A week after BYD announced it would unveil its first fully electric kei car at the Japan Mobility Show, and just one day before the event starts, the first full images of the car have been released.
Chinese media outlet Dongchedi reported on Tuesday that the model will be named ‘Racco,’ with reservations set to open next summer.
The vehicle marks the company’s first overseas-exclusive model, although production will take place in China. It is not yet known if the model will be introduced in China later on.
Described as a “prototype light EV designed specifically for Japan’s kei car regulations,” its starting price is estimated at around 2.6 million yen (about $17,100).
To meet the standards, these vehicles must not be longer than 3,400 mm, wider than 1,480 mm, or taller than 2,000 mm. These cars are also limited to 64 horsepower.
Over the past few months, several images of the camouflaged model leaked on Chinese social media, showing its smaller, boxy design, typical of kei cars in Japan.
Earlier reports also noted that the model will feature sliding doors and four-wheel disc brakes.
In terms of power, due to the lightweight body, the new car is expected to be equipped with a 20 kWh BYD Blade battery, capable of delivering a WLTC range of 180 km (about 112 miles).
The model is set to compete with best-sellers such as the Nissan Sakura, which is also sold for 2.6 million yen.
Japanese legacy automaker Suzuki will also be showcasing its light passenger and commercial EVs at the Show.
Ahead of the event, President Toshihiro Suzuki commented on BYD’s entry into the kei car segment, cautioning that “price competition should not be pursued” in Japan.
He was referring to a recent price war in China, which was largely driven by BYD’s aggressive price cuts.
BYD entered the Japanese market in early 2023 with the Atto 3 SUV, priced around $30,000 and competing with popular domestic models like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
The compact model Dolphin (known as Seagull in China), starts at 2.99 million yen ($19,000) and rivals the top-selling Toyota Prius and Nissan LEAF.
Last year, BYD sold 2,223 EVs in Japan, surpassing Toyota‘s 2,038 units — as the legacy automaker focuses on hybrids instead.
Japan has set a goal for all sales of new passenger vehicles to be electrified vehicles by 2035.
