BYD tops 10,000 deliveries in Japan as Racco kei car boosts demand

BYD has delivered more than 10,000 vehicles in Japan since entering the country's passenger car market in January 2023. It took the Chinese carmaker around three years and nine months to reach the milestone.

The model that took BYD past the 10,000 mark was the SEALION 6, sold as the Sealion 06 in China.

Sales pick up pace in 2026

BYD registered 3,742 vehicles in Japan in 2025, up 68% on the previous year and marking its third consecutive year of growth.

The upward trend has continued in 2026, with registrations reaching 2,334 in the first half of the year, up 42.7% year on year. August brought another record, with orders reaching 1,260 in a single month.

The new Racco electric kei car, which went on sale at the end of July, accounted for 80% of those orders, making it a key contributor to BYD's recent growth in Japan.

BYD Racco: an electric kei car made for Japan

BYD Japan launched the Racco on 28 July. Developed to meet Japan's kei car regulations, the small electric car starts at JPY 2.145 million before tax, equivalent to around RM 55,400 at current exchange rates.

Its boxy shape and short front and rear overhangs make the most of its compact footprint, while electric sliding doors at the rear make it easier for passengers to get in and out.

The Racco measures 3,395 mm long, 1,475 mm wide and 1,800 mm tall.

Three variants and six exterior colours are available: Arctic White, Cosmos Black, Arctic Blue, Midnight Green, Ruby Red and Cheese Yellow. Ruby Red is exclusive to the top-spec model, which also gets premium synthetic leather upholstery.

Equipment

The Racco comes with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard, along with Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), vehicle-to-load (V2L) power supply and six airbags.

Other equipment includes a tall roof, power sliding rear doors with kick-activated opening, a 10.1-inch central touchscreen, leatherette upholstery and a six-way electrically adjustable driver's seat. There is also a dedicated insulated cup holder and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Up to 320 km on a charge

Two battery options are available. The entry-level Racco has a 22.4 kWh battery, giving it a claimed range of 210 km under Japan's WLTC test cycle. The larger 35.84 kWh battery, fitted to higher-spec versions, increases the claimed range to 320 km.

The Racco supports DC fast charging at up to 50 kW. Its compact dimensions, practical layout and electric powertrain make it suited to everyday journeys and short commutes in Japan.