BYD secures design patent for two-door microcar
Image: BYD (illustrative)
BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle giant that is increasingly active in Europe as well, has obtained a design patent in China for a two-door microcar. The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) published the corresponding protection right on November 10, 2026. The application was filed as early as December 18, 2025.
The published patent drawings show a compact vehicle with a heavily rounded body, short overhangs, and wheels positioned far outward. There is a large door on each side of the vehicle. The largely closed front features a horizontal light strip and a two-tiered front section. The rear also has a similar lighting design with curved contours, giving the front and rear sides an almost symmetrical appearance. The body further has a relatively low ground clearance and prominent wheel arches.
The registered design patent protects only the external appearance of the fully or partially electric vehicle and contains no technical specifications. Information on dimensions, number of seats, platform, battery size, engine power, and range is missing. Additionally, BYD has not yet disclosed a model name, production plans, selling price, or a timeline for a potential market launch.
In the segment of small electric vehicles, BYD is already represented by the Racco, which has been on sale in Japan since July 28, 2026. Developed specifically for Japan’s “Kei-Car” class, this electric vehicle is 3.395 meters long and features a tall, five-door body with sliding doors on the sides. According to the manufacturer, the Racco offers a range of 210 or 320 kilometers based on the Japanese WLTC testing procedure, depending on the battery variant. No technical or structural connection between the Racco and the now-patented two-door model has been documented.
BYD has not announced any introduction of the patented microcar for Germany and other European markets so far. Due to the lack of technical details, it is also impossible to determine whether a corresponding production vehicle could be approved under European regulations as a regular M1 class car or as a light four-wheeled vehicle. The vehicle classification would have implications for existing registration and safety requirements, among other things.
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Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.
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