BYD Atto 1 Essential’s $19,990 drive-away offer set to end in December

December deadline for Atto 1 deal

BYD lists a $19,990 drive-away offer for the Atto 1 Essential electric hatchback, with orders accepted from 15 September to 15 December 2026 and delivery required by 31 December. The promotion replaces the entry-level variant’s usual $23,990 price before on-road costs during the campaign. The two figures are on different pricing bases: the promotional amount includes on-road costs, while the usual list price does not. ⁵³

BYD Australia executives expect the usual price to return, according to CarExpert reporting published by PerthNow on 28 September, but their comments do not set a firm date. Chief product officer Sajid Hasan pointed to 1 January for the original price point, while chief operating officer Stephen Collins indicated that he thought the $23,990 price before on-road costs would be reinstated later this year. BYD’s published terms establish the current offer’s end date, not the price that will apply afterwards. ¹⁵

Order and delivery conditions

BYD’s terms limit the $19,990 drive-away price to retail customers who order an eligible Atto 1 Essential during the campaign and take delivery by 31 December 2026. The terms exclude demonstrators and transactions involving another promotional offer or discount. BYD says metallic paint costs extra, vehicle allocation is subject to availability and eligibility is not guaranteed until delivery. ⁵

BYD says it cannot guarantee delivery within the promotional period. If an eligible order cannot be delivered by 31 December, it says it will review the case individually and may approve an extension; an order placed before 15 December does not, by itself, guarantee the promotional price. ⁵

BYD separately lists a five per cent novated-lease discount for eligible Atto 1 vehicles. Under BYD’s terms, that discount applies to the base vehicle list price, excluding on-road charges, and requires an order by 30 September and delivery by 31 October 2026. The terms exclude transactions involving another promotion, so it cannot be combined with the $19,990 drive-away campaign. ⁵

How it compares with other entry prices

For an indication of the Essential’s price before the promotion, CarExpert calculated $26,993 drive-away from the usual $23,990 list price using a Sydney postcode. GoAuto reported that the regular drive-away amount varied by state or territory. Neither location-based figure is a second national list price. The Atto 1 Premium is outside the $19,990 offer and remains priced at $27,990 before on-road costs, according to both publications. ³⁷

CarExpert and Mashable reported that the Atto 1 Essential’s offer matched the petrol MG 3 Vibe at $19,990 drive-away, with the MG offer scheduled to end on 30 September. CarExpert put the manual Kia Picanto Sport at $19,190 before on-road costs, or more than $22,000 drive-away. Zecar’s 15 September account instead listed the MG 3 Vibe at $20,990 drive-away, so the reported $1000 gap between it and the BYD is not settled by those figures. ³⁸⁶

Separate plug-in hybrid SUV promotions have nearer advertised deadlines. CarExpert reporting published by 7NEWS on 28 September listed the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid at $34,990, GWM H6 PHEV at $39,990 and MG HS Super Hybrid at $42,990 drive-away, each through 30 September. CarExpert also listed the Chery price and deadline in its 24 September Atto 2 DM-i report. Those offers are for different vehicles, not equivalent prices for the Atto 1 electric hatch. ²⁴

Essential specification and equipment

GoAuto reported that the price cut did not change the Atto 1 Essential’s specification. Its 30kWh lithium iron phosphate battery powers a front-mounted electric motor rated at 65kW and 175Nm. The stated range is 220km on the WLTP test cycle, with DC charging rated at up to 65kW; GoAuto also lists 11kW AC charging. These are Essential figures, rather than specifications for the Premium. ³⁷

The Essential has 15-inch steel wheels, a 7.0-inch digital instrument display and a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, according to CarExpert and GoAuto. CarExpert lists adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors. GoAuto reports four seats and a five-star ANCAP rating from 2025 testing. ³⁷

For the Atto 1 Premium, GoAuto lists a 43.2kWh battery, a 115kW motor and a stated 310km WLTP range, along with equipment including a surround-view camera and heated front seats. Its larger battery, greater stated range and additional equipment should not be attributed to the discounted Essential. ⁷³

Atto 1 in BYD’s Australian range

CarExpert and GoAuto each reported 3838 Atto 1 deliveries year-to-date when covering the September price cut. The Essential was already Australia’s lowest-priced EV before the campaign, according to CarExpert; at $19,990 drive-away, it reached the bottom of the advertised new-car price range alongside the MG 3 Vibe offer reported by CarExpert. ³⁷

The separate 2027 Atto 2 DM-i Essential plug-in hybrid was priced at $24,990 before on-road costs in CarExpert’s 24 September report. BYD Melbourne’s offers page also lists a $25,990 drive-away launch offer for that variant, with orders by 15 December and delivery by 31 December. Those amounts have different pricing bases. CarExpert reporting published by PerthNow on 28 September said the Atto 2 DM-i had no drive-away discount, which conflicts with BYD Melbourne’s listed offer; neither Atto 2 price changes the Atto 1 campaign’s conditions. ⁴⁵¹