iCar : In a move of great importance that indicates electric vehicle (EV) uptake is gaining pace in Australia, Chinese automaker Chery has announced the arrival of their impressive new iCar brand to Australian shores.
It is a strategically timed expansion in Australia as the electrification of vehicle sales gathers pace, linked to unprecedented demand for electric vehicles that don’t exempt sustainability and design over driving dynamics and looks.
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New gig in Australia’s EV space
The announcement, made by Zhang Guibling, president of Chery International, at the recent Shanghai motor show, confirmed what industry watchers had long speculated over.
iCaur will rebrand the iCar brand – which launched in China in April 2023 – for in international markets, including Australia, because of trademark issues.
“Chery is dedicated to pushing forward the path to cleaner technology by making EV’s more accessible to all, and making the path easier for consumers in this challenging economic environment,” said Lewis Lu, CEO of Chery Australia, reiterating the company’s commitment to the Australian market.
The iCaur marks a new phase of Chery’s plan for the market in Australia and complements the company’s existing range which consists of Chery, Omoda, and Jaecoo.
This multi-brand strategy reaffirms Chery’s intent to the win the hearts and minds of Australian consumers in a number of vehicle segments where it will offer customers specific models that best meet their needs.
Rough Innovation: The iCaur Range
There will initially be three different electric SUVs in the iCaur line-up – all for the thrill-seeker Australian driver who wants a vehicle that will specifically carry the values of sustainability and capability.
The high-end iCaur 03 (sold as iCar 03 in China) is stylish and electric, with solid performance. The 03 is now available in both single-motor rear-wheel and dual-motor all-wheel configurations, and promises a range of up to 501km (CLTC) from its largest 69.7kWh battery choice.
Otherwise, the car’s measurements – at 4406mm long, 1910mm wide and 1715mm tall – keep the car competitive in the compact SUV segment, similar to what popular models such as the Mazda CX-5 offer, albeit with different proportions to best suit an electric platform.
For more rough and tumble capability, iCaur 03T will pack higher off road capabilities, thanks to upgraded mechanics, wide wheel arches, unique vertical led lighting, and more off road equipment.
This is iCaur¿s answer to the Australian market’s need for a vehicle which can handle a variety of terrains and have zero emissions.
The compact iCaur V23 rounds off the series, and is the latest and most individual addition to the range.
The two-door four-seat electric SUV is a big mashup of old school design and bleeding edge technology, complete with a 15.4-inch touchscreen that’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor, advanced driver assistance systems, DC fast-charging capabilities, and vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology which allows the vehicle to supply power to external devices.
Not just Battery-Electric: Extended Range options for Australia – Conditions Apply
Acknowledging the unique driving conditions and vast distances found throughout Australia, Chery has revealed that the focus of iCaru will not be purely on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in a strategic move.
The brand will also bring EREVs – or extended range electric vehicles – to the country, addressing the kind of range anxiety that’s a concern for would-be EV buyers in rural and regional Australia.
This hybrid design caters to some of the logistical challenges facing Australia due to its vastness and ultimately marries the brand’s commitment to electrification and fewer emissions with an adaptable, pragmatic and functional design to help meet Sydney’s future transport needs.
Work on these EREV powertrains is already progressing, although an exact timeline for the launch of these models has not been confirmed.
Competition in an Expanding Market
The availability of iCaur also couldn’t be timed better; as Australia sees record numbers of electric vehicles on the road. Chery’s strategy with the iCaur seems to target several key consumer concerns associated with EVs, namely price, range, and usability.
Pricing strategy in China can give clues on possible positioning in Australia. For example, the retro-themed V23 costs as little as RMB 99,800 ($21,425 AUD) in China, so pricing is likely to be a crucial feature of the firm’s Australian plan.
This aggressive price strategy follows a similar move by Chery with its Omoda E5 electric SUV, which was chopped by $6000 to become Australia’s cheapest electric SUV at $36,990 before on-road costs.
Its 61kWh lithium iron phosphate battery provides WLTP range up to 430km, and 30-80% power can be achieved in just 28 minutes (DC fast charging), setting a new standard of value in the electric SUVs segment for the E5.
Technological Innovation: What’s Ahead The technology industry takes center stage in What to Expect, as in previous years.
Bringing the iCaur to Australia reflects Chery’s global “Stellar 2025” strategy, which focuses on technological innovation in four categories – architecture, powertrain, intelligent technology and ecosystem.
The parent company has pledged to invest over CNY 100 billion (around AUD 21.4 billion) in R&D, setting up 300 Stellar labs by 2025.
This sizable investment serves as a testament to Chery’s determination to advance from a traditional automobile manufacturer into a world-leading technology company in the era of new mobility.
That innovative spirit also applies to batteries. The first iCaur models will be powered by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, but Chery has signed a deal with CATL that will see sodium-ion batteries brought to upcoming models.
This next-gen battery tech is meant to help with some of the resource and performance problems in today’s lithium-ion tech.
Effects on the market and consumers
Chery hasn’t closed the deals to expand in Australia just yet, but its local presence is already being felt – Q1 this year saw the Chinese brand achieve a 216 per cent sales increase.
The addition of iCaur will be used to further leverage this trend, drawing younger, environmentally conscious consumers to the brand.
The arrival of iCaur is inevitably a positive development for Australian buyers, as it is likely to further the vibration of the local electric vehicle market by offering a greater mix of models and possible price reductions in all segments.
Unique design, pricing and range solutions answers many of the reservations that have traditionally held Australians back from adopting EVs.
Upcoming: The Electric Future of Australia
Although no firm date has been given as to when iCaur will arrive in Australia, pundits believe it could be here as early as the end of 2025, in line with Chery’s larger global growth strategy which also encompasses hybrid versions of the Tiggo family of SUVs and the upmarket Tiggo 9 Hybrid.
A flood of cheap electric and petrol-hybrid cars from the likes of Chery and government incentives, combined with the growth of charging infrastructure, suggest Australia could finally be reaching a critical mass for EV uptake.
With higher range and lower costs, the old obstacles to owning an electric vehicle are crumbling.
Statham says Chery’s bold move into the Australian market with a plethora of brands and diverse powertrains indicates that the former Lada-based brand is betting that this market is ripe for fast-tracking on the electrification stakes.
Featuring unique styling, standout technology, and a unique price point, iCaur looks to shake up the market, and shift consumers thoughts of what an electric vehicle could be in Australia.
As Australia moves further towards a sustainable future with means of transport, electric mobility technology like iCaur are an essential step to making electric driving conditions and popularization. Ultimately, consumers benefit from greater choice, better technology and more affordable entry points to the electric vehicle market.
