Overview
- BYD is set to unveil its first all-electric kei car at the Japan Mobility Show on Oct. 29, with public days to follow later in the week.
- Leaked details point to a 20 kWh Blade LFP battery, roughly 180 km WLTP range, sliding doors, and kei-compliant dimensions, though specifications await formal confirmation.
- BYD has sold about 6,600 EVs in Japan since entering nearly three years ago, and its Japan sales chief says results are “missing a zero.”
- The company plans to expand to all 47 prefectures by the end of next year as Japanese officials and industry insiders label the kei EV push a wake-up call on EV competitiveness.
- The car is reported to be called Racco and to target pricing around ¥2.5–2.6 million before subsidies, with sales expected to start late next year against rivals such as Nissan’s Sakura.