iCar, Chery’s lifestyle-focused electric vehicle (EV) sister brand has been confirmed to launch in Australia and New Zealand in early 2027. There it will bring a new wave of electrified off-roaders to the market for younger buyers.
In conversation with Daily Sparkz During a recent driving event near the company’s headquarters in Wuhu, China, an iCar product manager confirmed that preparations are well underway for the brand’s launch in both markets early next year.
Due to trademark conflicts with Apple, the brand is expected to be renamed “iCaur” locally and will initially launch in China in 2023 as a dedicated EV offshoot of Chery.
Positioned as a more robust and design-focused alternative to mainstream electric vehicles, iCar’s boxy SUVs are designed to compete with affordable electric offerings from other Chinese car brands such as MG and BYD, while also appealing to buyers of traditional SUVs such as Suzuki Jimny and Jeep Wrangler.
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The local lineup is expected to headline iCar V27which debuted in right-hand drive at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show last Friday (April 24).
The V27 is a range-extended electric vehicle (EREV) that combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine and a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. The engine acts as a generator and does not directly drive the wheels.
As an all-wheel drive, the V27 has a 34 kWh battery that offers an all-electric range of 150 km and a total range of up to 995 km (NEDC).
The total output of the system is given as 335 kW of power and 505 Nm of torque, which enables the 2,355 kg SUV to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds.
At 5,045 mm long, 1,976 mm wide and 1,894 mm high, the V27 is larger than the new Denza B5 off-road SUV recently launched by BYD, and also larger than the Land Rover Defender 110. And its exterior design appears to have been at least partially inspired by the British off-road vehicle.
A second iCar model, the V25, is to follow after the market launch. It is still in development and is scheduled to be presented in mid-2026. It will be slightly smaller at around 4800mm long, but will also adopt EREV propulsion technology.
iCar already offers two fully electric models in its home market: the 03 and the V23. The latter has drawn comparisons to the Suzuki Jimny due to its compact, boxy proportions and off-road capabilities.
The V23 has an 81 kWh battery, produces 155 kW and 292 Nm and is said to have a range of 430 km. Although not yet confirmed for Australia, the model is believed to be a good candidate for local launch once right-hand drive production begins in 2027.
The launch of the iCar/iCaur brand Down Under is expected to coincide with the start of V27 right-hand drive production in the first quarter of 2027, and the brand’s launch model range and dealer network details are expected to be announced in the third quarter of 2026.
iCar’s local launch was previously confirmed Daily Sparkz At the 2025 Shanghai Motor Show, Chery International president Zhang Guibing said range-extended powertrains (called REVs by iCar) were better suited to the longer distances traveled by Australians than electric vehicles.
“iCar was launched in China as an EV (brand). But we will be launching REVs very soon. The REV will combat range anxiety, so I’m sure Australian customers will appreciate it,” Mr Guibing said.
“We are trying to make a difference. iCar is a completely different brand for Chery, and in the future we want to offer a different experience to different customers.”
In addition to its existing namesake brand and Omoda Jaecoo, which hope to become the top five and top 10 car brands in Australia respectively by the end of next year, Chery will also launch the Lepas and Jetour brands here this year and the Freelander and iCaur brands here in 2027.
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