BYD will supply “at least” 500 Atto 3 cars to SIXT's rental car fleet in 2023, announced SIXT CEO Matthew Beattie.

Beattie reported interest in renting EVs had accelerated over the last six months and the company planned to transition half of its 16,000 vehicles to EVs within five years.

“As one of the largest fleet providers, we see a role to play to drive the transition to electric transport,” he said.

According to Beattie, SIXT will make the first 200 BYD Atto 3 electric vehicles available for rent through its network on May 1. SIXT EV rentals will cost $90 a day and offer a range of 400 kilometers.

Customers who rent a SIXT EV can recharge it for free at public NRMA and Chargefox stations, Beattie said.

The new BYD cars will join 350 electric vehicles already offered through SIXT's network.

Other rental car companies also offer electric car rentals in Australia. Hertz added Polestar 2 electric vehicles to its fleet in 2022, and Europecar rents the MG ZS EV.

Electric car-sharing platform Evee also offers short-term rentals for Tesla, Kia, MG, BMW, Volvo, and Polestar EVs.