BYD unveiled the Atto 8 at the Paris Motor Show on Oct. 12, claiming its new seven-seat electric flagship can charge from 10% to 97% battery in nine minutes using the automaker’s proprietary Flash chargers. The claim centers on charging technology paired with a second-generation Blade battery rated at 115 kWh.
The Atto 8 is BYD’s first seven-seat electric flagship built for the European market, according to Motor1. The company plans to put it in European showrooms during the first quarter of 2027.
What Was Announced At The Paris Motor Show
BYD says the Atto 8 can go from 10% to 70% charge in five minutes and reach 97% in nine minutes total, but only when matched with BYD’s Flash chargers, rated at up to 1,500 kilowatts. Plug into a third-party fast charger and the Atto 8 is limited by whatever power that network can deliver.
Stella Li, BYD’s executive vice president, called the vehicle “the perfect example of turning intelligence into reality,” according to Motor1. Li also compared the Flash Charging system to refueling a gas tank, describing it as “the breakthrough for EVs that everyone has been waiting for.”
The nine-minute figure changes in cold weather. BYD says that at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit), the same 10% to 97% charge takes 12 minutes, three minutes longer than the standard claim.
What It Means For Fans Of The Atto 8
Two configurations will be offered. The Design trim is rear-wheel drive, produces 455 horsepower, reaches 62 mph in 5.8 seconds and carries a claimed WLTP range of 405 miles. The Excellence trim adds all-wheel drive, produces a combined 764 hp with 571 lb-ft of torque, reaches 62 mph in 4.6 seconds and carries a claimed WLTP range of 374 miles.
The SUV measures 198.4 inches long, 78.6 inches wide and 69.3 inches tall. Inside, it features a panoramic glass roof spanning 25.7 square feet and a 15.6-inch central touchscreen.
The nine-minute charging claim depends entirely on BYD’s proprietary Flash charging network, meaning the stated speed will not apply to drivers using standard public chargers.
Background On BYD’s Charging Push
BYD plans to build out 3,000 Flash charging stations across Europe by the end of 2027, a network the automaker says is necessary to deliver on the nine-minute charging promise at scale. Without that infrastructure in place, the headline charging figure will remain limited to wherever BYD installs its own hardware.
What’s Next
The Atto 8 is set to arrive in European showrooms in the first quarter of 2027, according to Motor1. BYD has not detailed pricing, trim availability by country, or a timeline for the 3,000-station Flash charging rollout beyond its 2027 target.
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