Chinese brands head upmarket to take on Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes

Chinese language automobile producers are lining up to rob ambitious pictures at Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz after 16 years of tempting Australians with cheap autos.

MG this week confirmed its plans to commence its luxury sub-word IM in Australia, starting with the electrical IM5 sedan and closely related IM6 SUV.

The anticipated transfer follows newest facts that compatriot BYD is bypassing its native distributor EV Dispute to introduce the manufacturing huge’s own luxury hotfoot-off called Denza.

A Lexus LX and Mercedes GLS rival in the invent of the U8 plug-in-hybrid huge four wheel pressure is decided to be the first model in Australia featuring the Denza badge.

The U8 is 5.3 metres long and powered by a petroleum-electrical powertrain with 880kW and 1250Nm, plus a WLTP EV-most efficient utilizing differ of 124km.

Four hub-mounted electrical motors no longer most efficient ship all-wheel pressure nevertheless give the U8 ‘tank turn’ (or hotfoot on the distance) functionality.

Pricing in China is an identical of $250,000, far above the reasonably reasonably priced pricing of BYD models already purchased in Australia.

The Lexus LX costs between $156,000 and $220,000, with the GLS Mercedes costing from $189,000 up to $420k for the extremely-luxurious Maybach version.

One more sturdy candidate for the Denza sub-word in Australia is the B5 plug-in hybrid huge four wheel pressure that shares noteworthy commonality with the BYD Shark 6 ute.

MG has chosen the uncommon word title ‘IM Presented by MG Motor’ to abet the MG association reasonably than market IM as a wholly new title.

IM stands for ‘Intelligence in Circulate’ and the word from MG guardian firm SAIC involves a important shareholder in the invent of online retail huge Alibaba.

Pricing for the IM models has yet to be confirmed, though they’re anticipated to be positioned nearer to their related (if a minute bit smaller) Tesla models – the Mannequin 3 sedan and Mannequin Y SUV – reasonably than related electrical models from the likes of BMW and Mercedes.

The Zeekr top fee word owned by one other Chinese language manufacturing huge – Geely – arrived in Australia in leisurely 2024 with the X compact electrical crosser that’s related to the Volvo EX30.

While the Zeekr X is priced from $56,900, the Zeekr 009 electrical of us-mover has just just as we issue arrived as one other rare Chinese language automobile to price better than $100,000.

With a trace of $135,900, it joins the LDV Mifa 9 – one other electrical of us-mover, priced between $104K and $129K – and MG Cyberster electrical sports actions automobile ($115,000 plus on-roads) as Chinese language autos with six-figure stickers.

Many extra Chinese language producers are queuing up to commence in Australia, though the majority shall be playing in the mainstream characteristic.

Nio has been flirting with the root of promoting its top fee autos right here for a couple of years nevertheless has gone quiet of leisurely, though Geely-Volvo hotfoot-off word Lync & Co seems put to conclude abet right here through the same importer in price for introducing Zeekr, one other Geely-owned word.

Price will remain a key selling point even for the extra ambitious Chinese language producers. Ask them to assuredly offer extra facets and additional efficiency than the same model from any of the established European or Eastern luxury marques.

This form has already contributed to a a great deal a great deal surprised of car gross sales for European automobile makers who as soon as dominated China’s luxury automobile section.

All of it nevertheless ensures that the native arms of Audi, BMW, Lexus,  Mercedes, and even Porsche won’t be too complacent about these emerging producers.