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There is a major EV price battle going on in the U.S. Tesla has slashed the Model 3’s latest price to $38,990–before the federal $7,500 rebate. And that makes it relatively competitive with ICE cars. But the Chinese automaker BYD is going one step further, offering its “Yuan Plus” EV crossover for $16,644 in the Chinese market. Here’s how much car you get for that price.

The BYD Yuan Plus (known as the Atto 3 in most markets) comes with a 44.92 kWh battery standard. It makes 200 horsepower and BYD claims a 214 mile range. The extended-range version may break 300 miles, but obviously costs more. With the smaller battery its curb weight comes in at 3,500 pounds and reviewers say it can do 3.3 miles/kWh.

White EV crossover by BYD
2023 BYD Yuan Plus | Strilets via Wikimedia Commons

That miles/kWh efficiency is on-par with the Tesla Model Y. For the price, those are fantastic numbers. In fact, the only downside I see is the slow charging speed. The entry-level Yuan Plus can only charge at 70 kW. The Model Y tops out at 210 kW, the latest Hyundais can hit 350 kW. So you’ll be parked at a charger for much longer in the BYD. This makes it a poor choice for long road trips.

Otherwise, would the Yuan Plus feel like a budget vehicle? Probably not. See, BYD sells it as the Atto 3 in France for the equivalent of $50,650 USD. Even in Australia, it starts at the equivalent of $31,336 USD. And if those drivers are happy to shell out for it, the build quality must be good enough to warrant those kind of prices.

BYD Atto 3 EV parked in front of a blue backdrop.
2023 BYD Yuan Plus | Strilets via Wikimedia Commons

Honestly, I expect BYD’s $16k Yuan Plus price in China is just an effort to cement its place as the EV automaker there. Sales may be slipping with China’s current economic woes. And I don’t know how much BYD is losing on each one. But I do know someone is getting a great price.

Next, meet the $13k EV outselling Tesla in Japan, or see the BYD’s Atto 3 for yourself in the review below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.