BYD Atto 1 to go without brand's standout feature

The BYD Atto 1will be one of the first Australian-market models from the Chinese automaker without a rotating infotainment screen, a previously standout feature for the brand.

Originally pitched by the automaker as offering optimum performance for different features, the feature enabled screens to rotate 90 degrees between a portrait orientation and a horizontal landscape position.

However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto only worked in the latter position.

British outlet Autocar reports a greater emphasis on smooth app integration is the reason BYD is phasing out the feature.

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“We are starting to engage in a lot of apps,” BYD vice president Stella Li told the publication. 

“The Atto 2 will be the first model with Google and Apple CarPlay and if they want to give the best experience, then a rotating screen will limit their apps,” she added, referring to the introduction of Google Built-in – with a suite of embedded Google apps – in the European-market Atto 2 DM-i.

“And then secondly, we saw the feedback in the market. People love the rotating screens, but the usage is very small.”

“The next focus for us will be autonomous driving, ” Ms Li told Autocar, alluding to the technical tie-ups needed to develop the tech.  “We want to make our platforms become more universal to in order to fulfil the best experience. For some apps, like Google, they are a little bit behind.”

While the comments published by Autocar suggest the decision has been made from a global position, BYD Australia could not yet confirm if it will ditch rotating screens for all future models sold here.

Instead, BYD Australia said the decision not to offer the rotating screen on local models is based on customer feedbacka, which told CarExpert Australian buyers prefer larger fixed displays over smaller, rotating versions.

This is despite the UK-market Atto 1, for example, offering spinning screens of the same size as the fixed version in cars sold here. 

Overseas, the Atto 1 – sold as the Dolphin Surf in the UK – is available with the same-sized 10.1-inch centre touchscreen, but it includes the rotation function.

The BYD Atto 1 is one of three of the brand’s models to run a fixed screen, with the upcoming Sealion 5 SUV and Sealion 8 seven-seat SUV set to also run fixed touchscreens. 

The rotating screens were also included on models from BYD’s premium brand, Denza, which launched in Australia this month with the B5 and B8 off-road SUVs.

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