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A sub-$30,000 electric vehicle will not come from Chery any time soon to try and steal the thunder of the game-changing BYD Atto 1.
Electric Cars
Chery Australia will not follow in BYD’s footsteps to compete in the ultra-affordable electric vehicle (EV) space with a sub-$30,000 model, but believes plug-in hybrid technology is a better fit for most Aussies.
Speaking to Drive, Chery Australia Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris said bringing in an EV under the $36,990 before on-road costs E5 is not currently a priority for the Chinese brand.
“It [an ultra-affordable EV] is not something I would rule out, [but] it’s not really where our focus is at the moment,” Harris said.
“I think that with the Super Hybrid product, regardless of its shape and size, that technology in my mind is the sensible option.
“I would wager that most customers are going to find that far more suitable for their lifestyles than an EV that might be very affordable.
“It can get from the supermarket and back, you’ve got to charge it again, so what?”
BYD’s Atto 1 – a pint-sized, four-seat hatchback – is available from $23,990 before on-road costs, or close in price to Chery’s most affordable model, the $23,990 drive-away Tiggo 4.
However, buyers looking for a plug-in hybrid Chery model will need to spend at least $39,990 for the Tiggo 7 mid-size SUV, but the Tiggo 4 is also available in plugless hybrid form from $29,990.
As for the Atto 1, in its cheapest Essential form, it features a 30kWh battery pack for a WLTP-rated 220km of driving range, while the more expensive $27,990 before on-road costs Premium variant features a larger 43.3kWh battery for a 310km driving range rating.
The Chery E5 meanwhile – the brand’s most affordable EV – packs a 61kWh battery for a driving range rating of 430km on the WLTP cycle, but competes more in size and positioning against the BYD Atto 2 that starts from $31,990.
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Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
