Chinese premium EV brand Avatr is preparing to enter Australia, with deliveries of its first local model, the Avatr 07L electric SUV, expected to begin in early 2027. The brand, which is part of the Changan Group, plans to open Australian pre-orders by the end of 2026.
Premium EV launch follows Australian testing
The Avatr 07L has already been seen undergoing testing in New South Wales, after prototype vehicles were spotted in Australia in July. Changan Group Australia says the SUV is being prepared for a local launch in the fourth quarter of 2026, ahead of customer deliveries the following year.
Bryan Guan, general manager of Changan Group Australia, said the company sees Australia as an important market for the brand.
“Australian customers are sophisticated, discerning and increasingly open to brands that challenge traditional automotive conventions,” Guan said. He described the 07L as Avatr’s first expression of its “Emotive Luxury” positioning, which combines intelligent technology with a more emotional approach to premium-car design and ownership.
Avatr will position the 07L as a technology-focused luxury SUV, with an 800V electrical architecture, rapid-charging capability and a Meridian audio system listed among the vehicle’s key features. Full Australian specifications, model grades and pricing have not yet been announced.
Changan, CATL and Huawei links
Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Chongqing, Avatr is a premium Chinese electric-vehicle brand created through a joint venture involving automaker Changan, battery manufacturer CATL and technology company Huawei. The company also has design and engineering operations in Shanghai and Munich.
The Australian arrival will give Avatr another right-hand-drive market after Thailand and Singapore, where the standard-wheelbase Avatr 07 is already sold. Australia is set to receive the longer-wheelbase 07L version, which was first teased on May 8, 2026.
The 07L is among Avatr’s newer products and has been produced in China since earlier in 2026. Its planned entry also highlights the expanding role of Chinese manufacturers and suppliers in premium EV segments, where battery technology, charging performance and software are increasingly important points of differentiation.
CATL LFP battery and claimed performance
In China, the battery-electric version of the Avatr 07L uses an 89.3 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery supplied by CATL. The pack is identified as CATL’s Shenxing battery, which the company says can recharge from 30% to 80% in 10 minutes.
Avatr quotes a maximum range of up to 650 km under China’s CLTC test cycle. That figure is likely to be closer to 500 km under the WLTP cycle more commonly referenced in Australia, although official Australian range figures have not been released.
The electric SUV is offered in China with rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive powertrain configurations. Depending on the version, Avatr says the 07L can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in as little as 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 200 km/h.
Further local information is expected closer to launch, including confirmation of the battery, drivetrain choices and charging specifications that will be offered to Australian customers. For now, the 07L is set to become Avatr’s first test of whether its combination of Changan vehicle engineering, CATL battery technology and Huawei-linked digital systems can establish a place in Australia’s premium EV market.
