Avatr's two new models, internally codenamed E15 and E16, will also go on sale in 2024.
Avatr Technology, an electric vehicle (EV) brand backed by Changan Automobile, CATL, and Huawei, plans to unveil its first sedan, the Avatr 12, this quarter and will start deliveries within the year.
Avatr chairman and CEO Tan Benhong announced the plan today at a partner conference held at the company's headquarters in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing, saying Avatr meet its goal of releasing four models in four years ahead of schedule.
Meanwhile, Avatr's two new models, internally codenamed E15 and E16, will also go on sale in 2024.
The year 2024 will be a key year for Avatr to see explosive growth and become a premium brand, the company's press release said today.
On July 14, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the latest catalog of models that will soon be allowed to be sold for public comment, and the Avatr 12 was included.
There are 2 versions of the Avatr 12 that made it into the catalog, both of which are purely electric, including a single-motor version and a dual-motor version.
The single-motor version is equipped with a motor with a peak power of 230 kW, and the dual-motor version is equipped with dual motors with a maximum power of 195 kW and 230 kW, respectively, according to the filing.
It's worth noting that the model's motor suppliers are all Huawei, and the battery packs come from CATL. Avatr calls its EV platform CHN, where C stands for Changan, H for Huawei, and N for CATL.
The Avatr 12 single-motor version has a length, width, and height of 5,020 mm, 1,999 mm, and 1,460 mm, respectively, and a wheelbase of 3,020 mm, according to the filing.
Its dual-motor version has heights of 1,460 mm and 1,450 mm, possibly because of the air suspension.
The Avatr 12's dimensions mean it's a mid-to-large-size sedan that's expected to compete with Nio's (NYSE: NIO) ET7 sedan.
Avatr's sales channel will be a mix of direct and dealer stores, with a target of 350 sales touchpoints by the end of the year, with a 50/50 split of stores between the two channels, according to its press release.
Avatr was originally founded as Changan Nio by Changan and Nio on July 10, 2018, but Nio has now largely exited from the company.
After several years of bumpy development, Avatr finally launched its first model, the Avatr 11 SUV, on August 9, 2022, and its deliveries began at the end of December last year.
Apart from the Avatr 11, Avatr also has a limited-edition model, the Avatr 011, whose deliveries started in February this year.
Avatr's sales performance has been weak, with 1,753 units sold in June and has been below 2,000 units for the past three months, China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data show.
Regulatory filing: Avatr files for Avatr 12 that could compete with Nio ET7
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