After a seven-year hiatus, the Chery brand will make its way back to Australia in October or November 2022 with the Omoda 5. Before the end of next year, Chinese automaker Chery says it will launch a competitor to Australia's most cheap electric vehicle.
The MG ZS EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, and BYD Atto 3 will be competitors for the new electric vehicle.
The Omoda 5 small SUV, Chery's first new model for Australia, will serve as the foundation for the new design. The first Chery electric vehicle destined for Australia is expected to go into production in September of next year, with the first European vehicles arriving by the end of 2023.
The Hyundai Kona Electric has been chosen by Chery as its primary benchmark. According to specifications published in Malaysia, the new Chery has a front-mounted electric motor that produces 201 HP and 400 Nm of torque.
Additionally, it has a 64kWh battery pack, the same as the top-of-the-line Kona Electric Extended Range. According to European WLTP regulations, these values should be good for 450 km of claimed driving range, a fast charge from 0% to 80% in 40 minutes, and a five-hour "slow charge" on a home "wallbox" charger.
It is likely that the Australian price will be between $50,000 and $60,000 drive-away.
A plug-in hybrid version of the Omoda 5 was also alluded to by Chery officials, although it has not yet been confirmed for Australia.
The Omoda 5 compact SUV from Chery may be the brand's first electric vehicle sold in Australia, but executives told local media that all of the company's upcoming models—including electric ones—will be created in right-hand drive.