Small electric’s positioning and spec expected to be shared in a fortnight.

PRICING for BYD’s Atto 1, an electric pitch into the small hatch segment currently dominated by the Suzuki Swift, is expected to announce in two weeks from today.

This has been reported by Autotalk.co.nz, a motoring industry-aimed website the Chinese brand’s national distributor tends to use as a portal for announcements.

The site says the model’s sticker - or stickers, as there might well be two trim levels, as per Australia - will reveal at 7pm on November 6.

Interest in Atto 1 has likely elevated since BYD announced its line-up for Australia earlier this week.

Confusingly, the car is represented by BYD Australia and New Zealand, but that’s a separate entity to BYD NZ. The first is a factory shop whereas the one that has served this country since start up in 2022, with the Atto 3 as its initial product, is part of the Ateco Group NZ, owned by industry magnate Neville Crichton.

It is not clear if Atto 1’s New Zealand specifications will match the Australian details, but intent here seems to match that achieved in Australia - to make this the most affordable new electric vehicle.

Could it come in for as low as $29,990, to be a direct threat to Swift, a mild hybrid petrol car?

That question was put to Warren Willmot, BYD NZ general manager, by this writer on October 7 and he declined to comment.

If Australia market pricing transferred directly, then that aim would be achieved comfortably - over there the entry format, called the Essential, is selling for a smidge over $NZ28,000.

In its entry format, BYD’s car in Australia features a 30kWh battery paired with a 65kW/175Nm motor, delivering up to 220km of WLTP range. The Premium model lefts to a 43.2kWh battery and 115kW/220Nm motor for up to 310km of range.

The Essential variant features a 30kWh Blade Battery with up to 220km of range, while the Premium steps up to a 43.2kWh unit offering up to 310km (WLTP). DC fast charging from 10-80 percent in just 30 minutes is professed.

Both variants feature a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, synthetic leather seats, six airbags, a 360 degree camera and autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning and traffic sign recognition.

Standard equipment across the Tasman includes a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with BYD App Suite access to YouTube, Amazon Books and Disney Plus, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 7-inch digital instrument cluster, voice control, 4G connectivity and over-the-air updates feature across both trims.

The Premium adds wireless charging and the front seats achieve power adjust and heating.

Atto 1’s position as the smallest electric car BYD builds might be short term, with the make announcing intent to reveal a even more compact hatchback at the Mobility Show in Tokyo on October 29.

That car is designed to compete in Japan’s lucrative kei category, the small car class that is dominated by Japanese makes. Kei cars are big sellers in Japan, achieving more than 130,000 units annually. Suzuki is also a category kingpin.