Zeekr targeted by new Chinese rival

Hi-tech Chinese brand Avatr has confirmed it will start taking orders on its 07L electric SUV later this year.. The 07L is the first model confirmed for Australia from Avatr.. Avatr is Changan's premium brand aimed at Zeekr and MG's IM Motors..

Australia is one of the first right-hand drive markets to get Avatr vehicles, with a few Southeast Asian countries receiving the vehicles first.. Avatar will open pre-sales before the end of the year with the first deliveries of the 07L early in 2027.. It is a large five-seat SUV and will compete against the slightly smaller Zeekr 7X, Tesla Model Y and Audi Q6 e-tron..

Avatr hasn't revealed any local details of the car yet, but it has launched in China earlier this year, which gives us an idea of what to expect.. In China it is available in two grades, with the Max+ version using a single 305kW electric motor to drive the rear wheels.. The potent Ultra grades up the ante with three electric motors, one at the front and two at the rear, combining for 712kW..

Both use a roughly 90kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers a driving range of up to 725km in the single motor version and 650km in the tri-motor grade.. Both ranges are calculated via the more lenient China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC) rather than the benchmark WLTP cycle, so expect real world ranges to drop by at least 20 per cent.. 2027 Avatr 07L details Avatr hasn't confirmed local prices, but the Chinese version starts from the equivalent of about $53,000 in Australia and jumps to about $60,000 for the Ultra..

Chinese vehicles usually incur about a 20 to 25 per cent price rise in Australia, which would mean the range would likely start at about $64,000 and rise to $75,000 (before on-road costs).. If the 07L pricing follows that logic it would be priced similar to the equivalent Zeekr 7X in Australia, which costs $63,900 (before on-road costs) for the single-motor Long Range grade and $72,900 the dual-motor Performance version.. 2027 Avatr 07L Chinese prices with Australia conversion Avatr will be joined by Changan, its parent brand next year..

Changan hasn't announced anything official just yet, but it has been on a hiring spree in Australia just like Avatr.. It is one of China's biggest automotive groups, and is of a similar scale to Chery or SAIC, the latter the owner of MG.. Changan is also state-owned and its Deepal brand is already available in Australia via vehicle distributor Inchcape..

Changan also partners with Mazda, with the Japanese brand sourcing its new range of electric vehicles from the Chinese giant, including the Mazda 6e sedan and incoming CX-6e SUV.. There is no indication on what its Aussie line-up could look like, but Changan has a wide range of vehicles to choose from, including a ute..