BYD’s new mini EV is ‘a huge threat’ to Japanese automakers and it’s coming soon
BYD is already known for its smaller, low-cost electric cars like the Seagull, which you can snag for under $10,000 in China. Now, China’s EV leader is looking to go even smaller. BYD plans to launch a new mini EV, or kei car, that could pose “a huge threat” to Japanese automakers as a cheaper alternative.
BYD’s new mini EV will launch in Japan in 2026
China’s EV leader is already starting to crack Japan’s auto market, where foreign automakers have struggled for years.
BYD sold 2,223 EVs in Japan in 2024, accounting for 4% of overall electric car sales. Meanwhile, two mini EVs, the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi’s eK X, represented over 40% of the country’s electric car sales last year.
Mini, or kei cars, are among the most popular options in Japan. They are lower-priced, easy to maneuver around city streets, and functional enough for everyday use.
BYD wants its piece of the booming market. The company announced plans to enter Japan’s mini EV segment next year, and it’s already stoking fear among domestic automakers.
“Young people do not have a negative view of BYD. It would be a huge threat if the company launches cheap models in Japan,” a Suzuki dealer said (via Nikkei). Japanese automakers like Suzuki, Subaru, and Nissan have relied on kei cars for domestic growth.
Last year, they represented around 40% of new vehicle sales in Japan, with around 1.55 million units sold. The Honda N-Box, which was the best-selling kei car in Japan for the third straight year, is 3,395 mm long, 1,475 mm wide, and 1,790 mm tall.
To give you an idea, BYD’s smallest EV, the Seagull, is 3,780 mm long, 1,715 mm wide, and 1,540 mm tall. Last month, it was BYD’s top-selling EV, with over 55,000 models sold.
BYD will likely have an advantage in terms of costs. It already builds ultra-affordable electric cars powered by the BYD Blade batteries, which are also used by Tesla, Toyota, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and several others.
The company will begin recruiting talent with “extensive experience” in the light vehicle business. As it looks to grow its business in Japan, BYD opened a new website this month for applications.
BYD’s new mini EV is expected to start at around 2.6 million yen, or roughly $18,000. The Nissan Sakura, Japan’s top-selling EV last year, starts at about the same amount (2.59 million yen).
Its electric SUV, the Atto 3, caused a stir last year during a seminar on battery tech held by the Central Japan Economic and Trade Bureau. A few attendees even asked, “How can it be produced at such a low cost?”
The Atto 3 starts at 4.18 million yen in Japan, or around $29,000, undercutting most in the segment. Since launching the electric SUV in 2023, BYD has introduced several of its top sellers, including the Dolphin and Seal. Last month, BYD launched its new midsize smart electric SUV, the Sealion 7, starting at 4.95 million yen ($34,500)
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The Radar R6 was China’s first mass-market 100% electric pickup. Now, it’s rolling out overseas into new markets. The R6 is already the top-selling EV pickup in China, but will it win over buyers in global markets?
This Chinese EV pickup is headed for new global markets
Volvo owner, Geely, launched Radar in 2022, claiming it’s “China’s first pure electric outdoor lifestyle brand.” A few months later, it launched its first vehicle, the Radar R6, starting at about $25,000 (178,800 yuan)
The R6 is a fully electric pickup based on Geely’s SEA platform, which underpins Volvo’s electric minivan, the EM90, sold in China.
It’s available with three battery pack options: 63 kWh, 86 kWh, and 100 kWh, for a CLTC range of up to 392 miles (632 km).
Over the last two years (2023 to 2025), Radar R6 was China’s top-selling electric pickup, accounting for over 50% of the market. Following its success, Geely began exporting models to new markets like Thailand under the name Riddara.
Riddara is now sold in over 50 countries and regions, including parts of Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Central, and South America.
“In 2025, Geely Riddara will enter a new phase of global cooperation,” the brand’s CEO, Mr Ling Shiquan, said during a conference earlier this year.
The rugged EV brand plans to expand in growing markets like Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil, aiming to sell 30,000 models with “NEV pickup market leadership in every region.” Most recently, Geely signed a deal with Capital Smart Motors (CSM) to sell the EV pickup in Pakistan.
Radar claims the R6 (RD6) is “more than just a pickup” with the unique ability to drive like an SUV. The global version is available in rear and all-wheel-drive powertrains.
The more powerful AWD variant features up to 6,600 lbs (3,000 kg) towing, 32.1″”wading, and a 4.5-second acceleration from 0 to 100km/h (0 to 62 mph).
To give you a comparison, the Tesla Cybertruck AWD model has a 325-mile (EPA) range, 11,000-lb towing capacity, and a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.1 seconds.
In China, Radar launched a cheaper electric truck, dubbed King Kong. It starts at 99,800 yuan, or around $13,700. It’s available in RWD and AWD powertrains and has a CLTC range of up to 375 miles (605 km).
Would you buy Radar’s (Riddara) electric pickup for around $25,000? Let us know what you think of it in the comments below.
