instead of the 'soft' or more comfortable chassis tunes preferred by Chinese customers. BYD says the feedback will influence right-hand drive models sold in countries like Japan, the UK and Cyprus – where BYD was launched on May 28 – as well as playing a role in left-hand drive vehicle development, too. The popularity and variety of SUVs in Australia – where they accounted for more than half of all new vehicle sales in 2024 – makes local testing even more helpful for BYD HQ in China. "It also gives us kind of an access, like a gateway, into the global development," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "For certain models, like large SUVs and off-road focused SUVs, we're a very important market because of our market size and demand for that type of vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Australia will play a vital role in the development of BYD models sold around the world, not just locally, says the Chinese automaker. Testing of models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute – which was extensively evaluated in Australia ahead of its local release in January 2025 – is designed to ensure local suitability, but models not sold here such as the Yangwang U8 large SUV from BYD's luxury brand have also been spied testing on Australian roads. Ford is the only automaker that still develops vehicles from the ground up in Australia, but several others including Kia and more recently GWM and Mitsubishi also conduct local chassis tuning in and for this market. However, Australian input was critical for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab – a competitor for the top-selling, locally designed and engineered Ford Ranger sold around the world – just as it has been for other rivals including the upcoming Kia Tasman, which was repeatedly seen testing here ahead of its mid-year release. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Yet BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert the local arm's evaluation and engineering signoffs will be used to finetune suspension and other settings for the automaker's global products. "It's important that we do local confirmation testing, rough-road durability, hot weather, climate, tow testing – all those kinds of things are being done to make sure that the products are suitable for Australian customers," Mr Hasan said. "For models like that [Shark 6], particularly off-road focussed vehicles, we're in a fortunate position that in Australia, our roads represent 80 per cent of the world's variety of roads. "So we are a very critical market for right-hand drive development, and the kind of tuning and testing that gets done here is used in other areas of the world." The development of the Shark 6 included engineers from BYD's Chinese headquarters joining Australian testing teams, with a particular focus on suspension as part of a broader vehicle assessment program. BYDs sold in Australia – including the upcoming Atto 2 small SUV and the brand's first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8 – will ride on locally tuned suspension instead of the 'soft' or more comfortable chassis tunes preferred by Chinese customers. BYD says the feedback will influence right-hand drive models sold in countries like Japan, the UK and Cyprus – where BYD was launched on May 28 – as well as playing a role in left-hand drive vehicle development, too. The popularity and variety of SUVs in Australia – where they accounted for more than half of all new vehicle sales in 2024 – makes local testing even more helpful for BYD HQ in China. "It also gives us kind of an access, like a gateway, into the global development," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "For certain models, like large SUVs and off-road focused SUVs, we're a very important market because of our market size and demand for that type of vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Australia will play a vital role in the development of BYD models sold around the world, not just locally, says the Chinese automaker. Testing of models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute – which was extensively evaluated in Australia ahead of its local release in January 2025 – is designed to ensure local suitability, but models not sold here such as the Yangwang U8 large SUV from BYD's luxury brand have also been spied testing on Australian roads. Ford is the only automaker that still develops vehicles from the ground up in Australia, but several others including Kia and more recently GWM and Mitsubishi also conduct local chassis tuning in and for this market. However, Australian input was critical for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab – a competitor for the top-selling, locally designed and engineered Ford Ranger sold around the world – just as it has been for other rivals including the upcoming Kia Tasman, which was repeatedly seen testing here ahead of its mid-year release. