Chinese EV giant BYD enters Japanese passenger vehicle market with three EV models

A BYD new energy vehicle is on display during the 19th China (Changchun) International Automobile Expo in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, July 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Jian)

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD announced on Thursday in Tokyo its official entry into the Japanese passenger vehicle market, with three pure electric models slated to go on sale in the country next year.

The first model, named Atto 3, will become available in Japan in January of 2023, followed by the compact car model of Dolphin and the EV sedan of Seal, which will hit the market in the middle and the second half of next year, respectively, according to BYD.

BYD started serving Japanese customers with rechargeable batteries in 1999, before providing pure electric buses, new energy storage products, pure electric forklifts, and other products.

The entry into the passenger vehicle market in Japan came as a further step of the Chinese EV giant to expand its global presence.

The company has already sold new energy vehicles in 70-odd countries and regions around the world, including Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, Brazil, Costa Rica and Colombia.