BYD India To Launch An EV For Personal Use In 2022
Expect the Warren Buffett-backed Chinese firm to grab attention at the 2023 Delhi Auto Expo.
Did you know that BYD (Build Your Dreams) has been running operations in India for more than 15 years? I bet that comes as a surprise for some, especially those car enthusiasts like myself. Why? Because the Chinese brand, backed by the globally renowned investor Warren Buffett, has served the commercial side of things and has been entirely absent from the personal vehicle space. That void, according to a new report, will soon be filled.
Sometime in the last quarter of 2022, most probably in October, BYD India will launch an EV for personal use. And unsurprisingly, it’s an SUV. Known as the Atto 3, it is on sale in other markets, such as Singapore. In its home country, however, it is called BYD Yuan Plus.
Since BYD India will be assembling the Atto 3 in its plant in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, it’ll probably bring the same recipe as the one available in Singapore. That gives us a good idea of the features it may pack and, more importantly, what kind of performance it’ll offer.
The Atto 3 will pack a single, front-mounted electric motor, which offers 201bhp/310Nm. That’s enough for a 0-100kmph sprint time of 7.3 seconds and an electronically-governed top speed of 160kmph. The powerplant will get its juices from a 60.5kWh battery pack, which is enough for a range of up to 480km (NEDC). Yes, one could use AC and DC feeds to replenish the battery. Using the recommended chargers, the wait from zero to 100 per cent is around 9.5 hours with a 6.6 kW AC charger and close to 1.2 hours with an 80 kW DC feed.
Features? In Singapore, the BYD Atto 3 comes with stuff like a 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, LED-powered headlamps and taillamps, 18-inch alloy wheels and a panoramic sunroof. Also on the list are powered front seats, Vehicle-To-Load power supply function, 31-colour ambient lighting, an 8-speaker sound system, a wireless mobile charger and keyless entry and engine start. Safety and assistance are top-notch, too, with hill descent control, front and rear collision warning system, lane keep assist, seven airbags, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.
To keep the costs in check, BYD India might try a trimmed-down version of the Atto 3. That’ll help it position the vehicle against the Hyundai Kona Electric and the MG ZS EV. So, expect a sticker price of around INR 25 lakh.
That’s not all. BYD India will use the 2023 Delhi Auto Expo to showcase its seriousness for its long-term goal of capturing a 10-15 per cent EV market share in India by the end of the decade. Expect a range of EVs on the show, including hatchbacks and sedans. In the shorter period, however, it aims to sell 10,000 assembled EVs. Depending on how the market responds, the brand will then study the possibility of local production of its passenger vehicles.
Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Cars, Green
