BYD Malaysia’s sole authorized distributor, Sime Darby Beyond Auto is currently offering up to RM 20,000 cash rebate for the 2023 manufacturing year BYD Atto 3 (MY2023). The promotion applies to both the Standard Range and Extended Range variants, thus bringing prices down to RM 129,800 and RM 147,800 respectively, but note that the prices quoted by BYD exclude registration and other charges.

With registration fees, inspection fees, hire purchase endorsement fees added, the on-the-road price (excluding insurance, which varies from one customer to another) is:

• 2023 BYD Atto 3 Standard Range: RM 130,430 (down from RM 150,430)
• 2023 BYD Atto 3 Extended: RM 148,430 (down from RM 168,430)

However, customers taking the full RM 20,000 rebate will not get a free 7 kW AC wallbox charger.

With the 7 kW wallbox charger thrown in, the cash rebate value drops to RM 17,000, for both the Standard Range and Extended Range variants.

If you are wondering why BYD dealers are offering such a good deal, it’s because a new and improved 2024 model (MY2024) Atto 3 - which is also sold as the BYD Yuan Plus Honor Edition in China - will be launched in Malaysia soon.

The changes in the 2024 model are very minor, so it’s up to each buyer’s discretion on whether they should take advantage of the promotion for MY2023 models, or wait a little longer and pay more for the MY2024 models.

What’s new in the 2024 BYD Atto 3?

Visible changes are only limited to four items, based on what we know so far:

• New Cosmos Black colour, with blacked out C-pillar trim
• New two-tone black-blue interior (only for cars painted in Cosmos Black or Boulder Grey)
• Larger 15.6-inch infotainment screen (MY2023 car uses a 12.8-inch unit)
• Continental EcoContact 6 Q tyres (MY2023 car uses Atlas Batman tyres)

Note that the above are estimates based on what BYD has announced for Singapore. Final specifications for Malaysia market cars have yet to be confirmed.

In our opinion, it’s better to take advantage of the RM 20k savings today. The upgrades in MY2024 are well appreciated, but it’s debatable if they are worth RM 20,000, depreciation cost aside.

The larger 15.6-inch rotating screen looks good on paper, but even with the older car’s smaller 12.8-inch unit, we find that it (slightly) obstructs outward visibility when it’s rotated to portrait position. It’s still tolerable, but a larger 15.6-inch unit will certainly push the limits of tolerance once you put it in portrait mode.

The factory-fitted Atlas Batman tyres were quite horrible so the new Continental tyres on MY2024 cars will be a welcomed upgrade, but again, tyres are something that you can upgrade yourself for a lot less money.

The final deciding factor is resale value. Since a car’s resale value is determined by its manufacturing year, MY2023 cars are at a disadvantage, hence the high cash rebates offered by BYD.

Buyers need to ask themselves if they want to have a better resale value in 5 or 10 years later, or if they want to enjoy immediate savings today.

In the case of Atto 3, only the latter makes sense. If you are concerned about resale value, you shouldn’t be looking at new brands like BYD, or even an electric vehicle.

When will the 2024 BYD Atto 3 be launched in Malaysia?

Sime Darby Beyond Auto has not said anything about the MY2024 Atto 3, but BYD Singapore, which is also run by Sime Darby, is already accepting test drive bookings for the new Atto 3.

Going by the industry’s typical practice in run-out sales campaigns, the new model should be launched here within the next 3 months.

Summary of the Malaysia market BYD Atto 3

To recap, China-made BYD Atto 3 is a 5-seater C-segment SUV. It competes against the recently launched Chery Omoda E5.

Two battery sizes are available, each with varying driving range on a full charge.

The Atto 3 Standard Range variant uses a 49.92 kWh battery, delivering up to 410 km of driving range, while the Extended Range uses a larger 60.48 kWh, capable of up to 480 km.

Regardless of variant, power output is the same, at 203 hp.

The Atto 3 uses BYD’s signature lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade Battery’, which BYD claims to be the world’s safest - safer than regular lithium-ion NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) type prismatic or cylindrical cells used by other makes.

The downside to LFP batteries is that energy density is lower, meaning bigger and heavier batteries are needed to store the same amount of energy.

The BYD Atto 3 is covered by a 6-year / 150,000 km warranty, while the electric drivetrain (battery, motor, power control electronics) is covered by an 8-year 150,000 km warranty.

Also read: Review: BYD Atto 3 - Not without its pains, but it's probably the most complete EV SUV for RM 170k