Stella Li from BYD already warned that an electric car measuring 3.3 meters, with a range of 320 km and a price of 12,000€ for Europe would be “very interesting.”

08/10/2026 15:30

Updated to

08/10/2026 15:30

BYD developed the Racco with a very specific goal: to enter one of the most niche and challenging segments in the Japanese market. This compact electric vehicle was designed from scratch to meet the strict regulations of Kei-Cars, but just a few months after its launch, the Chinese company has already decided to withdraw it from Japan.

Sri Lanka and Macao will be its next destinations. Orders have already been opened in the latter market, with a launch in Sri Lanka scheduled for October 9th. This move is particularly interesting for Europe, as BYD acknowledges it is evaluating demand for the Racco outside Japan, and its international expansion could eventually bring it to our continent. That said, countries with right-hand steering wheels will have priority initially.

The BYD Racco is 3.3 meters long and costs around 12,000 euros

The Racco is small even when compared to European urban cars. It measures 3,395 mm in length, 1,475 mm in width, and 1,800 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,520 mm. It has four seats, a trunk capacity of 280 liters, and a turning radius of just 4.8 meters. Its tall body design and sliding side doors are designed to make the most of dimensions limited by Japanese regulations.

All versions use a front-mounted engine with 64 HP and 160 Nm of torque. The Racco 200 is equipped with a 22.4 kWh LFP battery and has an announced range of 210 km, while the Racco 300 Plus and 300 Premium increase the battery capacity to 35.84 kWh, achieving a range of 320 km. The rated energy consumption ranges from 12 to 12.4 kWh/100 km, depending on the version.

It is also extremely affordable. The Racco 200 starts at 2,145,000 yen in Japan, which is approximately 12,000 euros at current exchange rates, before any subsidies are taken into account. If it were to reach the Old Continent, its price would obviously not be transferable to our market due to various factors such as taxes, homologation requirements, and distribution costs, but it would allow BYD to introduce a new electric vehicle clearly priced below the Dolphin Surf.

BYD is already eyeing Europe with Racco in mind

The big question is whether a car designed specifically around Japanese regulations makes sense in Europe. BYD has already given some hints. The company’s vice president, Stella Li, acknowledged months ago interest in exploring this possibility: "It will be very interesting to examine EU regulations to see if there is room to bring that car here."

For now, BYD officials have indicated that the expansion of the Racco will prioritize markets with right-hand steering wheels. This makes the United Kingdom a much more obvious candidate than mainland Europe. According to CarNewsChina, the British market is specifically seen as a possibility, following a path similar to that of the Honda Super-N.

However, there is another even more interesting possibility. Recent reports suggest that BYD intends to apply the technology developed for the Racco, especially its new X-Pack battery, to future small electric cars destined for Europe. This battery integrates electrical components that would normally take up space under the hood, allowing more space to be freed and significantly reducing the vehicle’s external dimensions.

The Racco Might Change Before It Arrives

Therefore, a potential European Racco wouldn’t necessarily have to be identical to the Japanese version. The 64 HP power output is directly tied to the limitations of kei-cars and could be increased in an international version. The same might apply to its dimensions, equipment, or mechanical configuration to meet European safety and homologation standards.

What seems increasingly clear is that BYD’s experiment with its smallest electric vehicle is no longer limited to Japan. According to the company’s latest figures, the Racco has already received over 2,000 orders in Japan, and its arrival in Sri Lanka and Macao will be the first test to determine its acceptance outside the market for which it was designed.