Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD (Build Your Dreams) isn’t just limited to luxury vehicles anymore. Targeting younger customers and city driving, BYD has announced the launch of its first electric Kei Car for Japan. This small yet elegant model is making history in the Japanese market as the first foreign-made electric Kei Car.
Designed with Japanese customers in mind, the car is poised to compete head-on with local giants with maximum interior space, excellent range, and aggressive pricing. BYD, which also sells EVs in the Indian market, reflects the future of small electric cars globally.
Design and Dimensions
The key to the Japanese Kei Car segment is maximizing interior space in a small space, and this new model from BYD delivers on this. Spy photos reveal that this electric car has a long, boxy shape, focusing primarily on increasing interior space. It features rectangular lighting elements, a flat front fascia, and a short hood. Viewed from the side, the BYD Kei Car features a flat roof, double A-pillars, square windows, and a flat beltline.
A visible groove on the rear fender indicates the presence of sliding door rails. Sliding doors are extremely useful for easy ingress and egress and loading of large luggage, and are also offered on other Kei Cars like the Suzuki Spacia and Honda N-Box. The car features low ground clearance and short overhangs, and the wheels are positioned at the corners, which is expected to significantly increase cabin space.
Battery and Range
This Kei Car from BYD is designed to deliver excellent performance and sufficient range for city driving. The BYD Kei Car for Japan is likely to be equipped with a 20-kWh battery pack. According to WLTC standards, its range could be approximately 180 km, ideal for Japanese cities. This small EV can support fast charging up to 100 kW. Furthermore, BYD can also install a heat pump to maintain cabin temperature and improve comfort.
Pricing and Competition
BYD wants to establish itself as an aggressive pricing company, and this strategy could be adopted with its Kei Car. BYD is expected to launch its first Kei Car in Japan at a very competitive price. Its starting price could be around 2.5 million Japanese Yen (approximately ₹14.38 lakh in Indian currency). At this price, the BYD Kei Car will be more affordable than local competitors like the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X EV.
It will be exciting to see how BYD’s small EV performs against local Japanese brands. More details about this electric Kei Car are expected to be revealed at the Japan Mobility Show. This entry from BYD could bring a major change to the Kei Car segment in Japan.