Chinese auto giant BYD said on Thursday that it will start selling electric vehicles in Japan from 2023, hoping that demand will grow in a country where the shift toward greener cars has been slow.

BYD Japan, which already sells electric buses in the country, announced the establishment of a new company to handle EVs sales. Three EV models will be launched sequentially from January.

The models are the mid-size sport utility vehicle Atto 3, the hatchback compact car Dolphin, and the sedan Seal. Details on pricing and sales targets were not announced. BYD Japan Executive Officer Atsuki Tofukuji said, "We are trying to set as broad a vehicle segment as possible so that our customers will have a wide range."

EVs account for only about 1% of annual car sales in Japan, though the government has set a goal that by 2035, all new cars sold must be electrified including plug-in hybrids. While Japan's automakers are only beginning to get serious about developing EVs, Western manufacturers such as Tesla and Volkswagen have already entered the market.

Source: ANNnewsCH