BYD’s All-Electric RACCO Launches in Japan on July 28 with Up to 320 km Range and Power Sliding Doors

BYD will officially launch its first kei-class all-electric vehicle, the RACCO (Sea Otter), in Japan on July 28. Measuring 3,395 mm in length and 1,475 mm in width, the RACCO complies with Japan’s kei car dimensional regulations and features an ultra-high roof design standing 1,800 mm tall. It is Japan’s first all-electric kei car equipped with power sliding doors that can be opened via foot-activated sensors. The RACCO is offered in two variants: the base “200” model comes with a 22.4 kWh battery, delivering a WLTC-rated range of 210 km, while the higher-spec “300” variant features a 35.84 kWh battery, achieving a WLTC range of 320 km—making it the first kei-class EV in Japan to exceed the 300 km range mark. The vehicle supports DC fast charging at up to 50 kW. With the rear seats fully folded down, the RACCO offers a maximum cargo capacity of 1,372 liters. Standard and available features include NFC smartphone key access, battery pre-conditioning, an insulated cup holder, a 10.1-inch central touchscreen, synthetic leather seats, six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, tire pressure monitoring, Level 2 advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), vehicle-to-load (V2L) external power supply, six airbags, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel—many of which are uncommon in this vehicle segment in Japan. Exterior color options include Arctic White, Cosmic Black, Arctic Blue, Midnight Green, Ruby Red, and Cheese Yellow. Interior choices consist of an all-black scheme or a black-and-beige two-tone option; the latter is exclusive to the top-tier 300 Premium trim and can only be paired with either Arctic White or Cheese Yellow exteriors. The RACCO is expected to be priced below ¥3 million. However, it may qualify for only around ¥150,000 in Japan’s Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) subsidy—significantly less than the ¥580,000 typically granted to other domestically produced kei EVs. As a result, rivals like the Nissan Sakura and Honda N-ONE e: offer more competitive post-subsidy pricing. Previously, BYD’s Dolphin underperformed in Japan due to its relatively high initial pricing. It was relaunched in April 2025 at a reduced price of ¥2.99 million, yet sales remained modest. In contrast, the Sealion 7, priced above ¥5 million, has become BYD’s best-selling model in Japan. The final pricing of the RACCO will therefore be critical to its market success.