Avatr to release second electric vehicle model this year
The Chinese electric car brand Avatr from Changan, Nio and CATL has recently started production and deliveries of its first model Avatr 11. The coupe-like SUV is to be followed this year as a second model by a large sedan, which is being developed under the code name E12.
This is reported by the Chinese portal Autonews Gasgoo with reference to an official announcement by the manufacturer. According to the report, Avatr hopes to reach 100,000 orders with these two models this year. In 2024, two more models are to be launched on the market, thus achieving ahead of schedule the target of four models by 2025, which Avatr issued in mid-2022.
The first Avatr branches were opened in China in parallel – specifically in Chongqing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Huzhou and other cities. In the current year, the sales network is to grow to 110 cities with 500 branches. Accordingly, an increase in the number of employees from currently 3,000 to 5,000 is planned.
The first series-production model, the Avatr 11, officially started rolling off the production line in China on 20 December 2022. Deliveries have also started in the meantime, according to Gasgoo. The coupe-like electric SUV is based on a 750-volt platform and is available in three regular versions starting at 349,900, 369,900 and 409,900 yuan respectively, making the range for the three models between 50,700 and 59,400 euros. In addition to these three regular versions, Avatr also offers a limited edition called Avatr 011 priced at 600,000 yuan (86,940 euros).
All versions are equipped with four-wheel drive with two engines. The power storage system is a cell-to-pack battery from CATL in two variants for ranges of 555 and 680 kilometres according to the Chinese standard (CLTC). The battery voltage is probably 750 volts, and it should be possible to recharge the battery for 200 kilometres in ten minutes. According to the above-mentioned source, the debut model, which will be presented for the first time in autumn 2021, will also receive a rear-wheel drive version this year.
The division of labour at Avatr is as follows: While Changan will contribute the automotive know-how and CATL the battery technology, Huawei will be responsible for the software for autonomous driving and the intelligent functions in the cockpit. As a strategic partner, Huawei is heavily involved in Avatr’s technological development, although it does not hold any stake in the carmaker, Avatr CEO Tan Benhong said in June 2022 when the cooperation with Huawei was announced.
In August 2022, Avatr had also announced a major charging cooperation. Together with BP, the company will set up 100 HPC stations in 19 cities in China. Each station will have a capacity of up to 480 kW or 2x 240 kW.
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