BYD launches ATTO 3 in Senegal

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BYD is one of the major electric vehicle companies that is now offering its battery electric vehicles in more places around the world. These days, it seems like we hear about BYD introducing a new model to a new country every week or so. Notably, BYD is one of the few major manufacturers that isn’t ignoring the South American and African markets. Which is great, because it shows that even the smallest markets around the world aren’t going to be left behind by the shift to electric vehicles. I always say that every electric vehicle that replaces a potential internal combustion engine vehicle purchase makes a difference.

Senegal is the latest market to get BYD electric vehicles. BYD announced yesterday that it will launch operations in the West African country, starting with the ATTO 3. The ATTO 3 and the Dolphin small hatchback have been BYD’s preferred launch models in many markets around the world.

The BYD ATTO 3 is available in two models in most markets. Both models feature a 150kW/310Nm permanent magnet synchronous motor, front-wheel drive, and accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds. The standard model has a range of 345km according to WLTP standards, and the extended model has a range of 420km according to WLTP standards. AC charging reaches 7kW with a Type 2 connector, and DC charging reaches 70kW/80kW (CCS2) respectively. The ATTO 3 is a C-segment SUV built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0.

Senegal’s vehicle industry is characterized by a very old fleet. Essentially all the cars on the roads of the capital Dakar use low-quality fossil fuels and contribute to around 2.2 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, at a calculated social cost of $97 million per year. These numbers are rising rapidly. Moreover, a quarter of infant deaths in West Africa are now linked to air pollution. Air pollution also leads to other diseases that increase public health costs, lower learning outcomes in school, and lower productivity in the workplace. So it’s really good to see more electric vehicle options available in Senegal.

Old taxis are one of the worst contributors to this pollution in Dakar. There are about 16,000 taxis in Dakar, Senegal, and while they represent less than 5% of Dakar’s vehicle population, they account for about 45% of traffic on average as they crisscross the city all day looking for customers. These taxis contribute at least 20% of Dakar’s air pollution, so converting them to electric would have huge benefits for everyone in the city. Mbay Mobility was the first to move into the electric vehicle sector in Senegal and is working to address this issue by providing innovative financing models to help taxi drivers switch to electric vehicles.

BYD is working with local partners in many of its new markets. In Africa, BYD has partnered with CFAO. CFAO Mobility in Rwanda recently launched the first BYD dealership in East Africa in Kigali. The showroom is located in the Kikoriko area and covers an area of ​​330 square meters. The ATTO 3 electric SUV will be available in the Rwandan market immediately, followed by the Dolphin and Dolphin Mini (BYD Seagull) models in the coming weeks. CFAO Mobility says it is a pioneer in the deployment of electric solutions on the continent and will provide Rwanda with an ecosystem of services to support vehicles, install recharging stations, provide solar power generation solutions, vehicle maintenance, assistance and spare parts.

According to the CFAO website, Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) has been a major shareholder in CFAO since 2012. In 2017, after solidifying their relationship in 2016, CFAO became the African division of Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) and its platform for business development on the continent. The new entity adds to existing divisions covering automotive, metals, chemicals, electronics and more.

It’s great to see more electric vehicles rolling out to more markets around the world. Consumers can only afford what’s available in their market, so as more electric vehicles start arriving in more places around the world, we’ll really start to see the shift gain momentum.

Images courtesy of BYD