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It’s about the size of the Tesla Model Y. The EV5 is already a hit in China. Now, Kia is about to launch the global model. With its official debut coming up, Kia’s electric SUV was spotted for the first time with a few noticeable upgrades.
Meet the new electric SUV
Kia first unveiled the EV5 at the Chengdu Motor Show in 2023. A few months later, the electric SUV officially went on sale in China, starting at just over $20,000 (149,800 yuan).
The EV5 is 4,615 mm long, 1,875 mm wide, and 1,715 mm tall, or roughly the same size as the Tesla Model Y (4,750 mm long, 1,978 mm wide, 1,624 mm tall). It’s also significantly cheaper in China. The new Model Y starts at 263,500 yuan ($36,500).
Kia’s base model has a CLTC range of 329 miles (530 km) from a 64.2 kWh BYD Blade battery. The longer-range model gets up to 447 miles (720 km) from an 88.1 kWh battery.
In comparison, the new Tesla Model Y has a CLTC driving range of up to 368 miles (593 km). The Long-range AWD model starts at 313,500 yuan ($43,400) and has a range of up to 447 miles (719 km).
The EV5 is already leading Kia’s comeback in China. Last year, Kia sold over 200,000 vehicles for the first time in four years, ranking first among joint venture brands. The electric SUV was one of the main growth drivers.
When will Kia launch the EV5 global model?
Kia launched the EV5 in several global markets last year, including Australia and New Zealand. Recent sales figures from TheDriven show that the electric SUV was the fourth top-selling EV in Australia through April, with 1,509 units sold.
Through the first four months of 2025, the EV5 trails only the Tesla Model Y (3,394), Model 3 (2,266), and MG MG4 (1,698) through April. However, these models are made in China and exported by Kia’s joint venture, Yueda Kia Motors.
Kia is preparing to launch production of the global version of the EV5 later this year at its Autoland Gwangju manufacturing plant in South Korea.
According to TheKoreanCarBlog, it will be the first exclusive electric car built at the facility, codenamed “OV1” internally.
With mass production scheduled for the third quarter of 2025, we are finally getting our first look at the Kia EV5 global model. New images from Autospy reveal several noticeable upgrades from the current version built in China.
Despite the camouflage, you can see a few updated design elements, including alloy wheels, pulled from Kia’s new EV6 and EV9.
The interior has been refined with an updated center console to attract buyers outside of China. You can also expect to see Kia’s latest ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens in a panoramic curved setup.
It will also drop the lower-cost LFP battery in favor of a higher-density NCM option, which could raise prices in other markets.
Kia will launch the EV5 global version in new markets, including South Korea, Europe, and Canada. Sadly, it’s not expected to arrive in the US.
The company confirmed earlier this year that the EV5 will be “exclusively for the Canadian market” in North America. It will be sold with FWD and AWD powertrains and two battery sizes: 60.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh, offering up to 500 km (310 miles) range.
What do you think of Kia’s electric SUV? Would you buy one over the Tesla Model Y? Let us know in the comments below.
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Tesla (TSLA) has lost its head of the Indian market just as the automaker is rumored to finally enter India after several false starts.
Tesla has been trying to enter the Indian automotive market for years, but it has been unable to circumvent the country’s protectionist efforts, which include high import duties on foreign vehicles.
The Indian government wanted Tesla to build a factory in the country, but the automaker preferred to first establish a market in the country through imported vehicles before investing in a manufacturing facility in the country.
Last year, we reported that India finally reached a compromise on its import duties on cars, opening the door for Tesla and other EV automakers to launch in the country.
The deal involves significantly reducing import duties for a limited number of electric vehicles as long as the automaker makes a significant investment and commitment to build an electric vehicle factory in India in the coming years.
It looked like Tesla had a hand in making that deal happen, considering the automaker was working closely with the government, and there were indications that Tesla would take them up on the deal.
However, it has been more than a year since India announced the program, and Tesla has yet to take them up on it.
Tesla did make moves toward entering the Indian market. It started hiring service and sales staff earlier this year and considered locations in New Delhi and Mumbai.
The automaker also tested some of its electric vehicles in India, but that also happened years ago, when Tesla was first supposed to enter the Indian market, and it didn’t happen.
We have been burned before. We will believe Tesla’s entry into the Indian market when it finally happens.
If it is happening, it’s not off to a good start as Tesla has reportedly lost its head of country in India, Prashanth Menon, just ahead of the supposed market launch.
Menon had been at Tesla since 2016. He held roles in business planning until 2021, when he was made head of Tesla in India.
Bloomberg now reports that Menon left and that Tesla’s Chinese team has been put in charge of the Indian market.
Electrek’s Take
At this point, I’m in the “I’ll believe it when I see it” phase of Tesla’s Indian market entry. It seemed to be on the verge of happening 2-3 times and never happened.
To be fair, it does look like this time is closer than ever, but then Tesla loses its country head, and it’s not like the timing for entering the Indian market looks great with the country seemingly being on the verge of a new war with Pakistan.
We will keep an eye on it.
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