Zeekr became one of the first little-known Chinese brands to confirm its Australian launch plans, showing off its compact luxury SUV, named X, in Sydney on Thursday. 

The modern, battery-powered vehicle, to be priced at less than $60,000 when it arrives in October, will compete with existing models from Tesla and Volvo - and the rest of a new vehicle generation. 

Swinburne University future urban mobility professor Hussein Dia said upcoming electric vehicle launches had the potential to change Australia’s automotive mix. 

“This is what we have been waiting and calling for - more variety across electric vehicle models and sizes and across a range of prices as well,” he said. 

“It will be good for consumers because it means lower prices, more competition and, from what I have seen, they are quality vehicles.”

The brands, however, might sound foreign to Australian car buyers. 

They include Geely, XPeng, Jaecoo, Skywell and Aion, and vehicles that range from SUVs in the style of Range Rovers to electric mini-cars. 

Prof Dia said some would be luxury vehicles as many Chinese automakers had teamed with European brands to refine their approach. 

“They have been working on this for a long time in China,” he told AAP. 

“They launched joint ventures with international car makers and now they’re reaping the benefits.”

The EVs will also launch about the same time as the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, which will put a cap on automakers' emissions. 

Evie Charging chief executive Chris Mills said the growing competition was likely to significantly impact drivers, particularly those who had been driving an EV bargain.

“In this next calendar year, into 2025, we’re going to be flooded with a bunch of new cars and new models,” he said.

“And I think it’s true when people say 50 per cent of people considering  new cars are considering an EV for their next new car.”

Mr Mills said the company was expanding its public charging sites and planned to have 840 bays operating by Christmas. 

The Electric Vehicle Council estimates Australian motorists will buy more than 100,000 new battery-powered cars in 2024, up from more than 87,000 in 2023, despite a slower rate of growth than in 2023.

ELECTRIC AUTO BRANDS TO CHARGE INTO AUSTRALIA

Zeekr: This Chinese brand, with a name that stands for “zero, evolving, electric and krypton”, has pledged to bring three electric cars to Australia by the end of 2025. The Zeekr X compact SUV will cost less than $60,000 and is expected in October.  

Geely: The Chinese car giant might attract plenty of attention when it launches its Radar electric ute in Australia late this year. Called the Riddara R6 in other markets, the electric Toyota HiLux rival could feature a range of up to 571km. 

XPeng: Three electric cars from this car maker are expected in Australia in the next three years, with the first model, the G6 SUV, due in October. Pricing for the vehicle, which promises to reach 100km/h speeds in 6.2 seconds, will be released in September. 

Aion: The electric arm of automaker GAC, or the Guangzhou Automobile Group, has committed to launching a battery-powered hatchback, similar in size to a Toyota Corolla, in 2025. 

Jaecoo: A luxury spin-off of the brand Chery, Jaecoo is expected to bring a mid-sized SUV called the J7 to Australia this year. The vehicle has styling similar to a Range Rover and will be available in two-wheel and four-wheel drive configurations. 

Leapmotor: Expect to see two cars from this Chinese brand in Australia late in 2024. Its C10 mid-sized SUV and T03 small car, also known as a mini-car, will announce its arrival.

Skywell: A competitively priced SUV is expected from this brand in 2024. Known as the Skywell ET5 overseas, it will be sold as the EVA 5 locally and promises a range of up to 489km and a price of less than $50,000.

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