BYD launched the Racco in Japan, targeting the Japanese K-Car market. Credit: BYD
- The BYD Racco starts at 2.145 million yen ($13,100) in Japan, with the price falling below 2 million yen after subsidies.
- The model targets Japan’s K-Car market, which accounts for nearly 40% of the country’s new vehicle sales.
BYD (HKEX: 1211) launched the Racco all-electric K-Car in Japan on Tuesday, entering the country’s most important vehicle segment and challenging Toyota, Honda and Nissan on their home turf.
The Racco starts at 2.145 million yen ($13,100) in Japan. After a 150,000-yen government subsidy, the entry-level version comes in below 2 million yen, with a WLTC range of 210 kilometers.
By comparison, Nissan’s Sakura, currently Japan’s best-selling electric vehicle, starts at about 2.44 million yen and offers a range of just 180 kilometers on a full charge. Honda’s all-electric minicar, the N-ONE e:, starts at around 2.7 million yen.
The Racco, debuted in October 2025, is another BYD model built specifically for overseas markets, and the company has not announced plans to bring it to its home market in China.
BYD’s previous major effort of this kind was the Shark pickup, launched in Mexico in May 2024. It was only earlier this year that the company confirmed it would bring the Shark to China under its Fang Cheng Bao lineup.
The BYD Racco comes in three versions in Japan: the entry-level 200, and the higher-spec 300 Plus and 300 Premium.
The two higher-spec versions start at 2.398 million yen and 2.497 million yen respectively. They carry a 35.84-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery for a range of 320 kilometers. BYD said that makes the Racco the first kei EV in Japan to break the 300-kilometer mark.
The Racco measures 3,395 millimeters long and 1,475 millimeters wide, within K-Car size limits, and stands 1,800 millimeters tall with the super-high roof design favored by Japanese consumers. It is also Japan’s first kei EV with power sliding doors, which can be opened with a kick sensor.
Its motor delivers a maximum output of 47 kW (63 hp, 64 Ps) and peak torque of 160 Nm.
DC fast charging is capped at 50 kW, roughly on par with the Honda N-ONE e:, which has a smaller battery.
The Racco offers a 10.1-inch center screen, Level 2 driver assistance, vehicle-to-load (V2L) power output, heated seats and steering wheel, an NFC phone key, and battery preconditioning. With the rear seats folded, cargo space reaches up to 1,372 liters.
Cheap and compact K-Cars account for nearly 40% of new vehicle sales in Japan, suited to the country’s narrow streets and rural roads.
Toyota’s Suzuki and Daihatsu, along with Honda, together control about 80% of the minicar market, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.
BYD announced its entry into Japan’s passenger vehicle market in July 2022 and began sales in January 2023 with the Atto 3, known as the Yuan Plus in China.
In January this year, the company said it would add two hybrids, the Atto 2 and the Seal 6, completing the eight-model lineup it had pledged for Japan.
To support the Racco’s launch, BYD also plans to open mini dealerships displaying just one or two models in regional cities with fewer than 500,000 residents, aiming to reach rural areas where demand for mini EVs is strong.
BYD Racco core specifications by trim (Japan market, prices in JPY, tax included). All trims are single-motor front-wheel drive with 47 kW (63 hp) and 160 Nm.
Trim
Drive
Price (JPY)
Battery (kWh)
Range per charge (km)
WLTC consumption (Wh/km)
WLTC city (Wh/km)
WLTC suburban (Wh/km)
WLTC highway (Wh/km)
Curb weight (kg)
300 Premium
FWD
2,497,000
35.84
320
124
97
110
145
1,230
300 Plus
FWD
2,398,000
35.84
320
124
97
110
145
1,220
200
FWD
2,145,000
22.4
210
120
93
106
140
1,160
BYD Racco at a glance
Japan-market kei EV · ¥2,145,000 – ¥2,497,000 (tax incl.) · Single-motor FWD
320 km
Max range per charge
47 kW
Motor output (63 hp)
LFP battery · Range per charge and WLTC efficiency as published by BYD Japan
300 Premium
Premium
¥ 2,497,000
320 km per charge
300 Plus
Plus
¥ 2,398,000
320 km per charge
200
Base
¥ 2,145,000
210 km per charge
Standard across the range
3,395 × 1,475 × 1,800 mm · 2,520 mm wheelbase
47 kW (63 hp) / 160 N·m front motor
280 L cargo · 4 seats
4.8 m min turning radius
MacPherson front / torsion beam rear suspension
Ventilated front / solid rear disc brakes · 165/65 R15 tires
BYD will integrate its Dynasty and Ocean lineups into the BYD brand overseas, merge operations for Denza and Fang Cheng Bao, and keep Yangwang independent.
($1 = 163.8 yen)
