Sime Darby Motors, the automotive arm of Sime Darby Berhad, has launched BYD electric vehicle (EV) for the passenger market – the Atto 3 – the first BYD model in Malaysia.
BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, is China’s electric car maker based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. It sells vehicles under the BYD brand.
The unveiling of the BYD Atto 3, an all-electric sports utility vehicle (SUV), follows Sime Darby Motors’ recent appointment as the official exclusive distributor of BYD vehicles in Malaysia.
The launch was officiated by International Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz at Bandar Malaysia Lapangan Terbang lama Pengkalan TUDM, Sungei Besi on December 8, 2022.
“In line with our aim to be a leader in EV and with a view towards propelling Malaysia’s EV aspirations, we are excited to embark on this new chapter with BYD following our success in Singapore.
“With half a billion ringgit set to be invested, this will support our aggressive expansion plans for the brand here and reflects our belief in the brand’s universal appeal.
“BYD’s line up of world-class vehicles which feature premium specs at an attractive price point is set to be a game-changer to spur EV adoption amongst Malaysians,” said Sime Darby Motors managing director Andrew Basham.
The Sime Darby Motors and BYD partnership will invest RM500 million over the next two years to establish a wide network of BYD showrooms as well as EV charging infrastructure to serve the country’s growing appetite for EVs, with the first showroom slated to open by mid-December 2022 at TREC KL on Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur.
This will be followed by three more showrooms at Ara Damansara in Petaling Jaya, Penang and Johor by the first half of 2023.
BYD Asia Pacific auto sales division general manager Liu Xueliang said BYD is strengthening its partnership with Sime Darby Motors to enter the Malaysian market, as part of the company’s vision for a sustainable future powered by electrification.
“Drawing on Sime Darby Motors’ proven track record and capabilities as a regional player in the automotive industry, particularly its broad distribution network in Malaysia, combined with BYD’s pioneering technology and expertise, we strive to deliver our innovative vehicles to Malaysian consumers and support the country’s carbon reduction ambitions,” he said.
The fully electric BYD Atto 3 is the first SUV built on BYD’s advanced e-platform 3.0 which can travel up to 480km on a single charge, allowing drivers to go further and save time on charging.
The Atto 3 will be available in two variants: Standard Range at RM149,800 and Extended Range at RM167,800.
