BYD’s first K-Car ‘Racco’ to launch with 180 km range and 17,000 USD in Japan
A new BYD K-Car designed for the Japanese market has been spotted ahead of its official debut at the 2025 Tokyo Motor Show, which opens on October 29. The model, reportedly named BYD Racco, is expected to begin reservations in Japan in the summer of 2026.
According to D-Auto, the Racco will feature a compact, boxy exterior typical of kei-class vehicles. The front adopts a closed grille design with dual-layer daytime running lights that integrate turn signal functions. The car features a double-A-pillar structure, a small triangular front window, and a floating-style roof.
The vehicle features a four-door layout with rear sliding doors, with their rails positioned above the rear wheel arches. The rear side windows feature privacy glass, and the tail section includes vertically arranged taillights, a rear wiper, and a centre-mounted license plate.
Although official dimensions have not been released, Japanese kei car regulations limit overall length to 3,400 mm, width to 1,480 mm, and height to 2,000 mm. Power will come from a fully electric drivetrain with a 20 kWh battery pack, providing an estimated WLTC range of about 180 km. The car also includes a heat pump air-conditioning system and supports DC fast charging up to 100 kW.
The Racco’s expected starting price is 2.6 million yen (about 17,000 USD). It will compete with leading Japanese kei EVs such as the Honda N-Box, Suzuki Spacia, and Nissan Sakura. For comparison, the Nissan Sakura starts at 2.54 million yen (around 16,710 USD) and also offers a 20 kWh battery with a similar driving range.
According to Nikkei Chinese Edition, Suzuki Motor president Toshihiro Suzuki commented on BYD’s entry into Japan’s kei car market, saying:
“There are many standards for small cars worldwide, and BYD has chosen Japan’s kei car standard. I’m pleased to see that. New competition is about to begin, and I hope we can learn from each other and move forward together. Japanese consumers’ psychological barrier toward Chinese products is lowering. I think BYD poses a major challenge.”
Suzuki also noted that BYD should “avoid engaging in price competition” as the segment becomes more crowded.
BYD entered the Japanese passenger car market in 2023 and currently sells the Dolphin, Seal, and Yuan PLUS (Atto 3), followed by the Sealion 7 introduced in April 2025. The company plans to expand its dealership network to 100 locations across Japan by the end of 2025.
The upcoming Racco will mark BYD’s first kei-class model and its most localised product yet for Japan. More details, including technical specifications and final naming, are expected to be confirmed during the Tokyo Motor Show.
