Luxury car brand Avatr targets Australian market
High-tech EV with ‘communicating’ displays to challenge Tesla and BYD by 2026A sleek electric sedan with a futuristic ‘Halo’ LED display that can communicate with other road users could soon be turning heads on Australian roads.
Chinese premium electric vehicle manufacturer Avatr has confirmed it is exploring an Australian market entry as early as 2026, potentially bringing its growing line-up of high-tech EVs and PHEVs – including the eye-catching Avatr 06 sedan and Avatr 11 SUV – to compete with established players like Tesla and BYD.
Following the successful launch of its mid-size electric SUV, the Avatr 11, in Thailand in late 2024, the company is now looking to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
At the 2025 Shanghai auto show in China, an Avatr spokeswoman told carsales “Australia has growing EV adoption with sophisticated consumers who want technology and performance”.
She said Avatr was actively investigating launching the brand in Australia, with 2026 earmarked as a potential start date.
Avatr is a joint venture between Chinese automaker Changan – which currently sells the Deepal S07 in Australia – Chinese battery giant CATL and technology powerhouse Huawei, and its vehicles have been gaining attention for their blend of luxury and cutting-edge technology.
However, it remains to be seen if Huawei’s involvement with Avatr will have ramifications for the Australian marketplace.
The Chinese communications technology and mobile phone company pulled out of Australia in 2021 after the Australian Federal Government’s decision to ban Huawei from 5G network construction.
This was due to concerns about the company’s ties to the Chinese government and the perceived potential for the manipulation of equipment and infrastructure in Australia.
The brand’s current flagship, the Avatr 11 SUV, features Huawei’s advanced autonomous driving capabilities. The Avatr 06 mid-size sedan would likely join the Avatr 11 SUV if the manufacturer enters Australia, creating a two-model line-up to establish the brand’s presence.
The Australian electric vehicle market has seen significant growth in recent years, with Tesla maintaining strong sales and Chinese manufacturer BYD rapidly gaining market share.
Avatr’s potential entry would add another premium option for Australian new car buyers.
The Avatr 06 sedan includes several standout features, including a unique ‘Halo’ LED display at the bottom of its windshield that can display customisable messages, a 35.4-inch upper display combined with a 15.6-inch lower touchscreen running Huawei’s HarmonyOS, and range options extending to 650km for pure electric models.
Plug-in hybrid or extended range EV (EREV) versions of its vehicles are also available, providing an ability to fill the tank with fuel and drive further than pure EV models – up to 1100km, according to Avatr.
If Avatr proceeds with plans to launch in Australia, the brand will face several challenges including potential government scrutiny of its Huawei links, not to mention establishing a dealer network, service centres and charging infrastructure partnerships.
It’s not yet clear how Avatr would position its vehicles if it did finalise an Australian market tilt, given that in its domestic market Avatr products start at around $30,000, using direct currency conversion from the Chinese pricing.
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