A challenge to the cheapest electric cars? 2024 Chery Omoda 5 EV shown in China, when is it coming here? - report

The electric version of one of the newest SUVs to reach Australian shores from China, the Chery Omoda 5, is on its way, with images from its home country now revealing its look.

Photos published by Malaysian outlet paultan.org reveal the design of the electric car sibling to the Omoda 5, which has recently launched in Australia under tumultuous circumstances, as well as some specifications hinted at by the brand’s Malaysian arm.

While official details are yet to be confirmed, the report says a survey given to Chery customers in 2022 suggests the electric model could have an output of 150kW and a WLTP-rated range around 450km.

It also mentioned fast charging for its 64kWh battery that could go from empty to 80 per cent charged in 40 minutes. These specifications line up roughly with a model recently revealed by the brand in China, the eQ7 electric mid-size SUV.

Chery’s Director of Network Development, Roy Munoz, said the electric version of the Omoda 5 will be here by the middle of 2024, though it’s “probably too soon to say” if it’ll rival the cheapest EVs on sale like the MG ZS, BYD Atto 3 and GWM Ora when it arrives.

“Obviously we want to deliver great value and great tech as you’ve seen so far in the current forms of the Omoda 5,” Munoz told CarsGuide in February.

“We certainly do want to challenge the market but at this stage with our first electric vehicle being 12 months away it’s hard to say - but we'd definitely want to challenge that.”

Currently, the cheapest EV on sale in Australia is the GWM Ora at $44,490 drive-away, followed by the MG ZS EV Excite at $44,990.

The aforementioned eQ7 is not currently on the radar for Australia with a spokesperson for Chery Australia telling CarsGuide at the time of the model’s domestic reveal it has only a few models for Australia in 2024.

“Four models - the Omoda 5 EX+, Omoda5 EX+ AWD, Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro - will join the Omoda 5 before the end of 2023, while Chery’s electrification journey will continue in 2024 with the innovative Omoda 5 BEV,” they said.