BYD Racco tops 5,000 orders in Japan in first week of pre-sales

The Chinese automaker’s new kei EV is showing early momentum in one of Japan’s most protected vehicle segments, with demand driven largely by existing mini-car owners and second-car buyers 

BYD Racco has gained strong early traction following its launch. Since opening pre-orders on July 21, the model has secured more than 5,000 confirmed orders in its first week. BYD Japan aims to reach cumulative orders of 10,000 units by the end of 2026. BYD Racco is a kei-class electric vehicle developed specifically for the Japanese market. Racco made its debut at the 2025 Tokyo Motor Show, where it attracted 30,000 expressions of interest during its initial appearance. 

Some dealers reported receiving more than 200 customer visits per day at physical showrooms, with high-performing stores recording around 60 deposit orders in a single day. More notably, Racco’s buyers are not solely first-time EV customers. According to BYD, around 70% of initial reservation holders are existing Japanese K-Car owners replacing their vehicles, while approximately 30% are households purchasing the model as a second car. This indicates that Racco is targeting Japan’s mature mini-vehicle replacement market rather than relying only on consumers seeking to try new energy vehicles. 

The vehicle officially went on sale in Japan this Tuesday, offering two battery-range versions and three trim levels, with a tax-included starting price of 2.145 million yen ($13,100). After applying Japan’s 150,000-yen ($916) EV subsidy, the entry-level version’s effective purchase price drops to 1.995 million yen ($12,20). Japan’s K-Car market has long been dominated by domestic manufacturers. Suzuki, Daihatsu and Honda hold the majority of this segment, while overseas automakers have historically struggled to establish a presence in the category. 

The arrival of Racco marks BYD’s first direct entry into one of Japan’s most domestically oriented automotive segments. Previously, BYD’s overall scale in Japan remained relatively limited. Data showed that BYD sold 3,870 passenger vehicles in Japan throughout 2025. 

This means Racco’s first-week orders have already exceeded the brand’s total annual sales in the country last year. According to data from the Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA), BYD Japan registered 2,334 passenger vehicles in the first half of 2026, up 42.7% year on year.