Chinese auto major SAIC, Changan launch new models, rivaling Tesla Model Y

Chinese automakers are escalating their battle with Tesla for a bigger share in the country’s electric vehicle market. As SAIC and Changan said on Thursday, they have benchmarked their new sports utility vehicles against the US automaker’s Model Y crossover.

Changan-affiliated luxury EV brand Avatr launched its third model, the 07 crossover, at a price range between RMB 219,900 and RMB 289,900 ($31,358-$41,340) on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Credit: Avatr

Changan’s premium EV brand Avatr launched (in Chinese) its first model with both full battery electric and extended-range hybrid (EREV) options in a move to expand its lineup and improve sales against the backdrop of slowing demand for pure EVs. The EREV version of the Avatr 07 has a starting price of RMB 219,900 ($31,358) and a 38 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack that can charge from 10% to 80% in 15 minutes. Meanwhile, the entry-level, all-electric variant costs RMB 10,000 higher and travels 650 kilometers (404 miles) on a full charge.

Avatr, jointly developed by state-owned Changan, battery maker CATL, and Huawei, offers Huawei’s Advanced Driving System (ADS) and the HarmonyOS, the tech giant’s alternative to Google’s Android operating system, as standard features on the mid-size SUV, as it has done with previous models. The EV maker, a major investor in Huawei’s automotive business unit, delivered only about 36,400 vehicles in the first eight months of this year with two models on offer, the large SUV Avatr 11 and the 12 sedan.

IM Motors, a premium EV brand owned by Volkswagen’s Chinese partner SAIC, introduced a refreshed LS6 sports utility vehicle at a price range between RMB 216,900-RMB 279,900 on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Credit: IM Motors

Also on Thursday, IM Motors introduced a redesigned LS6 all-electric crossover, which the SAIC-controlled luxury EV maker said was the first model in its class to feature a four-wheel, steer-by-wire system that produces more exact steering ratios than a traditional mechanical steering system. This technology, something Tesla has been keen on, offers enhanced comfort and driving dynamics. All the LS6 variants feature an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that enables functions such as lane switching on city streets without relying on high-definition maps, similar to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software (FSD).

The cheapest LS6 now costs RMB 216,900, representing a 6% cut from its predecessor, while the driving range has been boosted by 12% to 625 km. The top-end, dual-motor five-seater travels 750 km on a single charge and can sprint from 0 to 100 km/m (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds, with a sticker price of RMB 279,900. IM Motors, a partner to Volkswagen’s Audi brand, has four models on sale and delivered 34,719 vehicles from January to August.

READ MORE: Huawei’s answer to the Tesla Model Y is coming