Chinese EVs make major inroads as Australian market charges ahead

Wider range

Among the Top 10 bestselling EVs in Australia in February were Chinese vehicles including SAIC MG's MG4, BYD's Sealion 7 and Atto 3 along with the luxury crossover Zeekr X, a new entrant to the Australian market, according to The Driven, a leading industry news site.

Delvecchio said consumers are seeing a wider range of EVs at more affordable prices entering the Australian market, making electric vehicles a great option for everyone — from families, to trade workers such as electricians and plumbers, and to car enthusiasts.

She said its estimated battery electric vehicles can save drivers up to A$3,000 ($1,890) every year on fuel and maintenance costs — important savings for Australians currently experiencing high cost-of-living pressure.

"Electric vehicles are already offering so many benefits to Australians, but there is still so much more potential. Key opportunities include the development of vehicle-to-grid, growing the used EV market, and advancing the battery recycling industry," she said.

Hans Hendrischke, a professor of Chinese business and management at the University of Sydney's Business School, said Australia has been more welcoming than many other countries in the EV sector.

"Australia hasn't considered imposing any tariffs on the Chinese vehicles… because we don't have a vehicle industry here ourselves," he said.

He added there is no special financial support for Chinese EVs, which compete "increasingly well" against other brands.

Hendrischke is also a member of the Net Zero Institute, which supports decarbonization solutions to help the world meet its climate change goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The institute has more than 150 university researchers and industry collaborators across a range of disciplines.

"The Chinese EV market is certainly moving into markets like Australia," Hendrischke said. "I think it (the market) hasn't had the full impact yet; this is just starting. The Chinese have much better cars than they had in the beginning, with the EV market already very developed in China."

Jason Clarke is the CEO of TrueEV, a company specializing in EV distribution and services that has formed a strategic partnership with leading Chinese EV manufacturer, Xpeng.

He cited Xpeng's "smart" EVs as a big plus for the Chinese startup's appeal to consumers.

Xpeng's vehicles have been available in Australia for a year, and already "people are really warming to the brand and feeling very connected with it", he said at the Sydney show.