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Yet BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert the local arm's evaluation and engineering signoffs will be used to finetune suspension and other settings for the automaker's global products. "It's important that we do local confirmation testing, rough-road durability, hot weather, climate, tow testing – all those kinds of things are being done to make sure that the products are suitable for Australian customers," Mr Hasan said. "For models like that [Shark 6], particularly off-road focussed vehicles, we're in a fortunate position that in Australia, our roads represent 80 per cent of the world's variety of roads. "So we are a very critical market for right-hand drive development, and the kind of tuning and testing that gets done here is used in other areas of the world." The development of the Shark 6 included engineers from BYD's Chinese headquarters joining Australian testing teams, with a particular focus on suspension as part of a broader vehicle assessment program. BYDs sold in Australia – including the upcoming Atto 2 small SUV and the brand's first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8 – will ride on locally tuned suspension instead of the 'soft' or more comfortable chassis tunes preferred by Chinese customers. BYD says the feedback will influence right-hand drive models sold in countries like Japan, the UK and Cyprus – where BYD was launched on May 28 – as well as playing a role in left-hand drive vehicle development, too. The popularity and variety of SUVs in Australia – where they accounted for more than half of all new vehicle sales in 2024 – makes local testing even more helpful for BYD HQ in China. "It also gives us kind of an access, like a gateway, into the global development," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "For certain models, like large SUVs and off-road focused SUVs, we're a very important market because of our market size and demand for that type of vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: Australia will play a vital role in the development of BYD models sold around the world, not just locally, says the Chinese automaker. Testing of models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute – which was extensively evaluated in Australia ahead of its local release in January 2025 – is designed to ensure local suitability, but models not sold here such as the Yangwang U8 large SUV from BYD's luxury brand have also been spied testing on Australian roads. Ford is the only automaker that still develops vehicles from the ground up in Australia, but several others including Kia and more recently GWM and Mitsubishi also conduct local chassis tuning in and for this market. However, Australian input was critical for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab – a competitor for the top-selling, locally designed and engineered Ford Ranger sold around the world – just as it has been for other rivals including the upcoming Kia Tasman, which was repeatedly seen testing here ahead of its mid-year release. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Yet BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert the local arm's evaluation and engineering signoffs will be used to finetune suspension and other settings for the automaker's global products. "It's important that we do local confirmation testing, rough-road durability, hot weather, climate, tow testing – all those kinds of things are being done to make sure that the products are suitable for Australian customers," Mr Hasan said. "For models like that [Shark 6], particularly off-road focussed vehicles, we're in a fortunate position that in Australia, our roads represent 80 per cent of the world's variety of roads. "So we are a very critical market for right-hand drive development, and the kind of tuning and testing that gets done here is used in other areas of the world." The development of the Shark 6 included engineers from BYD's Chinese headquarters joining Australian testing teams, with a particular focus on suspension as part of a broader vehicle assessment program. BYDs sold in Australia – including the upcoming Atto 2 small SUV and the brand's first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8 – will ride on locally tuned suspension instead of the 'soft' or more comfortable chassis tunes preferred by Chinese customers. BYD says the feedback will influence right-hand drive models sold in countries like Japan, the UK and Cyprus – where BYD was launched on May 28 – as well as playing a role in left-hand drive vehicle development, too. The popularity and variety of SUVs in Australia – where they accounted for more than half of all new vehicle sales in 2024 – makes local testing even more helpful for BYD HQ in China. "It also gives us kind of an access, like a gateway, into the global development," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "For certain models, like large SUVs and off-road focused SUVs, we're a very important market because of our market size and demand for that type of vehicle." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Australian testing to play critical role in global BYD model development
