BYD launched the third-generation Yuan Plus in China on May 21, giving its best-known compact electric SUV a major battery and charging overhaul that will later reach overseas markets sold as the Atto 3. The upgraded model starts at 119,900 yuan, or about $17,600, and comes in four variants.
The new Yuan Plus is offered with 57.5 kWh and 68.5 kWh battery packs, both using BYD's Blade Battery 2.0. The smaller pack is rated for up to 540 km, or 335 miles, under CLTC testing, while the larger one reaches 630 km, or 391 miles. All versions come with BYD's new Flash Charging tech, which can add enough power to go from 10% to 70% in about five minutes and from 10% to 97% in just 9 minutes. Even in -30°C, or -22°F, BYD says the pack can go from 20% to 97% only 3 minutes slower than usual.
The new model also gets a choice of rear-mounted electric motors rated at 268 hp, or 200 kW, and 321 hp, or 240 kW. Buyers can pay an extra 12,000 yuan, or about $1,800, for BYD's God's Eye B smart driving system, which adds a roof-mounted LiDAR unit and 30 advanced cameras and sensors. Inside, the cabin now includes a larger 15.6-inch floating central infotainment display, a built-in refrigerator, a head-up display and new premium seating options.
BYD said it will bring the new technology to Europe, the UK and other global markets later this year, and the Atto 3 is expected to get similar upgrades. That matters because the Yuan Plus is one of BYD's most popular EVs and was the 13th-best-selling electric vehicle globally in 2025, with nearly 224,000 deliveries. It is also among the first mass-market models to get the company's newest battery and charging package, after higher-end vehicles such as the Denza Z9 GT, Yangwang U7 and the Great Tang full-size electric SUV.
The timing also puts more pressure on a crowded home market. The Yuan Plus now faces fresh competition in China's compact crossover SUV segment from rivals such as the Geely Galaxy E5 and Changan Deepal S05. For buyers, the atto 3 flash charging update turns a familiar nameplate into something closer to BYD's latest tech showcase, while for the company it extends a product that already has global reach into a faster-moving fight for EV attention.
