Image Source: autocarindia.com
BYD India has shared an updated preview on various social platforms, revealing their intention to launch a new model on July 10. Sources indicate that the Chinese electric vehicle company plans to unveil an economical version of its electric SUV with a smaller battery capacity.
The upcoming New Atto 3 model will feature a reduced battery size of 50 kilowatt-hours. It is anticipated that this version will cost between ₹26 lakh and ₹28 lakh. This entry-level model aims to compete with other electric SUVs like the MG ZS EV and the Tata Harrier EV.
What sets the new Atto 3 variant apart? Information from insiders suggests that the New Atto 3 will come equipped with a reduced battery from the current model’s 60.48 kilowatt-hours to 50 kilowatt-hours. While the current Atto 3 boasts a battery capacity of 60.48 kilowatt-hours and offers an ARAI-certified 521-kilometer range per charge, the smaller version is expected to have a slightly reduced range.
This new entry-level variant is designed to offer BYD a competitive edge in pricing, competing with the premium versions of the MG ZS EV. The MG electric SUV, available at a price range of ₹18.98 lakh to ₹25.20 lakh, includes a 50.3 kilowatt-hour battery that provides a range of 461 kilometers. In contrast, BYD’s current Atto 3 model, priced at ₹33.99 lakh, is expected to drop to around ₹26 lakh-₹28 lakh for the new model.
Additionally, BYD might also simplify the SUV’s specifications to lower its price point. The specific features being removed from the SUV are still unclear at this time. The current Atto 3 is powered by a front-mounted electric motor generating 204 horsepower and 310 newton meters of torque. It remains to be seen if the new entry-level variant will retain these power levels or if they will be slightly reduced.
Apart from competing with the top-of-the-line MG ZS EV, the new entry-level Atto 3 model will also challenge other electric SUVs like the Tata Harrier EV, Mahindra XUV.e8, Hyundai Creta EV, and the Maruti eVX.
