For less than $50,000, fleets can now confidently order the BYD ATTO 3 with thanks to the announcement in November by ANCAP that the Australian models, built from 21 November 2022, have received a five-star safety rating.
Fleet Managers are traditionally slow to adopt new car brands because to the inherent risks that come with an untested product. Though BYD is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of electric vehicles so the vehicles do come with a track record.
Some early adopters of EVs were keen to trial the BYD ATTO 3, though without a five star rating from ANCAP, fleets were hamstrung by procurement policies and safety management systems that mandated five stars as a minimum.
With this announcement, BYD is now a credible solution to satisfy the massive appetite for zero emission vehicles from government departments at all levels which has been choked due to supply and cost factors.
The BYD ATTO 3 extended comes with a 60.4 kWh battery which can deliver up to 480 kilometres of range. The standard version is several thousand dollars cheaper and comes with a 50.1 kWh battery and up to 400 kilometres of range.
Publication of this rating follows changes made to Australian-sold ATTO 3 models built from 21 November 2022 in relation to the number, placement and use of child restraint anchorages.
Existing owners of Australian-supplied ATTO 3 vehicles built prior to 21 November 2022 are advised to have the brand-initiated updates to the centre rear and front passenger seats completed by BYD as soon as possible so that their vehicle is eligible for the five-star ANCAP safety rating. Vehicles that have not had these updates applied remain unrated by ANCAP.
“The extension of the five-star ANCAP safety rating to newly-built and updated vehicles supplied in Australia will be welcome news to new and existing ATTO 3 owners,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.
“This rating provides positive guidance to potential fleet buyers looking to increase the range of five-star electric vehicles on their purchasing lists,” Ms Hoorweg added.
Publication of this rating for Australian-supplied models follows the October 2022 release of a five-star rating for New Zealand-supplied ATTO 3 models.
Full details on the BYD ATTO 3 rating applicable to Australian and New Zealand-supplied vehicles can be viewed here.
