BYD to enter Japanese market with EV line-up

Chinese car manufacturer BYD is set to take on Japan, confirming overnight that it will be launching a host of models in the region in the coming years.

The move could mean a second channel for those in New Zealand who are keen to acquire a BYD, as it opens the opportunity for independent dealers to import vehicles from Japan in the future.

The brand confirmed that Japan would be getting the Atto 3, Dolphin, and Seal “in the near future”. The same three models have already been confirmed for the New Zealand market.  

“We will continue to innovate with an empowered, green e-travel solution, which is designed to meet the unique needs of achieving green growth and carbon neutrality by 2050,” it added.

Japan’s car manufacturers have been less enthusiastic about rushing electric vehicles to market than their European and Korean counterparts.

This even goes for European arms of Japanese manufacturers, as evidenced by Toyota Europe’s plug-in van line-up and Honda’s Europe-only E hatchback.

This is in part because electric vehicle adoption in Japan is low, with brands often citing the lack of parking and space to charge in densely populated major centres. While some marques have electric vehicles in their line-ups, the rate of adoption pales in comparison to brands like Hyundai.

Local used car dealers have told AutoTalk that there is a lack of electric vehicle options in Japan that can service the government’s Clean Car Discount and Clean Car Standard schemes.

The introduction of BYD could give local dealers a viable alternative to the Nissan Leaf as they eventually trickle down to Japan’s second-hand market.

The news comes in the same week as the BYD Atto 3 obtained Australian Design Rules (ADR) approval, effectively green-lighting the model for sale in the Australian market.