BYD Smallest EV Spotted Testing With Right Hand Drive

BYD is stepping up its development of compact electric vehicles, with fresh images revealing a new right-hand-drive hatchback model undergoing road testing. The vehicle is expected to be the brand’s most affordable and smallest EV to date, and it could be heading to key RHD markets like Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Southeast Asia.

Latest Sighting Hints at Growing Momentum

The prototype was recently seen at a test facility, captured by EV enthusiast platform Thinker car. It marks the third public appearance of this model in the last few months, suggesting rapid development and increased testing activity.

Positioned between a van and a ute in one photo, the vehicle appears narrow in width, which aligns with its expected role as a highly compact city EV. The rear design remains simple and flat, with a single rear wiper now clearly visible.

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Image by - Thinker Car

Interior Preview and BYD Branding

A peek inside shows a familiar BYD-style steering wheel, a digital driver display, and a larger centre touchscreen, much like what we’ve seen across other BYD models. This setup indicates that even their most affordable EV may come with decent tech as standard.

The window also features a subtle BYD logo, underscoring the company’s strong vertical integration and in-house design approach.

What We Know So Far: Battery, Charging, and Range

Though BYD has not officially released details, industry sources have begun piecing together what to expect from this hatchback.

Expected Specs of BYD's New Hatchback

For comparison, BYD’s current Seagull model (a likely benchmark for this new EV) uses a 30 kWh pack in its base variants and delivers 220 km of range with up to 65 kW fast charging. This new model aims to undercut it in both price and size while offering faster charging speeds.

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Launch Timeline and Market Potential

Although initial reports suggest a Japanese market launch in the second half of 2026, increasing prototype sightings hint that a debut could arrive sooner. Given the right-hand-drive configuration and BYD's aggressive global expansion strategy, Australia and New Zealand could be potential markets for future availability. It should be noted though, compact "kei" cars like the one sited have not traditionally solid in large volumes down under, despite being immensely popular in Japan.

With BYD accelerating its international rollout and expanding its product lineup, the new hatchback could appeal to urban commuters seeking an affordable and efficient EV,particularly in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland where compact cars are practical.

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