Australia will play a vital role in the development of BYD models sold around the world, not just locally, says the Chinese automaker. Testing of models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute – which was extensively evaluated in Australia ahead of its local release in January 2025 – is designed to ensure local suitability, but models not sold here such as the Yangwang U8 large SUV from BYD's luxury brand have also been spied testing on Australian roads. Ford is the only automaker that still develops vehicles from the ground up in Australia, but several others including Kia and more recently GWM and Mitsubishi also conduct local chassis tuning in and for this market. However, Australian input was critical for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab – a competitor for the top-selling, locally designed and engineered Ford Ranger sold around the world – just as it has been for other rivals including the upcoming Kia Tasman, which was repeatedly seen testing here ahead of its mid-year release. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Yet BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert the local arm's evaluation and engineering signoffs will be used to finetune suspension and other settings for the automaker's global products. 'It's important that we do local confirmation testing, rough-road durability, hot weather, climate, tow testing – all those kinds of things are being done to make sure that the products are suitable for Australian customers,' Mr Hasan said. 'For models like that [Shark 6], particularly off-road focussed vehicles, we're in a fortunate position that in Australia, our roads represent 80 per cent of the world's variety of roads. 'So we are a very critical market for right-hand drive development, and the kind of tuning and testing that gets done here is used in other areas of the world.' The development of the Shark 6 included engineers from BYD's Chinese headquarters joining Australian testing teams, with a particular focus on suspension as part of a broader vehicle assessment program. Supplied Credit: CarExpert BYDs sold in Australia – including the upcoming Atto 2 small SUV and the brand's first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8 – will ride on locally tuned suspension instead of the 'soft' or more comfortable chassis tunes preferred by Chinese customers. BYD says the feedback will influence right-hand drive models sold in countries like Japan, the UK and Cyprus – where BYD was launched on May 28 – as well as playing a role in left-hand drive vehicle development, too. The popularity and variety of SUVs in Australia – where they accounted for more than half of all new vehicle sales in 2024 – makes local testing even more helpful for BYD HQ in China. 'It also gives us kind of an access, like a gateway, into the global development,' Mr Hasan told CarExpert. 'For certain models, like large SUVs and off-road focused SUVs, we're a very important market because of our market size and demand for that type of vehicle.' MORE: Everything BYD
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Australian testing to play critical role in global BYD model development
Australia will play a vital role in the development of BYD models sold around the world, not just locally, says the Chinese automaker. Testing of models such as the BYD Shark 6 ute – which was extensively evaluated in Australia ahead of its local release in January 2025 – is designed to ensure local suitability, but models not sold here such as the Yangwang U8 large SUV from BYD's luxury brand have also been spied testing on Australian roads. Ford is the only automaker that still develops vehicles from the ground up in Australia, but several others including Kia and more recently GWM and Mitsubishi also conduct local chassis tuning in and for this market. However, Australian input was critical for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab – a competitor for the top-selling, locally designed and engineered Ford Ranger sold around the world – just as it has been for other rivals including the upcoming Kia Tasman, which was repeatedly seen testing here ahead of its mid-year release. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Yet BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert the local arm's evaluation and engineering signoffs will be used to finetune suspension and other settings for the automaker's global products. 'It's important that we do local confirmation testing, rough-road durability, hot weather, climate, tow testing – all those kinds of things are being done to make sure that the products are suitable for Australian customers,' Mr Hasan said. 'For models like that [Shark 6], particularly off-road focussed vehicles, we're in a fortunate position that in Australia, our roads represent 80 per cent of the world's variety of roads. 'So we are a very critical market for right-hand drive development, and the kind of tuning and testing that gets done here is used in other areas of the world.' The development of the Shark 6 included engineers from BYD's Chinese headquarters joining Australian testing teams, with a particular focus on suspension as part of a broader vehicle assessment program. BYDs sold in Australia – including the upcoming Atto 2 small SUV and the brand's first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8 – will ride on locally tuned suspension instead of the 'soft' or more comfortable chassis tunes preferred by Chinese customers. BYD says the feedback will influence right-hand drive models sold in countries like Japan, the UK and Cyprus – where BYD was launched on May 28 – as well as playing a role in left-hand drive vehicle development, too. The popularity and variety of SUVs in Australia – where they accounted for more than half of all new vehicle sales in 2024 – makes local testing even more helpful for BYD HQ in China. 'It also gives us kind of an access, like a gateway, into the global development,' Mr Hasan told CarExpert. 'For certain models, like large SUVs and off-road focused SUVs, we're a very important market because of our market size and demand for that type of vehicle.'
