BYD Australia has moved the ATTO 1 Essential to $19,990 driveaway nationwide under a new special offer, pushing its smallest electric hatch below the $20,000 mark.

The company says the offer makes the BYD ATTO 1 Essential Australia's most affordable new electric vehicle and Australia's most affordable new car.

The ATTO 1 Essential offers up to 220km of driving range on the WLTP test cycle.

CarSauce previously covered the model's ATTO 1 pricing as Australia's cheapest new EV under $25,000, while the latest offer drops the driveaway figure below $20,000.

Stephen Collins, Chief Operating Officer at BYD Australia, linked the price move to household budget pressure.

"At a time when Australian families are carefully considering every household expense, we're committed to making vehicle ownership more attainable," Mr Collins said.

"The BYD ATTO 1 at $19,990 driveaway demonstrates our commitment to delivering outstanding value without compromising on technology, safety or quality."

BYD entered the Australian market in 2022 and has expanded its local new energy vehicle portfolio since then.

Since last October, it has introduced eight new models or major variants of existing models.

That number is due to grow to 10 by this October with the ATTO 2 small SUV adding a plug-in super hybrid electrified powertrain and the BYD M9 people mover joining the range.

BYD has also expanded its dealer presence across Australia during the past 12 months, opening an average of one new sales and service centre per week with an emphasis on regional and rural locations.

The brand says its Australian dealership count will exceed 150 by the end of this year.

For buyers focused on upfront cost, the headline change is straightforward: the BYD ATTO 1 Essential is now being offered from $19,990 driveaway nationwide.

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