An EV is now Australias cheapest car
BYD has dropped the Australian price of its 2026 BYD Atto 1 Essential EV, making it one of the cheapest cars in the country.
In Australia, it is now cheaper to purchase a brand new electric vehicle (EV) than a petrol car. The Chinese EV manufacturer BYD has reduced the price of its entry-level 2026 BYD Atto 1 Essential from $AU23,990 to $AU19,990, which includes all additional fees. This makes the BYD Atto 1 Essential the cheapest car in Australia overall, surpassing even the manual 2026 Kia Picanto Sport, which previously held the title with a base price of $AU19,190.
The BYD Atto 1 Essential's current price includes mandatory on-road costs. The car is also currently available with a $AU1,000 cash back offer from MG, but that deal is set to end soon. The BYD Atto 1 Essential is only available for three months at the new price, from September 15 to December 15. While this is encouraging for the global affordability and uptake of electric vehicles, it's worth noting that Americans still face higher costs for EVs, with the most affordable option being the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt starting at $28,995 before fees, compared to the BYD Atto 1 Essential's price in Australia.
Written by urgent.news from Mashable's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