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2025 BYD Atto 2 small electric SUV confirmed for Australia
The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. While pricing is yet to be confirmed, the Atto 2 should be cheaper than the mid-size Atto 3, which starts from $39,990 before on-road costs – making it considerably more affordable than the new Kia EV3's $48,990 starting price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is priced from $54,000 before on-road costs. In China, the Atto 2 starts at ¥96,800 (A$20,835), which is less than the BYD Dolphin hatchback (¥99,800 or A$21,480) that's currently priced from $29,990 drive-away in Australia. Based on its specs in China – where it is called the BYD Yuan Up – the Atto 2 measures 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high, making it 145mm shorter than the Atto 3. However, it's larger than light SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Qashqai – and the electric Jeep Avenger – but not as big as Australia's most popular SUVs, like the mid-size Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Indeed, the Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which expands to 1370L of space with the second row folded. In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. While pricing is yet to be confirmed, the Atto 2 should be cheaper than the mid-size Atto 3, which starts from $39,990 before on-road costs – making it considerably more affordable than the new Kia EV3's $48,990 starting price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is priced from $54,000 before on-road costs. In China, the Atto 2 starts at ¥96,800 (A$20,835), which is less than the BYD Dolphin hatchback (¥99,800 or A$21,480) that's currently priced from $29,990 drive-away in Australia. Based on its specs in China – where it is called the BYD Yuan Up – the Atto 2 measures 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high, making it 145mm shorter than the Atto 3. However, it's larger than light SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Qashqai – and the electric Jeep Avenger – but not as big as Australia's most popular SUVs, like the mid-size Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Indeed, the Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which expands to 1370L of space with the second row folded. In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. While pricing is yet to be confirmed, the Atto 2 should be cheaper than the mid-size Atto 3, which starts from $39,990 before on-road costs – making it considerably more affordable than the new Kia EV3's $48,990 starting price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is priced from $54,000 before on-road costs. In China, the Atto 2 starts at ¥96,800 (A$20,835), which is less than the BYD Dolphin hatchback (¥99,800 or A$21,480) that's currently priced from $29,990 drive-away in Australia. Based on its specs in China – where it is called the BYD Yuan Up – the Atto 2 measures 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high, making it 145mm shorter than the Atto 3. However, it's larger than light SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Qashqai – and the electric Jeep Avenger – but not as big as Australia's most popular SUVs, like the mid-size Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Indeed, the Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which expands to 1370L of space with the second row folded. In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. While pricing is yet to be confirmed, the Atto 2 should be cheaper than the mid-size Atto 3, which starts from $39,990 before on-road costs – making it considerably more affordable than the new Kia EV3's $48,990 starting price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is priced from $54,000 before on-road costs. In China, the Atto 2 starts at ¥96,800 (A$20,835), which is less than the BYD Dolphin hatchback (¥99,800 or A$21,480) that's currently priced from $29,990 drive-away in Australia. Based on its specs in China – where it is called the BYD Yuan Up – the Atto 2 measures 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high, making it 145mm shorter than the Atto 3. However, it's larger than light SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Qashqai – and the electric Jeep Avenger – but not as big as Australia's most popular SUVs, like the mid-size Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Indeed, the Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which expands to 1370L of space with the second row folded. In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
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BYD Shark 6 not threatened by Ford Ranger PHEV, says Chinese brand
The popularity of the BYD Shark 6 won't be significantly impacted by the imminent release of the Ford Ranger PHEV, which combines similar plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) powertrain technology with Australia's favourite dual-cab ute for the first time, says the local arm of the Chinese car manufacturer. On sale now priced from $71,990 before on-road costs ahead of first deliveries later this month, the Ford Ranger PHEV is the first electrified version of the locally developed Ranger, Australia's best-selling vehicle bar none in 2023 and 2024. The BYD Shark 6 beat Ford to the punch – as did the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV – in becoming the first ute to offer a PHEV powertrain, albeit with a smaller 1.5-litre petrol engine versus the Cannon Alpha's 2.0-litre petrol engine and the Ranger's 2.3-litre petrol unit. Yet the BYD also has a much lower $57,990 plus on-roads starting price than the Ranger PHEV (and the Cannon Alpha PHEV at $61,490 drive-away). