BYD Sime Motors recently released a quirky coming soon teaser video on its social media platforms. The teaser features animal footprint walking across the company’s Instagram page, followed by the playful message: “Don’t worry, be capy =)” — an apparent reference to the adorable rodent, the capybara.
While the video doesn’t reveal much, it clearly hints that something new is on the horizon. Many believe the teaser points to the potential launch of a new BYD model in Malaysia. How does a capybara fit into this? No clue.
If that’s the case, reports from Paultan and Soya Cincau suggest that two new models could be introduced to the local market. One strong contender is the BYD Atto 2, an all-electric SUV that debuted in China as the Yuan Up in 2024. The model was also showcased at the Bangkok International Motor Show in March, indicating that a regional rollout may be imminent.
Taking that as a reference, the Atto 2 may arrive in Malaysian in two variants; Active and Boost. It comes with a single motor that is powered by a 45.12 kWh battery. The car outputs 130kW and 290Nm of torque. Also, it supports 65 kW DC fast charging, allowing the battery to charge from 10% to 80% in just 37 minutes. When using an 11 kW AC wall box, a full charge takes approximately 5.5 hours.
The other model expected to arrive is the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i, a plug-in hybrid SUV that is also slated for launch in Singapore soon. The model is already available in Thailand, albeit in a single variant.
This variant features a single electric motor paired with a 1.5-litre Xiaoyun naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, delivering a combined output of 218 PS and 300 Nm of torque. Power comes from an 18.3 kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which provides an electric-only range of 92 km. When combined with the petrol engine, the Sealion 6 DM-i offers a total driving range of up to 1,092 km.
Well these are the models that is expected to debut in Malaysia soon. Nevertheless, as mentioned above, there is no clear indication on what is coming next from the automaker.
