BYD has set its sights on Japan's kei car market with its latest electric vehicle, named Racco. Unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, the Racco measures a diminutive 3395 mm long, 1475 mm wide and 1800 mm tall to meet kei car regulations with motive power set to come from a front axle-mounted electric motor and an underfloor battery.
On the design front, the Racco or ‘Sea Otter’ in Japanese features the typical boxy proportions one has come to see in five-door kei cars in recent years. The overall design is boxy to say the least, with an upright and slab-sided design with a stubby nose, large cabin area, and wheels pushed to the four corners to maximise wheelbase.
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The fascia is characterised by high-set projector headlights with C-shaped DRLs flanking a partially closed-off grille. Lower down the bumper features a slim central intake flanked by D-shaped blacked-out housings for fog lamps. In profile, the BYD’s large glass house becomes visible with large door windows along with large quarter glass on the A-pillar and between the C- and D-pillars. Other notable design features include creases along the wheel arches, a soft shoulderline, and a sliding rear door to maximise ease of access to the rear seats.
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Around the back, the most distinctive feature is the wrap-around LED tail lamp with an integrated lightbar and illuminated BYD logo. The tailgate itself is an almost flat vertical surface with only the inset number plate housing and the taillights adding some character to the design.
Images of the interior reveal a layered, yet minimalist dashboard design with a large central touchscreen and digital instrument cluster mounted straight to the steering column case. The upper dashboard is notably shallower than the lower section, creating a small storage shelf for the co-driver. An interesting design point is the row of physical buttons on the centre console below the touchscreen, with the panel also housing a mount for the user’s smartphone.
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As in most kei cars, the rear seats are pushed as far back as possible to offer ample leg room in the rear cabin. The seats, however, are likely to include a sliding function to open up boot space, aside from featuring a folding backrest to maximise cargo carrying capacity.
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In terms of motive power, BYD has confirmed that the Racco will feature two battery options - one Long Range and one Short Range. As per reports, one of these is set to be a 20 kWh unit offering a driving range of up to 180 km on a full charge.
Interior Image Credit: SugarDesign via Weibo
