The BYD RACCO is the latest compact electric vehicle developed by BYD specifically for the Japanese market. This challenging segment aims to capture a share of the Kei Car category, Japan’s strict standard for ultra-compact cars. It is the first time a foreign automaker has fully redesigned a vehicle structure to meet Japan’s stringent Kei Car regulations, while employing a clean energy drivetrain. Unlike Japanese Kei Cars that still use internal combustion engines, which, despite their small size, emit pollution from combustion.
The name RACCO is derived from "Raccoon," reflecting agility, cuteness, and easy accessibility. The launch price in Japan starts at 2,145,000 yen (approximately 439,000 to 448,000 baht, excluding government subsidies). With Japan’s EV subsidies applied, the actual selling price drops to around 1,545,000 yen (about 316,000 to 320,000 baht), making it an affordable and valuable option for city dwellers.
There are three trim levels available.
RACCO 200 base model priced at 2,145,000 yen (~439,000 baht).
RACCO 300 Plus priced at 2,398,000 yen (~490,000 baht).
RACCO 300 Premium top model priced at 2,497,000 yen (~510,000 baht).
Body dimensions and design (Super Tall boxy shape): The vehicle emphasizes a tall and spacious interior, following the popular boxy Kei Car style in Japan. It measures 3,395 mm in length, 1,477 mm in width, 1,800 mm in height, with a 2,520 mm wheelbase. It has a tight turning radius of just 4.8 meters, enabling easy maneuvering and parking in narrow alleys.
The exterior features a boxy compact Japanese style with electric sliding doors on both sides for convenient entry and loading in tight spaces. Body colors include Arctic White, Cheese Yellow, Arctic Blue, Midnight Green, and Ruby Red.
Motor power, battery capacity, and driving range.
The BYD RACCO has front-wheel drive with a single electric motor limited by Japanese Kei Car laws to a maximum power of 64 horsepower (47 kW) and peak torque of 160 Newton-meters. It uses Blade Battery (LFP) technology. The 200 model has a 22.4 kWh battery offering up to 210 km range per charge (WLTC standard).
The 300 Plus and 300 Premium models have a 35.84 kWh battery, providing a maximum driving range of 320 km per charge (WLTC standard), making it the first electric Kei Car in Japan to exceed 300 km range.
It supports DC fast charging, capable of charging from 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes. The cabin seats four and is designed for maximum space utility, with 280 liters of trunk capacity expandable by folding the rear seats. Interior technology includes a digital LCD instrument cluster and a floating touchscreen infotainment system.
Comfort features include easy-to-use separate switch-type climate controls, multiple USB charging ports, heated front seats, and versatile storage compartments. In Japan, RACCO directly competes with local models such as the Nissan Sakura, Mitsubishi eK X EV, and Honda N-ONE e:. BYD’s key advantages are larger battery capacity, longer driving range, and better fast-charging support, all at an accessible starting price.