The Australian distributor for Chinese electric-car maker BYD claims an update on when Atto 3 deliveries will resume is due later this week, as it works on a solution for regulator concerns over a potential vehicle compliance issue.
Australian deliveries of the BYD Atto 3 electric car have taken a step closer to resuming – following two weeks on hold – after BYD’s local distributor advised customers on Friday it was “very close” to resolving concerns over vehicle compliance.
The Australian distributor for BYD paused deliveries of its Atto 3 small electric SUV two weeks ago – with two seven-day stop-delivery notices from October 21 – as it worked with federal regulators to resolve concerns over a potential breach of local vehicle compliance rules.
In a notice issued to disgruntled buyers in the queue – and those who have already taken delivery – the distributor claimed it is “very close” to resolve the issues, promising “a more detailed update” on Wednesday.
“We have been working with the relevant Government body and are highly confident that we are very close to concluding the matter,” the notice to customers from BYD and distributor EVDirect reads.
“We will be providing a more detailed update on Wednesday, 9th November 2022 and we anticipate deliveries to recommence shortly thereafter.”
It is unclear how long after the planned announcement on Wednesday deliveries – which have been on hold since 21 October – will resume, and what BYD and EVDirect plan to do with vehicles that have already been delivered to customers.
A recall is yet to be issued for existing vehicles to have the compliance breach resolved.
According to one unverified social media report – claiming to cite information “from BYD” – the distributor may be given the option of having the compliance breach in their vehicle fixed at the next service, or a technician sent to the owner’s home free of charge to fix the issue there.
As reported first by Drive last month, the BYD Atto 3 was believed to have been in breach of vehicle compliance regulations after its child-seat top-tether anchor point for the middle rear seat was not visible, and understood to be hidden behind the seatback carpet.
By law, all passenger vehicles must have top-tether child-seat anchor points for all rear seat positions – and they must accessible without tools. For a five-seat passenger vehicle with three rear seats, this means one top-tether point for each of these rear seat positions.
In a letter to Drive last month from lawyers representing BYD’s Australian distributor, the company said the BYD Atto 3 had been complied as a five-seat passenger vehicle – but in its current form, it may not fully comply with the regulations for five-seat passenger cars in Australia.
The compliance issue was discovered after independent safety body, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), withheld its five-star safety rating for Australian-delivered Atto 3s while the compliance issue was reviewed.
Customers on social media have expressed frustration over the BYD Atto 3 delivery pause, with many claiming to have paid in full for the vehicle days before the first stop-delivery notice was issued – but are not able to receive their vehicle.
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