An EV Just Became Australia's Joint-Cheapest New Car, Now Under $20K
The special offer makes the Atto 1 Essential the first sub-$20,000 electric vehicle and matches the cheapest new car now on sale.
- On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, Chinese automaker BYD slashed the price of its Atto 1 Essential electric hatchback to $19,990 drive-away in Australia, making it the most affordable new car in the country.
- BYD Australia chief operating officer Stephen Collins stated the move aims to make vehicle ownership 'more attainable,' as the 'special offer' cuts the price from the previous $23,990, saving buyers about $7000.
- Sharing the title of the cheapest car in Australia with the petrol-powered MG3 Vibe and manual Kia Picanto Sport, the urban-focused Atto 1 Essential features a 30kWh battery delivering a 220km range.
- Available for three months as a limited-time offer from Sept. 15 until Dec. 15, the temporary pricing will expire, after which the Atto 1 Essential will stand alone as the most affordable new car in Australia.
- U.S. electric vehicle affordability remains limited, as high tariffs block Chinese imports and the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt starts at $28,995, while Australian EV sales recently accounted for 24.9 percent of new vehicles.
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11 Articles
An EV is now Australia's cheapest car
EVs are becoming increasingly more affordable across the world, and the U.S. is continuing to miss out. It's now cheaper to buy a brand new EV than a petrol car in Australia. Chinese EV giant BYD has slashed the Australian price of its entry-level 2026 BYD Atto 1 Essential, cutting it from an already affordable $AU23,990 down to a mere $AU19,990
China's BYD makes its electric car Australia's cheapest new car, as electric vehicles outsell petrol cars for the first time Source
Australia's cheapest new car is now an electric car, and BYD's stunning move will change the conversation about EVs
The BYD Atto 1 is a long way from being Australia’s best selling car, or even its best-selling EV. But it is now the cheapest new car of any fuel system on offer in Australia, at a driveway price of just $19,990. The special deal announced on Tuesday by BYD, now ahead of Tesla as [...]
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