Avatr to join NEV fray as deliveries speed up

Avatr, an electric car marque backed by Changan, Huawei and CATL, is poised to join the increasingly fiercer NEV fray in China, as it speeds up deliveries of its first model.

The five-year old startup said on Monday that it had delivered 2,000 Avatr 11 SUVs by Sunday, with the landmark coming within 38 days of the first model's delivery.

Chongqing-based Avatr said deliveries will speed up further as its plant is ramping up production and logistics are returning to normal after the Spring Festival holiday, which fell in late January this year.

As part of its product plan, the carmaker will launch the single-motor version of its Avatr 11 SUV in the first quarter, which will be followed by its sedan, E12, in the second quarter.

Bolstered by its products, Avatr expects its sales in 2023 to hit 100,000 units, which will be a major achievement for an electric car startup.

Its dealership network is expanding as well, with the number to hit 500 by the end of this year, said the carmaker.

Competition is growing fiercer in the NEV segment, said the China EV 100, a major think tank in the sector. Its survey shows automakers will launch at least 100 NEV models this year in the country.

The China Passenger Car Association estimates passenger NEV sales in China will reach 8.5 million units this year, up from 6.5 million units in 2022.