The BYD Racco kei car received over 1,000 orders two weeks after the official launch in Japan as the Chinese company aims to secure 10,000 reservations by the end of 2026. The top-trim 300 Premium model accounted for 80% of all orders.
The BYD Racco kei car entered the Japanese market on July 28 with a price range of 2,140,000 – 2,497,000 yen (13,470 – 15,720 USD) before subsidies. It became available for purchase with three trim levels: 200, 300 Plus, and 300 Premium. According to the Nikkei report, the BYD Racco received 1,002 orders as of August 9.
The BYD Racco
A customer survey indicated that the top-trim Racco 300 Premium kei car accounted for 80% of all orders. The 300 Plus and the 200 versions have 14% and 6% of orders, respectively. It was clarified that 35.7% of users purchased the Racco as an additional vehicle. The other 35.7% of customers were replacing their existing vehicle with the Racco. The first-time car buyers accounted for 26.8%.
Interior of the BYD Racco
The BYD Racco is a front-wheel-drive kei car with a blocky body shape and dimensions of 3395/1475/1800 mm with a wheelbase of 2,520 mm. This small EV boasts a minimum turning radius of 4.8 meters. It has four seats and a trunk for 280 liters. Two LFP battery options are available for 22.4 and 35.84 kWh. They send power to an electric motor with a peak output of 47 kW (63 hp) and 160 Nm. The car’s electric range lies between 210 km and 320 km, depending on the battery option.
The BYD Racco boasts a peak charging rate of 49.7 kWh
The entry-level BYD Racco 200 could be charged with 35.8 kW DC, adopting the CHAdeMO charging port. Variants with a bigger battery boast a peak charging power of 49.7 kW. Interestingly, the Racco comes standard with adaptive cruise control (ACC) and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) functions. The car’s dashboard has a 10.1-inch touchscreen and up to six speakers.
The biggest rival of the BYD Racco in Japan is the Nissan Sakura, an electric kei car. It has a 20 kWh battery pack that powers a 47 kW (63 hp) electric motor in the front axle. The car offers 112 km of WLTC range. The Sakura’s price starts at 2,448,600 yen (15,415 USD). In 2025, 14,093 units of the Sakura were delivered in Japan.
According to China EV DataTracker, BYD’s global sales reached 411,072 cars in July 2026, up 20.5% Year-Over-Year. The car’s export reached 179,841 units in the same period, accounting for 43.7% of the global sales. BYD delivered 383 vehicles in Japan in July 2026.
Update (August 10, 13:35 CET time): the BYD Racco DC charging power ranges from 35.8 to 49.7 kW.
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