Chery Omoda 5: Battery-electric model confirmed for 2024 release

Chery’s Australian relaunch has been kick-started by the Omoda 5 small SUV, and we’re promised a battery-electric variant will arrive in early 2024.

Chery doesn’t offer an electric vehicle globally, so it’s hard to accurately speculate on figures. The Omoda 5 EV’s driving range wasn’t talked about either, but to make it competitive a 350-450km distance capability and a 50-65kWh battery capacity will be necessary.

As the Omoda 5 is unlikely be a long-range EV, we can expect DC fast-charging speed of around 150kW if we’re optimistic, or 80kW if we aren’t.

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Pricing is a long way from being confirmed, but to compete on level-pegging with rivals, a short-range model’s price will need to start in the mid-to-high-$40K region.

Like its MG ZS EV rival, it will sit on a converted internal-combustion engine platform – sharing the same underpinnings as the regular Omoda 5. This will make the Omoda 5 different from other, value-oriented Chinese-built EVs including the BYD Atto 3, Tesla Model 3, and forthcoming MG 4, though it does match the path taken by the Polestar 2 and GWM Ora.

Unlike rival Chinese carmaker GWM, which is investing in its own battery technology, Chery will instead purchase its batteries from an OEM supplier such as CATL.

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Ahead of the electric Omoda’s launch, the range will grow in mid-2023 with the introduction of a more powerful turbo-petrol version with AWD, and two more models – the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8.

Chery is a Chinese manufacturer which built 1.2 million cars last year and is the country’s largest vehicle exporter, selling 450,000 in global markets.

The brand was active in Australia between 2011-2014 and specialised in low-priced vehicles. South America, South Africa, and Malaysia are key markets where the brand’s Tiggo range is currently on sale.