New BYD Atto 1 revealed: Australia’s cheapest EV gets bigger

The second-generation BYD Atto 1 has been revealed in China, confirming the new electric hatchback will bring a larger body that increases its seat count from four to five, as well as more advanced rear suspension, and a switch from front- to rear-wheel drive, making room for a ‘frunk’ for the first time.

As reported by Autohome and Car News China, Chinese government certification filings have revealed further details of the new Atto 1, which is due on sale by the end of 2026 in China, where it’s badged as the BYD Seagull.

BYD Australia has not confirmed any details on local release timing or indeed availability of the second-generation Atto 1 in this market, where the current version was introduced here in 2025 in two model grades: Essential and Premium.

A spokesperson told CarExpert the new model is “not on the company’s radar” and BYD has not confirmed the new Seagull/Atto 1 will actually replace the current model, which could remain in production and continue to be sold either alongside or instead of the new-generation model, depending on the market.

The news comes after BYD Australia cut the price of the entry-level BYD Atto 1 Essential to $19,990 drive-away, making it not only the cheapest electric vehicle (EV) on sale in Australia, but tied with the petrol-powered MG 3 hatch as the cheapest new car available in local showrooms, period.

Chinese government filings reveal the second-generation Atto 1 measures 4205mm long compared to 3780mm for the current Chinese-market version, with its wheelbase stretched by 150mm to 2650mm – identical to that the Geely EX2 electric hatch recently launched in Australia.

The new Atto 1 has also grown in width, by 95mm to 1810mm, while sitting 30mm higher at 1570mm.

The larger external dimensions have seen the current version’s four-seat arrangement evolve to a five-seat layout, while the current front-axle motor arrangement has been replaced by a rear motor, making the Atto 1 rear-wheel drive for the first time.

The new rear-drive configuration frees up space under the bonnet for a ‘frunk’ (front trunk storage area), while the current car’s torsion-beam rear axle has been replaced with a more advanced multi-link rear-end layout.

The Chinese government papers reveal only one powertrain for the new model, which produces 95kW compared to the current Australian-spec Atto 1 Essential’s 65kW and the higher-spec Atto 1 Premium’s 115kW output.

However, the more potent motor comes with a choice of two different lithium-ion battery packs. A smaller 30kWh battery provides 259km of claimed range on the WLTP measure, while a larger 39.2kWh version brings a 340km WLTP range.

For comparison, Australia's current Essential variant has a 30kWh lithium-ion battery and 220km of WLTP range, and the Premium extends this to 310km with a larger 43.2kWh pack.

In Australia, the current BYD Dolphin small electric hatch, which is one size larger than the Atto 1, comes with torsion-beam rear suspension as standard, and a more advanced multi-link setup for the higher of two model grades, the Premium.

The second-gen Atto 1 also has wider 205/60 tyres on 16-inch alloy wheels in place of the 175/65 R15 tyres on 15-inch steel wheels for Australia's current entry-level Essential grade, and 185/55 R16 tyres on 16-inch alloys for the Premium.

With an exterior design that's clearly an evolution of the current Atto 1, as you can see from its sharp lines, rising window line and blacked-out B- and C-pillar treatments, there are also slimmer semi-flush door handles.

A bump above the windscreen reveals a LiDAR sensor, which became available as part of the optional DiPilot 300 suite of active safety and driver-assist technologies that was offered with Chinese models earlier this year, but remains unavailable for Australian versions.

Previous reports by Car News China have also showed the new Atto 1 interior, revealing a flatter new dashboard design with a floating centre console. There are also physical buttons below the centre screen and a wireless phone charging pad.

Sales of EVs have reached record levels in Australia so far in 2026, accounting for around 18.8 per cent of all new-vehicle sales, and outselling petrol and diesel models for the first time in August, with a 24.9 per cent market share.

The Atto 1 was one of BYD Australia’s lower-volume EVs in the first eight months of 2026, with 3838 sales. The Sealion 7 mid-size electric SUV was BYD’s best-selling EV in the same period with 17,277 sales, followed by the Atto 2 small electric SUV on 7737, the larger Atto 3 on 3901, and the Atto 1.

Year-to-date, BYD is currently Australia's second-best selling auto brand behind market-leader Toyota, ahead of Kia in third.

MORE: Explore the BYD Atto 1 showroom