BYD to deliver 4500 electric SUVs within two months

BYD Automotive Australia says it has received 4500 orders for the new BYD Atto 3 electric SUV, all of which are planned to be delivered within the next two months.

The fledgling Chinese electric car brand then plans to ramp things up even further next year, with as many as 20,000 Atto 3 deliveries and the launch of two additional EVs.

The chief of BYD Automotive Australia, formerly known as EV Direct, Luke Todd says the company will “comfortably” sell 10,000 examples of the Atto 3, which was launched in February and is now available to purchase at dealers as well as online, in 2023 – and possibly as many as double that.

“It’s likely it’ll be more like 20,000 [Australian Atto 3 sales in 2023] given the level of interest that we’ve got,” said Todd, pointing to the finance package the company is pulling together, which will include products targeted to leverage the federal government’s fringe benefits tax incentives.

“When people realise they can get a finance package for about $180 a week… it becomes a very cost-effective transition.”

While BYD – which denotes Build Your Dreams – is unknown to most Australians, it has one big advantage over most car importers: near-unlimited supply.

Many big brands including Volkswagen, Ford and Toyota have struggled to convince their respective head offices to unleash EVs on Australia any sooner than next year.

Others such as Kia and Hyundai can only get a trickle of EVs into the country, such are the financial advantages of selling them in other markets such as Europe.

But the BYD importer says it has invested in an Australian-specific production line that can supply up to 3000 of each model every month.

With two more models due in 2023 – a compact hatchback and mid-size sedan – it means BYD theoretically has the capacity to supply upwards of 100,000 cars annually.

The free flow of supply creates an unusual dynamic for newcomers such as BYD.

Whereas little-known brands typically struggle to get on the shortlist of shoppers eager to stick to known quantities, the exponentially-growing interest in EVs and comparative lack of available stock means newcomers are receiving unprecedented interest.

While BYD is unlikely to be a major auto brand Down Under in the short-term, it could soon find itself as one of the main players in Australia’s emerging EV market.

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