Karmo launches cheaper BYD EV subscriptions in Australia

Karmo has launched a lower-cost electric vehicle subscription range featuring BYD models, with the new novated subscription offer starting at AUD $126.16 a week.

The rollout covers the BYD Atto 1, Atto 2 and Sealion 7 through a partnership with salary packaging and novated leasing provider Smart. The Atto 1 is also available through Karmo's personal subscription service from AUD $199 a week.

The offer follows the arrival of a large BYD vehicle shipment into Australia, with Karmo securing part of that supply for its subscription and novated subscription business. It is positioning the range as a lower-cost way into electric driving for workers using salary packaging and for consumers seeking an alternative to buying outright.

Karmo's novated subscription combines vehicle access, registration, insurance, servicing, maintenance and roadside assistance in a single weekly payment. Unlike a standard novated lease, it uses a subscription model rather than a conventional ownership pathway.

Pricing starts with the BYD Atto 1 Essential at AUD $126.16 per week and the Atto 1 Premium at AUD $136.05 per week. The BYD Atto 2 Dynamic starts at AUD $145.32 per week, while the Atto 2 Premium starts at AUD $157.07 per week.

At the higher end, the BYD Sealion 7 Premium starts at AUD $185.50 per week and the Sealion 7 Performance at AUD $199.00 per week. All figures apply to the novated subscription option.

Shift in access

The launch comes as competition intensifies around lower-priced electric vehicles in Australia and suppliers test financing and access models beyond traditional ownership. Subscription plans have emerged as one option for drivers who want predictable motoring costs bundled into a single payment rather than separate spending on registration, insurance and maintenance.

For employers and employees, novated structures have become a prominent channel for electric vehicle uptake because they can combine salary packaging with lower running costs. Karmo is targeting that segment by offering access to Chinese-made EVs at weekly price points below many conventional car finance repayments.

Nick Boucher, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Karmo, said household budgets are reshaping consumer transport choices.

"Cost-of-living pressures and fuel uncertainty are changing the way Australians think about vehicle ownership. Consumers want more flexibility, greater cost certainty and alternatives to traditional purchasing models. By introducing competitively priced BYD vehicles, we're making EV driving more accessible without the long-term commitment of buying a vehicle outright. The BYD ATTO 1 demonstrates how subscription can lower the barriers to EV adoption at a time when households are paying close attention to every dollar," Boucher said.

Market pressure

The pricing highlights how electric vehicle makers and mobility providers are responding to pressure on household spending even as EV adoption broadens beyond early buyers. Lower fuel and maintenance costs have helped drive interest, but upfront purchase prices remain a hurdle for many consumers.

BYD has become one of the brands pushing into the more affordable end of the Australian EV market. Karmo's latest move adds another distribution route for those vehicles, particularly for customers who prefer shorter commitments or do not want to commit to ownership or a long lease.

Founded in 2019 by Boucher and Sam Zammit, Karmo operates consumer and business vehicle subscriptions in Australia. Its model is designed to provide access to cars without the longer financial commitments usually associated with buying or leasing.

Its latest expansion in EV subscriptions suggests the next phase of competition may focus as much on payment structure as on the vehicles themselves, with weekly cost certainty becoming a stronger selling point for motorists navigating rising living expenses.