BYD has introduced Racco, its first electric vehicle (EV) developed to meet Japan’s kei (light) standard car specifications.
According to the company, after applicable taxes and government subsidies are factored in, the base variant can be purchased for less than Y2m ($12,213).
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The Chinese EV company will sell Racco through authorised dealerships across the country.
Racco promises a driving range of between 210km and 320km on a single charge.
BYD’s Racco range consists of two models spread across three trim levels: the base Racco 200, the mid-tier Racco 300Plus, and the flagship Racco 300Premium, each offered in a choice of six exterior colours.
In its statement, the company said: “BYD set ambitious goals when developing the ‘BYD Racco’. These included not only ensuring compliance with Japanese kei car standards, but also creating a light electric vehicle that could achieve the highest level of performance in Japan’s new vehicle safety performance evaluation program, ‘J-NCAP’.”
Before subsidies, manufacturer-suggested retail prices inclusive of tax stand at Y2.14m for the Racco 200, Y2.39m for the Racco 300Plus and Y2.49m for the Racco 300Premium.
According to BYD, the Racco marks the first instance of a foreign carmaker producing an EV purpose-built to comply with Japan’s kei car regulations.
The car is built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, the dedicated EV architecture that underpins the manufacturer’s existing lineup, and makes use of its lithium iron phosphate battery pack, integrated into the vehicle structure through Cell to Body technology.
At the core of the Racco is the X-Pack, a newly engineered EV technology system that the company says draws on two decades of development work.
Being an SDV-based model, the Racco is capable of receiving over-the-air updates, giving BYD the ability to introduce new functions after the vehicle has been sold.
The launch follows BYD’s unveiling last month of the Dolphin G DM-i, a B-segment hatchback developed specifically for the European market, which offers an electric-only range of as much as 65 miles (104.6km).
