BYD Launches RWD & AWD Atto 3 EVO In Europe First

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BYD recently announced the revised Atto 3 EVO in Europe, ahead of its official release in China. While there is no official pricing yet, deliveries are expected soon, with the car already appearing on the website. Cosmetically, the changes are minor, and we have already seen many of them in China, where the model is sold as the Yuan Plus. However, the updates are significant beneath the skin.

The electrical architecture switches from 400 V to 800 V. Charge speed increases from 88 kW to 220 kW. Battery capacity increases from 60.5 kWh to 74.8 kWh, increasing WLTP range from 260 miles to 317 miles.

As anticipated from the charge port relocation, the primary motor switches from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive, while an all-wheel drive option is also now available. This change should improve handling. Power goes from 150 kW (201 hp) to 308 bhp (230 kW) in the RWD, dropping the 0-100 km time from 7.3 s to 5.5 s. With the addition of a front motor, total power rises to 443 bhp (330 kW) and 0-100 km drops to 3.9 s. That makes it faster than hot hatches like the Golf R and GR Yaris. Overall, the performance improvement is poised to be dramatic, despite the mild visual update.

With the drivetrain change, cargo space increases, while also adding a 110-liter frunk.

The interior has been toned down somewhat and the shifter has moved to the column, freeing up space on the central console. However, the guitar strings on the front door pockets are retained. While the technology has seen some updates, the EU model still does not have the same level of amenities, like the onboard refrigerator that is common in China. It also lacks technology features, like the “God’s Eye” Intelligent Driving system.

A Change In Approach

Even though the Yuan Plus/Atto 3 updates showed up in the October MIIT filing in China, they are appearing in Europe first. BYD usually launches vehicles in China first. For example, the Sealion 5 that recently launched in Europe was sold in China in 2023 (as the Song Pro) and has since been replaced by a refreshed model in China. However, there is a good chance that the new Atto 3/Yuan Plus will also launch in China soon. However, the focus seems to be on Europe and it might be tuned to sportier European tastes than the more comfort-oriented Chinese market.

The other interesting thing about the Atto 3 is that it is not adopting the slightly more powerful 240 kW motor that is proliferating across the BYD EV lineup in regulatory filings. Those models are also seeing significant range increases and lower weight at the same time, indicating major architectural changes. Meanwhile the Atto 3 saw a significant weight increase of 190 kg in single motor form, according to Chinese regulatory filings.

Some are anticipating that the Chinese models with the 240 kW motor are moving to a next generation platform. By BYD standards, the 3.0 platform (launched in 2021) is getting on in years, even if it has been updated with an EVO version. If that is the case, the new Atto 3 could be the ultimate swan song for the 3.0 platform.

It could also be the start of products being developed for local markets with local production. BYD already launched the Shark pickup first in international markets, as regulations around pickups within China make the market limited. However, this might be designed for localized production. Technology sharing requirements that often accompany localized production make companies less likely to bring their latest technologies that they don’t want to share. Making significant updates using older platforms would keep the product fresh without the IP exposure. Similar patterns were previously seen from JVs in China decades ago, where updated models were developed on older western platforms.

Of course, all of that is speculation at this point. However, the launch clearly indicates an increased emphasis on Europe. It will be interesting to see how the product offerings develop for different markets moving forward.