Chery has a sprawling array of brands, and it has filed a trademark in Australia for arguably its quirkiest.
iCar, established in 2023, wears a reputation that seems like it might have been used for Apple’s aborted vehicle project, but is as an alternative a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand that specialises in boxy SUVs.
A trademark was filed with IP Australia on December 23, 2024 for the iCar brand, specified to be used on recent vehicles.
“We’re at all times fascinated by exploring models across the exciting Chery product range, nevertheless currently there are not any plans for either vehicle for the Australian market,” said a Chery Australia spokesperson when asked about the possibilities of either the iCar line or the Omoda C9.
The latter was a vehicle each spied locally and approved on the market in our market.
Lots of of latest automobile deals can be found through CarExpert straight away. Get the experts in your side and rating an excellent deal. Browse now.
It stays to be seen whether Chery will deviate from its previously announced strategy of selling vehicles across its namesake brand and Jaecoo, which can launch here later this yr.
Chery is meant to be the mass-market brand, with Jaecoo having a more premium positioning – perhaps suggesting why the Omoda C9 has yet to go on sale here, because it’s a product from the premium Exeed brand which doesn’t quite fit under either the Chery or Jaecoo nameplates.
Manufacturers often file to guard nameplates that might not be offered here.
For instance, Chery also filed to guard the Jaecoo, Jetour, Exlantix and Luxeed brand names between 2022 and 2024, but only one among these has been confirmed for a neighborhood launch.
Chery’s marketing strategies will also be very regional. In some markets, for instance, it sells its Omoda 5 under a separate Omoda brand; in China, Jaecoo models are sold as Cherys; and in Russia, certain Exeed models are sold under the Exlantix brand.
iCar’s debut product, the 03, can be sold because the Jaecoo J6 in certain markets including one other right-hand drive market, Thailand.
It measures 4406mm long, 1910mm wide and 1715mm tall on a 2715mm wheelbase. That makes it 169mm shorter, 65mm narrower and 35mm taller than a Mazda CX-5 on a 15mm longer wheelbase.
Available with either a 50.63kWh, 65.69 or 69.77kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, it offers between 401km and 501km of range on the CLTC cycle.
In China, it’s offered with a alternative of 135kW/220Nm single-motor or 165kW/385Nm dual-motor powertrains.
The 03 was followed last yr by the V23, which measures 4220mm long, 1915mm wide and 1845mm tall on a 2735mm wheelbase. That makes it larger than a Suzuki Jimny XL, but smaller than Chery’s Omoda E5 electric SUV.
It has between 301km and 501km of CLTC range, with a alternative of 47.28, 59.93 and 81.76kWh batteries.
The boxy SUV is obtainable with 100kW/180Nm single-motor and 155kW/292Nm dual-motor powertrains.
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au