BYD Unveils ‘Racco’ Electric City Car: Specs, Price, and Japan Launch
BYD Racco electric city
30th October 2025, Kathmandu
BYD, the global electric vehicle giant, has officially unveiled its smallest electric car, the ‘Racco’, at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.
BYD Racco electric city
This launch signals BYD’s strategic and aggressive entry into Japan’s unique and highly popular Kei car segment. The BYD Racco electric city car is a compact, affordable solution designed specifically for urban commuting, challenging established local rivals head-on.
Designed for Japanese City Streets
The ‘Racco’ is not a modified global model. It is an all-electric K-EV engineered entirely to comply with Japan’s strict Kei car regulations. These limits cap the vehicle’s length, width, and engine capacity, which in turn leads to a boxy, space-efficient design.
The official dimensions of the Racco are 3,395 mm in length, 1,475 mm in width, and 1,800 mm in height. This compact footprint makes it perfect for navigating Japan’s narrow streets and fitting into tight parking spaces.
Exterior Aesthetics and Practicality
The design language of the BYD Racco electric city car embraces the traditional square, four-corner exterior typical of Japanese city cars, maximizing interior volume.
The four-door configuration includes rear sliding doors. This practical feature significantly aids passenger access in cramped urban environments where swinging a conventional door open can be difficult.
A sleek, closed-off grille dominates the front, a design cue common in electric vehicles. The Racco also features distinctive C-shaped headlights and a circular, through-type taillight cluster at the rear. The illuminated BYD logo sits centrally on the tailgate, adding a modern touch to its otherwise functional silhouette.
Powering the Urban Commute
Powering this compact electric vehicle is BYD’s advanced Blade battery technology. The Racco is expected to feature a 20 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery pack.
According to WLTP testing cycles, this battery offers a single-charge range of approximately 180 kilometers. This range is highly practical and sufficient for daily city commutes, which represent a majority of trips in the segment.
While the exact motor specifications have not been disclosed, its output will comply with the low power limits for Kei cars.
The Interior: Tech-Focused and Functional
Despite its small stature, the Racco’s interior boasts a modern and feature-rich environment. It adopts a cockpit-style instrument panel and a central touchscreen display, giving the cabin a contemporary feel.
The driver interacts with a three-spoke steering wheel. Rectangular-shaped air-conditioning vents are neatly integrated into the dashboard design. The flat roofline and optimized dimensions ensure that the four occupants enjoy a surprisingly comfortable and spacious ride for a car of this size.
Pricing, Launch Timeline, and Market Rivals
The Racco is slated to begin sales in Japan in the coming months, marking the next phase of BYD’s expansion in the country. The estimated price tag for the Racco hatchback stands at approximately $17,000 (around 2.6 million Japanese Yen). This pricing places it directly in competition with other popular domestic Kei EVs.
The Kei car segment accounts for nearly one-third of Japan’s entire automotive market. The BYD Racco electric city car enters this battleground to take on established and successful rivals like the Honda N-Box and the Nissan Sakura.
Its launch demonstrates BYD’s commitment to adapting its technology to specific regional demands to achieve global dominance in electric mobility.
For more: BYD Racco electric city