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Shark 6 has quickly become BYD's hottest ticket, accounting for more than half of the brand's total sales by the end of April this year – and almost three times the volume of its next-best seller, the Sealion 6 PHEV mid-size SUV. But the Ranger PHEV's arrival won't upset that momentum, says BYD Australia senior product planning manager Sajid Hasan. "I wouldn't say that we're worried," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "We respect them, direct competitors, but we're more focused on ourselves and working to expand the Shark 6 lineup and see where that takes us." BYD Australia has already confirmed a bigger 2.0-litre powertrain is on the way for the Shark 6 – along with a cab/chassis body style – to match dual-cab ute category benchmarks including a 3500kg braked towing capacity. But the Shark 6's larger powertrain may not arrive until 2027, before which time electrified versions of an array of new and existing utes including the popular Toyota HiLux are expected to arrive in local showrooms. Therefore the Ranger PHEV will hold onto its capability advantage over the Shark 6 – albeit for a higher price – for the time being. "Genuinely, internally, there's a huge amount of respect for our competitors," BYD Australia and New Zealand Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kate Hornstein told CarExpert. "We are the new kid on the block, so to speak, when we talk about Ford and it would be incredibly remiss of us to be dismissive of their new technology. "They have been doing this for a century – over a century – and we are very respectful of that, especially in the ute market. "But I do think when we carve out the customer for the Shark, and when we carve out the future product in this segment, I think – what I've seen from a customer perspective, not necessarily from a product perspective – that there are loyalists in both. "I think it's very hard for us to try and tell, let's say, a Ford loyalist to try something new, and that's okay. "I think we're in a fortunate position that unit adoption is so high that there's a place for all of us." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The popularity of the BYD Shark 6 won't be significantly impacted by the imminent release of the Ford Ranger PHEV, which combines similar plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) powertrain technology with Australia's favourite dual-cab ute for the first time, says the local arm of the Chinese car manufacturer. On sale now priced from $71,990 before on-road costs ahead of first deliveries later this month, the Ford Ranger PHEV is the first electrified version of the locally developed Ranger, Australia's best-selling vehicle bar none in 2023 and 2024. The BYD Shark 6 beat Ford to the punch – as did the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV – in becoming the first ute to offer a PHEV powertrain, albeit with a smaller 1.5-litre petrol engine versus the Cannon Alpha's 2.0-litre petrol engine and the Ranger's 2.3-litre petrol unit. Yet the BYD also has a much lower $57,990 plus on-roads starting price than the Ranger PHEV (and the Cannon Alpha PHEV at $61,490 drive-away). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Shark 6 has quickly become BYD's hottest ticket, accounting for more than half of the brand's total sales by the end of April this year – and almost three times the volume of its next-best seller, the Sealion 6 PHEV mid-size SUV. But the Ranger PHEV's arrival won't upset that momentum, says BYD Australia senior product planning manager Sajid Hasan. "I wouldn't say that we're worried," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "We respect them, direct competitors, but we're more focused on ourselves and working to expand the Shark 6 lineup and see where that takes us." BYD Australia has already confirmed a bigger 2.0-litre powertrain is on the way for the Shark 6 – along with a cab/chassis body style – to match dual-cab ute category benchmarks including a 3500kg braked towing capacity. But the Shark 6's larger powertrain may not arrive until 2027, before which time electrified versions of an array of new and existing utes including the popular Toyota HiLux are expected to arrive in local showrooms. Therefore the Ranger PHEV will hold onto its capability advantage over the Shark 6 – albeit for a higher price – for the time being. "Genuinely, internally, there's a huge amount of respect for our competitors," BYD Australia and New Zealand Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kate Hornstein told CarExpert. "We are the new kid on the block, so to speak, when we talk about Ford and it would be incredibly remiss of us to be dismissive of their new technology. "They have been doing this for a century – over a century – and we are very respectful of that, especially in the ute market. "But I do think when we carve out the customer for the Shark, and when we carve out the future product in this segment, I think – what I've seen from a customer perspective, not necessarily from a product perspective – that there are loyalists in both. "I think it's very hard for us to try and tell, let's say, a Ford loyalist to try something new, and that's okay. "I think we're in a fortunate position that unit adoption is so high that there's a place for all of us." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The popularity of the BYD Shark 6 won't be significantly impacted by the imminent release of the Ford Ranger PHEV, which combines similar plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) powertrain technology with Australia's favourite dual-cab ute for the first time, says the local arm of the Chinese car manufacturer. On sale now priced from $71,990 before on-road costs ahead of first deliveries later this month, the Ford Ranger PHEV is the first electrified version of the locally developed Ranger, Australia's best-selling vehicle bar none in 2023 and 2024. The BYD Shark 6 beat Ford to the punch – as did the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV – in becoming the first ute to offer a PHEV powertrain, albeit with a smaller 1.5-litre petrol engine versus the Cannon Alpha's 2.0-litre petrol engine and the Ranger's 2.3-litre petrol unit. Yet the BYD also has a much lower $57,990 plus on-roads starting price than the Ranger PHEV (and the Cannon Alpha PHEV at $61,490 drive-away). