New breed of car brands headed to Australia

Tesla showed the world that start-up car brands could be a success, now a new breed of car makers – and an old favourite – are expanding rapidly.

There are a number of exciting new car brands planning to launch an assault on Aussie roads.

The new-car market is undergoing its biggest transition in a century as it shifts to lower emissions vehicles.

The trend of start-up brands challenging the establishment, which began with Tesla, is about to accelerate as a host of new brands eye the Australian market.

Recent arrivals include Hyundai’s luxury arm, Genesis, Chinese giant BYD and Polestar, an EV-only spin-off of Volvo.

But there are more to come. Here are the brands looking to gain a foothold in the Australian market over the next decade.

2023 Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV.

Cadillac

The quintessential American brand was a done deal for Australia in 2009 – until its
parent General Motors filed for bankruptcy. More than a decade later Cadillac is once
again looking to expand its international operations and sees Australia as a key market. But the new Cadillacs will be different, powered purely by electricity with bold, modern designs. EVs are easier to build in right-hand drive, paving the way for a Cadillac return as soon as 2025.

Chery

During a fleeting initial visit (between 2011 and 2014) it was a budget brand, but the reborn Chery will aim at the more established mainstream brands – and it has ambitious sales targets to match. The first new arrival is the Omoda 5, a compact SUV to initially be offered with a petrol engine and plug-in hybrid system. There will eventually be EV models as the brand expands its line-up into 2024.

Great Wall Motors’ Ora has some interesting car names.

Ora

Part of Great Wall Motors – or GWM, which encompasses Haval – Ora is a relatively new brand due on sale locally next year. Its cars have some interesting feline-inspired names – Good Cat, Lightning Cat and Ballet Cat – although they’ll change for Australia. What won’t change is the value focus that could see an Ora EV sneak into the market at about $40,000.

GWM also has its Tank 4WD brand.

Tank

Also part of the GWM stable is Tank, a butch-looking wagon designed to tackle the 4WD market dominated by Toyota. It will kick off with a car called the 300, which has already been homologated locally, suggesting a 2023 arrival. With hybrid propulsion it could be an interesting addition. A larger Tank 500 is also expected.

The Ineos Grenadier is an old school 4WD.

Ineos

Aiming to feed off the love for the old Land Rover Defender, Ineos is targeting those who want a genuine hardcore off-roader. With a clear resemblance to the loveable original Defender, the Grenadier gets a tech injection that includes BMW engines. The company also has a broad service network across the country to ensure easy access to parts.

Rivian started deliveries of its R1T electric pick-up truck in the US recently.

Rivian

Bold styling and a Tesla-fighting EV-only ambition has made Rivian a favourite with fans in its US homeland. But that newcomer love has also spread to Australia, where would-be owners are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the R1T pick-up truck and R1S SUV. Prototypes have already been spotted on Australian roads and Rivian has stated its intention to sell cars here as early as 2025.

Geely

As the parent of more than a dozen brands that include Volvo, Lotus and start-ups including Zeekr and Lynk & Co, Geely Auto is a Chinese giant. The Geely brand could soon become part of the Australian landscape, with the local Volvo distributor offering to help with back-end systems. There’s a range of hybrid and electric models, but it’s the Radar EV ute that is arguably the most interesting.

Lynk & Co

With Volvo-developed safety systems and the electrical platform underpinning various models from the Geely Auto Group, Lynk & Co has its sights set firmly on younger, tech-focused buyers. There hasn’t been much official from the parent company other than a late-2021 announcement that said it would expand to various markets, including Australia, something that could happen as soon as 2025.

Nio has an interesting battery swap model.

Nio

Chinese manufacturer Nio has previously said it plans to export to many markets, one of which could be Australia. The company specialises in battery electric vehicles but has an innovative battery-swap system that also allows for leasing of batteries, something that has the potential to significantly reduce the upfront cost of its EVs.