Image: Zeekr
We’re in the last quarter of 2024, and it is shaping up as one of the most exciting period for new EV launches in the Australian car market.
Not only do we have new models launching, but also entirely new brands debuting cars for the first time. Four of the brands are completely new to the Australian market, while one – Skoda – will be releasing its first EV on to these shores.
This makes it just the right time to look at what some of our top picks that will be getting here before the end of the year.
Zeekr is a Geely Holding Group’s premium EV brand and the Zeekr X is one of its premium SUV offerings.
The Zeekr X comes in two variants, with prices starting at $56,900 for the single-motor RWD version. The dual-motor AWD version bumps that up to $64,900 before on-road costs.
Both versions of the Zeekr X are powered by the same 66 kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery pack, delivering up to 540 km of range in the RWD variant while offering 470 km in the AWD version.
This SUV can be fast-charged at speeds of up to 150 kW at the right DC charger. This will mean that a charging session of 30 minutes will fill the Zeekr X from 10-80% state of charge.
Zeekr X customer deliveries are expected to start in the coming months.
Xpeng, one of the best-known EV brands in China, will bring the sleek G6 electric SUV to Australia.
The new G6 will be offered in two variants, starting from $54,800 for the Standard and being bumped up to $59,800 for the Long Range model.
The Standard model has a 66 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery with a range of up to 435 km on a single charge. This variant can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds thanks to its 190 kW motor that delivers up to 440 Nm of torque.
There is also a long-range model which Xpeng calls just “Long” with a larger 87.5 kWh battery offering a range of up to 570 km.
Xpeng G6’s first deliveries are expected to start in late October 2024.
Emerging Chinese car company Leapmotor will be coming into Australian market with its first EV, the C10 electric SUV, which promises to be one of the lowest cost electric SUV offerings in the country.
The mid-sized SUV is 4.74 metres in length and will be available to Australian drivers in two variants called Style and Design.
Both variants will be powered by a 160 kW motor that delivers up to 320 Nm of torque. They will also come equipped with a 69.9 kWh battery which can deliver up to 420 km of WLTP range, and will feature one pedal driving.
The battery pack will be able to be charged from 30-80% in 30 minutes and can be fast-charged at a rate of up to 84 kW.
Pricing is yet to be confirmed but first customer deliveries are expected on this side of Christmas.
Deepal is a sub-brand of the Chinese automotive giant, Changan, which recently announced that it had an official local distributor to bring the EV Brand’s products to Australian customers. First of these will be the Deepal S07 SUV.
Not a lot is known about the local specifications of this EV just yet but given it’s currently sold in right-hand-drive configuration in Thailand, some high level price guidance and specifications are available.
In Thailand, the Deepal S07 is priced under the Model Y with an expectation of a sub-$50,000 price point when it makes it to Australia in the coming months.
When it comes to the range of the vehicle, Deepal’s Thai website says that it can deliver up to 485 km on a single charge from its 66.8 kWh Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery pack.
Charging rates from 30-80% are stated to be on 35 minutes.
This battery is likely to power 160 kW motor which was spotted in the recent ADR filing documents.
Details of pricing and local variant specifications will be announced in the coming months, ahead launch in late 2024.
Skoda, the well-known VW-owned Czech automaker, recently announced the pricing of its first Australian-bound electric model, the Enyaq electric SUV.
The Enyaq will initially be available in Australia under two variants. First of these is the Sportline (rear-wheel-drive) which is priced from $69,990 before on-roads. The more powerful RS (all-wheel-drive) gets bumped up to $83,990 before on-roads.
The Sportline delivers up to 561 km of WLTP range on a single charge thanks to its 82 kWh battery pack. The same battery pack is found in the RS, which delivers up to 530 km of WLTP range.
When it comes to charging up to 175 kW of DC fast charging is on offer, making it one of the faster charging Electric SUVs in the market.
The 82 kWh battery pack will power both the single-motor rear-wheel-drive powertrain in the Sportline, delivering up to 210 kW of power as well as the RS and its all-wheel-drive system delivering up to 250 kW of power.
Orders for the Enyaq are now open in Australia with first deliveries expected on this side of Christmas in December.
It’s exciting to see innovative new brands and models enter the Australian market, offering variety, technology and an overall different experience than many of the traditional car brands.
Find all available EV options on our EV Models page here.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.
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Great! Anything but a Tesla for me!
Elon Musk (Leon Skum) is now buying votes for Trump. He's using the money he gets from people who buy Teslas to fund a crypto-fascist.
It's high time "The Driven" covered this elephant in the room issue.
https://www.the-express.com/news/politics/150872/elon-musk-offering-money-gun-rights-petition