PETALING JAYA: The BYD Energy Awaken Atto3, the latest electric car by China’s BYD Auto Co Ltd, will make its Malaysian debut in a showroom in Kuala Lumpur by the middle of this month.
The electric vehicle (EV) will be the first of many BYD models that will be distributed by Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd. The local car distributor will invest RM500 million in its distribution channel over the long-term.
Sime Darby Motors, which will be the sole distributor for the Atto3, expects to have the car in 20 showrooms by the end of 2023 and double that number by 2024.
Sime Darby Motors managing director Andrew Basham said the investment was a reflection of the company’s belief in the universal appeal of BYD.
“BYD is going to be a game-changer for its line-up of EVs that feature premium specifications at an attractive price point,” he said at a ceremony to commemorate the arrival of BYD in Malaysia today.
BYD Asia-Pacific general manager Liu Xueliang said the Atto3 was an extension of the Chinese carmaker’s vision of a sustainable future powered by electrification.
“With Sime Darby Motor’s capabilities as a regional player, combined with BYD’s technology and expertise, Malaysians can expect innovative vehicles that will support the country’s carbon reduction ambitions,” he added.
The Atto3 will be available in two options – the standard range with an off-the-road price of RM149,800 and the extended range, which carries an off-the-road price tag of RM167,800 respectively.
The car will make its first showroom appearance at TREC KL, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, which opens mid-December.