The BYD Atto 3 Has Surpassed The 500K-Unit Production Milestone

BYD’s sudden rise in the global automotive market has been quite a stellar one, with the Xi’an-based automaker now becoming one of the biggest new energy vehicle (NEV) brands in the world. Following that success, BYD has achieved yet another milestone today, as the brand recently rolled-off the 500,000th unit of its best-selling EV SUV model, the BYD Atto 3.

The 500,000th unit of the BYD Atto 3 recently rolled-off BYD's manufacturing plant in China

Known as the BYD Yuan Plus in several international markets, the 500,000th unit of the Atto 3 EV SUV just rolled-off BYD’s manufacturing plant in Hefei, China. What’s more impressive is the fact that the Atto 3 managed to reach this significant milestone in less than two years, as the EV SUV only made its global debut just about 19 months ago.

Thanks to its stellar EV battery technology and vast market coverage of over 50 countries, the Atto 3 has become the best-selling NEV in several international markets. This includes countries like Singapore, New Zealand, Sweden, and Thailand, with the model being the best-selling pure EV model in the latter market. Aside from that, the Atto 3 also bagged several international accolades, including the “2022 New Zealand Car of the Year” and “VAB Electric Family Car of the Year of Belgium,” among others.

The Atto 3 underpins BYD's proprieatary e-Platform 3.0 EV architecture

Key amongst the universal appeal to the Atto 3 is the cutting-edge EV technology it harnesses. For instance, this EV SUV underpins BYD’s proprietary e-Platform 3.0 which features the marque’s signature Blade Battery pack design, allowing EVs to carry larger battery capacity at a lower footprint compared to other conventional battery pack designs.

The BYD Atto 3 currently sits as one of Malaysia's best-selling EV models

As for Malaysia, the BYD Atto 3 is one of the best-selling EVs in the market, with over 1,000 units delivered so far this year by Sime Darby Beyond Auto (SDBA) – official importer and distributor of BYD vehicles in the nation. Coming in two variants, the baseline Atto 3 Standard Range employs a 49.92-kWh battery pack that grants it with a maximum EV range of 345 KM (WLTP). Meanwhile, the range-topping Extended Range variant gets a larger 60.4-kWh battery pack, bestowing it with a greater maximum EV range of 420 KM (WLTP).

Both variants of the Atto 3 are powered by the same front-mounted (FWD) single motor setup rated at 203 HP and 310 NM, which is good enough to propel this EV SUV from nought to 100 KM/H in 7.3 seconds.

The BYD Atto 3 starts at RM149,800 for the baseline Standard Range variant, while the top-specced Extended Range model is tagged higher at RM167,800. During its launch, the Atto 3 was one of the most affordable EVs available in the market. However, that title was being snatched by its newly-launched little sibling – the BYD Dolphin EV hatch.