BYD to enter Japan’s kei car market with the new Racco
BYD is directly entering the core of the kei car segment, introducing the Racco as a super-height wagon, which is typically taller and thus offers more interior space than a standard kei car. The new EV measures 3.4m in length, 1.48m in width and 1.8m in height, and features sliding doors on both sides for easy ingress and egress.
In line with the naming convention of its Ocean Series, BYD has named its kei car after the Japanese word for sea otter. Beyond the obvious boxy proportions, the Racco features a clean, technical-looking exterior. The company has designed the EV with rounded elements that convey a friendly, approachable character, as seen in the headlamps, fog lamps, charging port, door handle indentation, mirrors and tail lamps.
Save for two slim openings — one at the top and one at the bottom — the front end is fully enclosed for improved aerodynamics. The clean surfacing across the central bumper area, where most kei cars have a grille, instantly signals its EV identity. On the sides, four-spoke alloy wheels give the electric kei car a playful look. At the rear, in a typical Chinese car style, the Racco features connected tail lamps. An illuminated BYD logo complements this high-tech appearance, which remains relatively uncommon in the kei car segment.
Atsuki Tofukuji, President of BYD Auto Japan, said at the world premiere that the Racco is the brand’s first model developed exclusively for overseas markets. The company has built more than 100 prototypes so far and is evaluating their crash, driving and charging performance. It will offer the Racco with the Blade (LFP) battery pack in short-range and long-range versions, Tofukuji added.
According to a report from CarNewsChina, the Racco’s top variant will feature a 20 kWh battery pack that supports DC charging at up to 100 kW and delivers a WLTC range of approximately 180 kilometres. The electric kei car will also have a heat pump for enhanced efficiency.
BYD plans to launch the Racco in the summer of 2026. PR representatives at the company’s Japan Mobility Show booth said it will manufacture the new EV in China, which is an unusual decision for a kei car.
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