Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD is targeting Europe with the Ato 8, a seven-seat flagship electric SUV that it says can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in 5 minutes using its flash-charging system. The model uses BYD’s second-generation Blade battery and is offered with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. BYD lists up to 652 km WLTP range for the rear-wheel-drive version. European sales are expected to start in the first quarter of 2027, with pricing not yet disclosed.

BYD plans to launch its first electric vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery in 2027. Stella Li, the company’s executive vice president, said BYD is in a leading position in developing and preparing to commercialise the technology. The rollout in 2027 does not mean immediate mass production, as FinDreams aims for limited output in 2027 and expansion to mass production by 2030. BYD is also improving charging speed for existing batteries.