BYD confirms Seagull is Atto 1; AWD Performance Atto 3 in the mix

BYD New Zealand country manager Warren Willmot has confirmed the small Seagull hatchback will be called Atto 1 for the first time, alongside a long list of potential specifications for new and updated models.

He shared the information with a fleet market audience of 150 last night in Auckland.

Willmot confirmed the Atto 1, Atto 2, and Sealion 5 models are planned for Christmas arrival, along with a cab chassis version of the Shark 6, with presales expected to begin in November. However, he noted that specifications are not 100% confirmed but are strongly indicative of what will arrive in New Zealand.

The announcement marks the first official confirmation of the Atto 1 nameplate, positioning it as BYD’s entry-level electric vehicle for the New Zealand market.

Fleet focus drives expansion strategy

The presentation to fleet operators underscores BYD’s commitment to the commercial market, where the brand is already strong but pushing harder into the space. Willmot encouraged fleet companies to improve their residual value calculations on BYD vehicles, reflecting the brand’s confidence in long-term value retention.

The expanded Shark lineup will include a cab chassis variant targeting commercial operators requiring customisable load platforms. This builds on the success of the dual-cab Shark 6 ute, which has performed strongly in fleet applications and was named Car of the Year in its category.

Atto 1 specifications revealed

The Atto 1 will be available in Essential and Premium grades, both seating four passengers in synthetic leather trim within a compact 3990mm length and 1590mm width body.

The Essential variant features a 65kW motor producing 175Nm of torque, paired with a 30.08kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery delivering 220km WLTP range. The model achieves 0–100km/h acceleration in 13 seconds and supports 65kW DC charging and 11kW AC charging, plus 3.3kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability.

Standard equipment includes halogen headlights, 175/65 R15 steel wheels with Hankook tyres, a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, seven-inch instrument cluster, reverse camera with three rear sensors, and smart keyless entry with mobile phone and card near-field communication (NFC) capability. The Essential grade provides 308 litres of cargo space.

The Premium grade upgrades to a 115kW front-wheel drive motor with 43.2kWh LFP battery, extending range to 310km WLTP and improving acceleration to 9.1 seconds for 0–100km/h. DC charging capacity increases to 85kW.

Premium additions include LED headlights, 185/55 R16 alloy wheels, heated driver and passenger seats, 360-degree camera system, 15W wireless phone charger, six-way electric seat adjustment, auto rain-sensing wipers, and electric folding exterior mirrors. Privacy glass is fitted to rear doors.

Both grades offer exterior colour options of Arctic Blue, Apricity White, Cosmos Black, and Sprout Green, with black and grey interior trim.

Atto 2 targets compact SUV segment

The Atto 2 electric SUV measures 4310mm in length, 1830mm in width, and 1675mm in height, providing 380 litres of cargo space. Both Dynamic and Premium variants use a 130kW motor producing 290Nm of torque with a 51.13kWh LFP battery delivering 410km range on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

The Dynamic grade includes LED headlights, 215/65 R16 alloy wheels with Continental tyres, power-operated tailgate, auto rain-sensing wipers, reverse camera with four rear sensors, 10.1-inch infotainment screen, 8.8-inch instrument cluster, and four-speaker audio system. Safety features include intelligent cruise control, traffic sign recognition, forward collision warning, and blind spot detection.

Premium specification adds 215/60 R17 alloy wheels, panoramic glass roof, 360-degree camera with six sensors, 12.8-inch infotainment screen, eight-speaker audio, heated and ventilated front seats, 50W wireless phone charger, ambient interior lighting, and power seat adjustment.

Exterior colours include Ski White, Harbour Grey, Cosmos Black, and Breeze Green with black interior trim. Both variants support V2L functionality and 82kW DC charging.

Sealion 5 brings smaller PHEV

The Sealion 5 DM-i will be offered in Essential and Premium grades with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations available. The plug-in hybrid system produces 145kW maximum power and 300Nm torque across the range.

Two battery options will be available: a 12.9kWh unit providing 70km electric-only range, and an 18.3kWh battery extending electric driving to 103km. The larger battery option significantly enhances the vehicle’s capability for daily electric-only commuting while maintaining petrol backup for longer journeys.

Both variants feature the DM-i (Dual Mode intelligent) plug-in hybrid technology that seamlessly switches between electric and hybrid operation depending on driving conditions and battery charge levels. The system is designed to prioritise electric driving for maximum efficiency in urban environments.

Exterior colour options include Aurora White, Atlantis Grey, Harbour Grey, and Cosmos Black with black interior trim. The model will compete directly with other plug-in hybrid SUVs in the mid-size segment.

Expanded Atto 3 lineup includes performance variants

The updated MY26 Atto 3 will be available in Essential, Premium, and Performance grades. The Performance variant features all-wheel drive with 310kW maximum power and 0–100km/h acceleration of 3.97 seconds, compared to 7.9 seconds for the Essential model and 7.3 seconds for the Premium.

The larger Sealion 8 DM-i Premium features a 19kWh LFP battery with 100km electric range, 200kW front-wheel drive motor plus 110kW engine, and 0–100km/h acceleration in 8.6 seconds. The model measures 5040mm in length and includes 10 speakers, synthetic leather seats, 10.25-inch instrumentation screen, and 15.6-inch infotainment display.

A Performance variant adds 35.6kWh battery with 160km electric range, dual 200kW all-wheel drive motors achieving 4.9-second acceleration, intelligent damping suspension, heads-up display, and 21 speakers with genuine leather seats and massage functions.

Commercial applications expanded

BYD is also considering the V9 electric van in short and long wheelbase variants measuring 5995mm and 6995mm respectively. Both feature an 80.36kWh battery with 280km WLTP range and container capacities of 13 cubic metres and 17.5 cubic metres.

The commercial van achieves 0–100km/h acceleration in 4.8 seconds despite its commercial focus, matching performance figures typically associated with sports cars.

Willmot noted that while the Atto 1, Atto 2, Sealion 5, and Shark cab chassis are strongly indicative for Christmas arrival with November presales, the Seal 06 and Seal 07 models and the V9 van remain under consideration for the New Zealand market.