Geely isn’t just bringing its namesake brand to Australia, but also Zeekr – another subsidiary of the Chinese auto giant.
Though its 009 electric people mover was due first, the Zeekr X – a twin to the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1 small electric SUVs – will be its debut model, launching with a $56,900 price tag this month.
Further down the line, Zeekr plans to bring the larger Model Y-sized 7X electric SUV to showrooms in 2025.
It’s not yet known what’s in the Zeekr pipeline beyond these three models, all of which share their platforms with their sibling or parent brand’s vehicles that are already in or are soon coming to showrooms.
A relatively new brand in the global market, Skywell – or Skyworth – is yet to turn 10 years old, and it’s slowly embracing passenger vehicles after first focusing on commercial vehicles.
EV Automotive is the brand’s local distributor, and it’s been spotted testing a mid-sized electric SUV sold overseas as the Skywell ET5 in Brisbane.
Yet another Model Y rival, the ET5 will be temporarily rebranded as the EVA 5 when it arrives here in late 2024 or 2025, priced from under $50,000 drive-away for the cheapest of three front-wheel drive variants that offer up to 490km of range.
Other future options for EV Automotive include the recently revealed Skywell Q, which has gone on sale in the UK, another right-hand drive market.
Geely
Geely is one of the most experienced Chinese carmakers in terms of understanding the Australian market, even if its namesake brand hasn’t yet reached local shores.
As the parent of Lotus, Polestar, Volvo and Smart, Geely already has its toes in the water here, but it’s now about to see how successful it can be when not trading off relatively established names.
The Geely EX5 mid-sized electric SUV will be its first model on sale here, giving the brand a challenger to the BYD Atto 3 and Tesla Model Y, and a much larger offering than the Volvo EX30/Smart #1.
First deliveries are expected before the end of 2024.
Jaecoo
No, its not the caravan maker. Jaecoo is an SUV brand that is owned by Chery, and is due here in early 2025.
While Chery is currently in its second attempt at capturing the hearts and minds of Australian new-car buyers with budget-friendly offerings, Jaecoo will be pegged as a more upmarket brand.
It’ll launch with the J7 mid-sized SUV, an SUV available in both front- and all-wheel drive, a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (punching out 145kW and 290Nm) and the possibility of plug-in hybrid power further down the line.
It’s yet to detail what other models will come to Australia, though at least one is expected to follow within 12 months of the J7.
Leapmotor is a Chinese brand with a familiar backing.
Leapmotor International is headquartered in the Netherlands, and is a joint-venture between Jeep and Peugeot parent Stellantis – which has a 51 per cent stake – and Chinese firm Leapmotor, which has the remaining 49 per cent. Make sense?
So far, only the Model Y-sized C10 electric SUV and the recently revealed B10 small SUV have been locked in. The C10 will start from $45,888 before on-road costs.
The C10 is coming in late 2024, before the B10 arrives at some point in 2025 or early 2026.
Globally, a small hatchback will follow in 2026, before a light hatchback and an SUV land in 2027.
Deepal
Deepal might not sound like an especially Chinese name, but it’s a Chongqing-based electric vehicle specialist, owned by carmaking giant Changan, that’s preparing to take on Australia.
Imported and distributed by Inchcape – which currently handles the Subaru and Peugeot brands here, where it will soon let go of Citroen – Deepal will come here with the S07 electric SUV.
Due here in the fourth quarter of 2024, the Deepal S07 will have a 160kW/320Nm single electric motor, and a 79.97kWh battery giving it 475km of claimed range.
Deepal has already teased bringing the Toyota LandCruiser Prado-sized G318 SUV to Australia, which in China features a range-extender drivetrain, with its 1.5-litre engine effectively acting as a generator to charge a small battery that powers its electric motors.
Also previewed at its Australian launch was the E07, an unusual SUV/ute mash-up.
Xpeng will be one of the many brands targeting the all-conquering Tesla Model Y when it comes to Australia this year, when it will take on this market with the G6.
It’s almost identical in size, outputs and driving range to Tesla’s perennial best-seller, and will undercut the Model Y by about $1100.
Xpeng vehicles will be imported and distributed by TrueEV, an Australian firm with plans to further expand its lineup within the next handful of years.
On the cards for 2025 are the X9 people mover and P7 sedan, followed by “two smaller SUV models” in 2026 – with one of those likely to be the larger G9.
