Your next car might go by an unfamiliar name.
Electric vehicle manufacturers from China are queuing up to launch models in Australia in the next 18 months, fuelled by rising interest and changes to regulations.
Automotive experts say the influx is likely to benefit buyers, with greater competition forcing down prices, although they warn motorists might need to do more homework than usual.
Zeekr became one of the first little-known Chinese brands to confirm its Australian launch plans, showing off its compact luxury SUV, named X, in Sydney on Thursday.
The modern, battery-powered vehicle, to be priced at less than $60,000 when it arrives in October, will compete with existing models from Tesla and Volvo – and the rest of a new vehicle generation.
Swinburne University future urban mobility professor Hussein Dia said upcoming electric vehicle launches had the potential to change Australia’s automotive mix.
“This is what we have been waiting and calling for – more variety across electric vehicle models and sizes and across a range of prices as well,” he said.
“It will be good for consumers because it means lower prices, more competition and, from what I have seen, they are quality vehicles.”
The brands, however, might sound foreign to Australian car buyers.
They include Geely, XPeng, Jaecoo, Skywell and Aion, and vehicles that range from SUVs in the style of Range Rovers to electric mini-cars.
Prof Dia said some would be luxury vehicles as many Chinese automakers had teamed with European brands to refine their approach.
“They have been working on this for a long time in China,” he told AAP.
“They launched joint ventures with international car makers and now they’re reaping the benefits.”
The EVs will also launch about the same time as the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, which will put a cap on automakers’ emissions.
Evie Charging chief executive Chris Mills said the growing competition was likely to significantly impact drivers, particularly those who had been driving an EV bargain.
“In this next calendar year, into 2025, we’re going to be flooded with a bunch of new cars and new models,” he said.
“And I think it’s true when people say 50 per cent of people considering new cars are considering an EV for their next new car.”
Mr Mills said the company was expanding its public charging sites and planned to have 840 bays operating by Christmas.
The Electric Vehicle Council estimates Australian motorists will buy more than 100,000 new battery-powered cars in 2024, up from more than 87,000 in 2023, despite a slower rate of growth than in 2023.
THE ELECTRIC AUTO BRANDS TO CHARGE INTO AUSTRALIA
Zeekr: This Chinese brand, with a name that stands for “zero, evolving, electric and krypton”, has pledged to bring three electric cars to Australia by the end of 2025. The Zeekr X compact SUV will cost less than $60,000 and is expected in October.
Geely: The Chinese car giant might attract plenty of attention when it launches its Radar electric ute in Australia late this year. Called the Riddara R6 in other markets, the electric Toyota HiLux rival could feature a range of up to 571km.
XPeng: Three electric cars from this car maker are expected in Australia in the next three years, with the first model, the G6 SUV, due in October. Pricing for the vehicle, which promises to reach 100km/h speeds in 6.2 seconds, will be released in September.
Aion: The electric arm of automaker GAC, or the Guangzhou Automobile Group, has committed to launching a battery-powered hatchback, similar in size to a Toyota Corolla, in 2025.
Jaecoo: A luxury spin-off of the brand Chery, Jaecoo is expected to bring a mid-sized SUV called the J7 to Australia this year. The vehicle has styling similar to a Range Rover and will be available in two-wheel and four-wheel drive configurations.
Leapmotor: Expect to see two cars from this Chinese brand in Australia late in 2024. Its C10 mid-sized SUV and T03 small car, also known as a mini-car, will announce its arrival.
Skywell: A competitively priced SUV is expected from this brand in 2024. Known as the Skywell ET5 overseas, it will be sold as the EVA 5 locally and promises a range of up to 489km and a price of less than $50,000.
AAP
I would not be surprised if a Fascist GinaDutton government tried to ban these, in the name of “national security”
Dutton wants us to save the weekend and buy ICE vehicles from his mates in the industry. I have some questions before I do as Dutton asks:
1. ICE cars cannot refuel while you sleep or directly from solar power during the day. How often do you have to refill elsewhere and is it expensive? Will there be a solution for re-fuelling at home by 2030?
2. How often will I need to service? The salesman mentioned engine oil, timing belts, a clutch and transmission with oil. How much will this service cost – and what happens to the used oil? Is there any risk of it leaking?
3. Apparently these ICE cars stop on the brakes alone – so how long will the brakes last compared to my EV which can last over 250,000 km thanks to regenerative braking?
4. In a petrol or diesel car, do I get some fuel back when I slow down or drive downhill?
5. The car I test drove seemed to have a delay from the time I pressed the accelerator until it began to accelerate. Is that normal in petrol cars?
6. Is it true that petrol & diesel are so flammable that you can only buy it at a special filling station, and not anywhere like hotels, car parks, home, work, holiday parks?
7. I understand the main ingredient in petrol is oil. Is it true that the extraction and refining of oil causes massive environmental problems as well as conflicts and major wars that over the last 100 years have cost millions of lives?
8. I have also been told that you have to transport oil all over the world to turn into petrol or diesel, and these huge ships have, in the past, caused massive environment destruction by leaking oil. Is that true?
9. I have been told that these ICE engines make a noise when you start them – so early starts can wake people up, and driving a lot of ICE cars makes towns noise-polluted?
10. Is it true that people can steal the fuel from your tank?
11. I’ve heard that ICEs are only 32% efficient at best on a highway, but they can be lower than 10% efficient in city start-stop traffic. Most of the energy is lost as heat, which seems extremely wasteful. Can this be fixed somehow?
12. The exhaust emissions from ICEs have been proved to contain toxic particulates and Nitrogen oxide that are extremely harmful. They also release CO2 emissions that drive global warming and associated climate change. Can these emissions be stopped?
If I can get all of the above answered and it turns out there are no downsides to owning a ICE car, I may consider buying one.
Electric cars are the future, ICE cars belong to the past.
Brilliant 😍
If the Radar ute is as good as it looked on the review they did on Fully Charged, I expect it to take off like nothing else. We do love a dual-cab ute in Oz.
You Aussies seem to be getting quite the deals lately, even cheaper Teslas. As a Canadian, we have had numerous inquiries over the years trying to figure out why we always pay so much more than Americans for stuff, above and beyond the exchange rate. Even with incentives, we pay more than Americans, you guys are now less I think. Good on you mates.
There’s a long history of Australia being used as a test market because it’s an affluent developed country that’s small enough and far enough that if things go belly up news doesn’t get too far.
Classic example was the Japanese trying out car exports here in the ’60s.
Given that no longer having a car industry there won’t be tariffs against Chinese EVs as in much of the developed world it’s a no-brainer for the Chinese to come here in a big way.
Jaecoo J7 is a ICE or Hybrid, not an EV, AFAIK.
It would be nice to see the Xiaomi SU7 released here. Incredible specs and reviews well for the price and a huge success in China. Honestly the market looks to be Tesla and the Chinese with the Koreans a bit behind and everyone else trailing at a distance.
I saw the Skywell being charged in Brisbane and spoke to the rep of the company that will be distributing them here. It’s a good price, but it’s yet another *very* large car – offer more EV hatchbacks please.
Ice and hybrid have better retained value.
Tesla model 3 owners have lost up to $20,000 in the last two years.
RVs are no where the even the industry average for quality?
Evs are coming here in many makes now because the thousands marooned on the docks in Europe can’t find homes hence huge discounts??
Euro cars drive on the other side of the road, so they won’t re-export them to Oz.