BYD Atto 3: ‘Pressing notification’ despatched to homeowners round youngster seats

The Australian importer for BYD has despatched an “pressing notification” to clients advising them to not match youngster restraints to the middle-rear seat of the Atto 3 EV.

The notice was emailed to homeowners over the weekend, a number of days after the Atto 3 didn’t obtain a five-star ANCAP crash ranking for Australia – regardless of doing so in New Zealand and Europe below broadly the identical NCAP protocols.

As a substitute, the BYD Atto 3 bought in Australia stays unrated, with ANCAP saying it’s now “working with BYD to finalise the applicability of a ranking for Australian-specified fashions”.

“BYD Australia is within the means of resolving this challenge and can shortly offer you an additional replace.”

There seems to be a compliance challenge of some type, pending an final result.

The five-seat (as per spec sheet) BYD Atto 3 doesn’t have an accessible centre-rear top-tether attachment – although it has prime tethers and ISOFIX factors on every outboard seat.

Uniquely robust Australian Design Guidelines stipulate any rear seat with a seatbelt should additionally function a top-tether level for a kid seat. This rule is what led to Honda making native HR-V fashions four-seaters fairly than 5 earlier this yr.

It has been famous on boards that the Atto 3 has a provision for a centre anchorage under the carpet, however ADR 34 requires it to be extra accessible primarily based on the wording.

It’s additionally vital to notice that the Division of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Growth, Communications and the Arts beforehand gave car sort (MA) approval to the Atto 3

BYD Australia’s importer EVDirect instructed us final week it will have a full assertion to clarify the problem – and rectification – by Thursday of final week however is but to take action. Now we have reached out on a number of events to its representatives.

However the firm instructed us earlier than this challenge got here to gentle that it had met all ADR necessities when prepping the brand new car for market.

To this point ANCAP has additionally declined to remark.

Within the meantime, EVDirect says clients ought to attain out to customercare@bydautomotive.com.au.

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