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Shark 6 has quickly become BYD's hottest ticket, accounting for more than half of the brand's total sales by the end of April this year – and almost three times the volume of its next-best seller, the Sealion 6 PHEV mid-size SUV. But the Ranger PHEV's arrival won't upset that momentum, says BYD Australia senior product planning manager Sajid Hasan. "I wouldn't say that we're worried," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "We respect them, direct competitors, but we're more focused on ourselves and working to expand the Shark 6 lineup and see where that takes us." BYD Australia has already confirmed a bigger 2.0-litre powertrain is on the way for the Shark 6 – along with a cab/chassis body style – to match dual-cab ute category benchmarks including a 3500kg braked towing capacity. But the Shark 6's larger powertrain may not arrive until 2027, before which time electrified versions of an array of new and existing utes including the popular Toyota HiLux are expected to arrive in local showrooms. Therefore the Ranger PHEV will hold onto its capability advantage over the Shark 6 – albeit for a higher price – for the time being. "Genuinely, internally, there's a huge amount of respect for our competitors," BYD Australia and New Zealand Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kate Hornstein told CarExpert. "We are the new kid on the block, so to speak, when we talk about Ford and it would be incredibly remiss of us to be dismissive of their new technology. "They have been doing this for a century – over a century – and we are very respectful of that, especially in the ute market. "But I do think when we carve out the customer for the Shark, and when we carve out the future product in this segment, I think – what I've seen from a customer perspective, not necessarily from a product perspective – that there are loyalists in both. "I think it's very hard for us to try and tell, let's say, a Ford loyalist to try something new, and that's okay. "I think we're in a fortunate position that unit adoption is so high that there's a place for all of us." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The popularity of the BYD Shark 6 won't be significantly impacted by the imminent release of the Ford Ranger PHEV, which combines similar plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) powertrain technology with Australia's favourite dual-cab ute for the first time, says the local arm of the Chinese car manufacturer. On sale now priced from $71,990 before on-road costs ahead of first deliveries later this month, the Ford Ranger PHEV is the first electrified version of the locally developed Ranger, Australia's best-selling vehicle bar none in 2023 and 2024. The BYD Shark 6 beat Ford to the punch – as did the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV – in becoming the first ute to offer a PHEV powertrain, albeit with a smaller 1.5-litre petrol engine versus the Cannon Alpha's 2.0-litre petrol engine and the Ranger's 2.3-litre petrol unit. Yet the BYD also has a much lower $57,990 plus on-roads starting price than the Ranger PHEV (and the Cannon Alpha PHEV at $61,490 drive-away). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Shark 6 has quickly become BYD's hottest ticket, accounting for more than half of the brand's total sales by the end of April this year – and almost three times the volume of its next-best seller, the Sealion 6 PHEV mid-size SUV. But the Ranger PHEV's arrival won't upset that momentum, says BYD Australia senior product planning manager Sajid Hasan. "I wouldn't say that we're worried," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. "We respect them, direct competitors, but we're more focused on ourselves and working to expand the Shark 6 lineup and see where that takes us." BYD Australia has already confirmed a bigger 2.0-litre powertrain is on the way for the Shark 6 – along with a cab/chassis body style – to match dual-cab ute category benchmarks including a 3500kg braked towing capacity. But the Shark 6's larger powertrain may not arrive until 2027, before which time electrified versions of an array of new and existing utes including the popular Toyota HiLux are expected to arrive in local showrooms. Therefore the Ranger PHEV will hold onto its capability advantage over the Shark 6 – albeit for a higher price – for the time being. "Genuinely, internally, there's a huge amount of respect for our competitors," BYD Australia and New Zealand Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kate Hornstein told CarExpert. "We are the new kid on the block, so to speak, when we talk about Ford and it would be incredibly remiss of us to be dismissive of their new technology. "They have been doing this for a century – over a century – and we are very respectful of that, especially in the ute market. "But I do think when we carve out the customer for the Shark, and when we carve out the future product in this segment, I think – what I've seen from a customer perspective, not necessarily from a product perspective – that there are loyalists in both. "I think it's very hard for us to try and tell, let's say, a Ford loyalist to try something new, and that's okay. "I think we're in a fortunate position that unit adoption is so high that there's a place for all of us." MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
