BYD Atto 3 has been named New Zealand Car of the Year by the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild.
The guild understands it’s a global first for the “Build Your Dreams” (BYD) brand and is affirmation of China’s emergence as a powerhouse maker of electric cars.
The electric compact five-seater is the 35th winner of the annual award.
“Atto 3 has won category awards, including in this country, but our award appears to be the maiden national car of the year for this model and for BYD,” says guild president Richard Bosselman.
“Securing the country’s most prestigious, longest running, and important industry award is huge, but this is particularly special recognition.
“NZ was one of BYD’s first export destinations – the brand was little known, Atto 3 is their only car here and has been on sale for less than a year.
“For it to have made such a powerful impact so immediately is quite something.”
The BYD Atto 3’s affordability was a factor recognised by judges when determining it to be the best of 12 high-quality finalists.
“Atto 3 resonates as a product competing for the attention of budget-minded buyers through offering good range from an advanced battery,” Bosselman says.
“The guild also recognises it as a solidly-engineered car, offering good technologies and an interesting styling approach.”
In two specifications respectively pricing at just over $50,000 and just under $54,000 when the Government’s Clean Car rebate is applied, the Atto 3 is in a lower spending band than the three previous electric cars honoured by the Peter Greenslade Trophy.
“The EV sector moves at a rapid pace and this year NZ is going to see some exciting new product from other global involvers, but China remains one to watch,” Bosselman says.
“Adoption of ‘new-energy vehicles’ (NEVs) is a domestic priority and an increasing count of makers there are exporting.
“BYD has enjoyed colossal growth and reaped spectacular reward. It was the world’s biggest seller of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in 2022 with a total of 1.86 million sales – the vast majority in China. It was well ahead of top rival Tesla.”
The brand itself only founded in 1995 to make batteries for consumer electronics, then branched into car production in 2002.
Key to BYD’s success has been its battery technology – known as the ‘Blade’ due to the long, thin shape – which uses only lithium, iron and phosphate, materials that are all abundant in the Earth’s crust, while avoiding controversial metals such as cobalt and nickel, Bosselman explains.
“BYD Auto New Zealand is incredibly proud to receive this award,” says national brand manager Warren Willmot (pictured).
“Our customers have taken a leap of faith with a new brand, of which most of wouldn’t have heard of seven months ago. This award cements their purchasing decision was in line with expert opinions.”
The car’s acceptance of over-the-air software updates ensures it “will get better the longer you own the vehicle. Every update brings new features and refinement. Our early customers have all now received their vehicle-to-load (V2L) adapters (free with every car) and our BYD app is due to roll out shortly,” Willmot explains.
“Every BYD Atto 3 on the road potentially replaces an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, moving us towards a greener future and BYD’s ultimate global goal of cooling the Earth by one degree.”
Judges considered how a vehicle performs its intended role; its styling, interior design and accommodation; fit, finish and quality; ride and refinement; performance; road-holding and handling; value for money; active and passive safety and environmental responsibility.
Also in the hunt were the BMW iX, Ford Everest, Hyundai i20 N, Kia EV6 and Kia Sportage, Lexus NX, Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Mitsubishi Outlander, Polestar 2 and Tesla Model Y.
“That we elected to consider 12 finalists for the 2022 award rather than the usual top 10 says much. There is one winner, but my sentiment is there were no poor choices,” says Bosselman.
The award is open to all passenger vehicles launched over a year.
Finalists required evaluation on a full road test by more than two-thirds of the 20 voting members.
The Peter Greenslade Trophy recognises the memory and contribution of the late Peter Greenslade, a highly respected New Zealand motoring writer.
