BYD launches Australia's first sub-$30,000 electric car with cheaper Dolphin, Atto 3
01/08/2025 06:10 PM
The price of entry into a new electric car has fallen below $30,000 before on-road costs, with new versions of BYD’s smallest models.
The first electric vehicle (EV) in Australia with an RRP of less than $30,000 before on-road costs is about to go on sale from China’s BYD.
New, more affordable ‘Essential’ variants of the Dolphin city hatch and Atto 3 small SUV have been announced by BYD overnight, priced from $29,990 and $39,990 plus on-road costs respectively.
They will replace the previous most affordable versions of each model – lowering the starting prices by $6900 for the Dolphin, and $4509 for the Atto 3 – with the same circa-350km claimed driving ranges but fewer features.
While the $29,990 RRP is the lowest on paper for an EV in Australia, the cost of registration, stamp duty and other government charges may see the Dolphin Essential cost more in the traffic than the $30,990 drive-away offer recently marketed for the MG 4 Excite 51.
Meanwhile, the imminent discontinuation of the MG ZS EV means the Atto 3 Essential becomes Australia’s most affordable electric SUV, undercutting the $42,990 Chery Omoda E5 BX.
Orders are due to open for the new variants from Monday 13 January, ahead of first deliveries in March.
To hit the lower price, the Dolphin Essential deletes the outgoing Dynamic’s panoramic glass roof, power-folding mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, wireless phone charging, heated front seats, privacy glass, and a phone key function.
Against the previous Standard grade, the Atto 3 Essential swaps 18-inch wheels for 17s, a 15.6-inch touchscreen for a 12.8-inch display, an eight-speaker stereo for a six-speaker system, and a blue/black interior for a single-tone black cabin.
It also removes a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, roof rails, heated front seats, LED rear-side reading lights, and a ‘music rhythm’ function for the ambient interior lighting system.
Powertrain specifications are unchanged from the previous base variants, with a 70kW/180Nm electric motor and 44.9kWh battery in the Dolphin Essential, and 150kW/310Nm motor and 49.9kWh battery in the Atto 3 Essential.
Driving range is claimed as 340km in the Dolphin, and 345km in the Atto 3, according to European WLTP testing.
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