EV customers say they can cancel BYD Atto 3 orders after service schedule revealed

Numerous would-be EV owners awaiting the arrival of their BYD Atto 3 have expressed disappointment at the reveal of a rigorous service schedule, including a number of shorter-warranty items.

Some have even said they will cancel their orders, comparing the service hours to that of a new car with a combustion engine.

BYD importer EV Direct will begin deliveries of the Atto 3 later this week. The Atto 3 compact electric SUV is currently the most affordable new electric vehicle in Australia, starting at $44,900 for its standard range variant and $47,900 for the extended range version.

The China-based automaker is a new entrant to Australia and, to assure potential customers of its reliability, has struck deals with established networks for service, deliveries and maintenance.

These include with Mycar to train technicians in 30 workshops to perform log book maintenance, and with Eagers Automotive to develop a collaborative approach for parts, maintenance and experience centres. In total, there are now around 50 locations that will act as service centers, with more to come.

Many of the more than 4,000 customers have ordered the Atto 3 almost without seeing it, and none to date that we know of have taken a test drive, at least in Australia.

It has now been revealed that the terms of the vehicle and battery warranty differ from previous statements on the company’s website.

In July, the website evdirect.com.au indicated that the Atto 3 came with a seven-year warranty on both the vehicle and the battery, and that conditions and exclusions apply.

That URL now redirects to bydautomotive.com.au, and a tab on the service page states that “BYD is proud to offer Australian drivers a robust traction battery warranty: 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.” and vehicle warranty: 6 years or more”. 150,000 km, whichever comes first.

However, many items have much shorter warranty periods, including a three-year warranty on the multimedia system and other items listed below.

The service schedule for the Atto 3 published by the company reveals a free service at 5,000 km or three months, and then a minor and major rotary service every twelve months or 20,000 km.

Minor services are priced at $190.37, and major services range from $504 to $661, totaling around $3,100. There hasn’t yet been a service schedule that we’ve been able to get, and we’ll update this article if arises.

Often a selling point of an electric car is reduced maintenance costs because the car has far fewer moving parts than a car with a combustion engine. However, drivers have compared the above costs to those of a car with a combustion engine.

Waiting customers took to social media to express their surprise and disappointment in various Facebook group threads, at least three of which garnered several hundred comments each.

“It is quite scandalous. I think this is a deal breaker for me.”, said one.

“Ouuuchhh… someone is making $$$ on the servicesaid another.

“I would have thought the service charges would have been much less than ICE cars. Seems a bit like a scam to me,” said a third.

Some said they would cancel their orders.

“These prices are out of all proportion to the service required for BEVs,” said an Atto 3 customer. “It is the result of the need to reimburse a third-party service agent, something that no other electric vehicle provider is required to do. We will cancel our order.”

EV Direct Director Luke Todd responded to The Driven’s query about the price of the service and the change in warranty terms.

He replies: “What’s really important to know is that what EV Direct, Eagers and Mycar have done right now is invest in Australia’s largest electric vehicle qualified service network – we’ve done something that’s never been done before. have done.

He added that the network of electric vehicle-trained Mycar stores will expand to more than 300 sites in the next five years, saying: “we want people to have top-quality service; it is a strategic plan that has been in place for some time. It’s about getting the customer to have the best experience possible.”

“That’s a very good thing, we think over time people will realize how valuable it is,” he said.

“The service costs about $350 a year, which is actually a very reasonable rate. Yes, it is true that there are not so many parts, but safety and quality remain our number one priority.”

Regarding the change in warranty, Todd says that since the EV Direct site launched, BYD Global has launched its regional warranty policy.

“It made sense for us to align with BYD’s regional policy, that’s the main reason, and probably the most important is that it provides an extra year of battery warranty.”

Other legacy automakers also have service hours for their electric cars. The MG ZS EV has a price cap service program that costs $268 per 20,000 km for 140,000 km or 160 months, with service at $807 at 96 months/80,000 km.

Not all electric cars come with a service program, but they still require checking and servicing.

Tesla, for example, doesn’t set a maintenance schedule, but recommends changing the cabin air filter every two years for its Model 3 and Model Y, and every three years for Model S and Model X.

It also recommends changing the HEPA filter every three years, if fitted, rotating the tires at 10,000 km, replacing the air conditioning desiccant at certain intervals, and lubricating the brake calipers every 12 months or 20,000 km in cold climates. .