Avatr will enter more than 40 countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, aiming to open more than 90 officially authorized stores and will also enter the European market, it said.

(An Avatr 11 on display at the new energy vehicle show in Shanghai in early June 2024. Image credit: CnEVPost)

Avatr Technology, an electric vehicle (EV) brand backed by Changan Automobile, , and , has announced its entry into the Middle East automotive market as it pushes ahead with its efforts to go global.

Avatr signed a strategic partnership agreement with Al Saqer Group, a UAE-based luxury branded car dealer, in Abu Dhabi, and will work together to bring models from the Chinese EV brand to the local market, according to a press release yesterday.

Al Saqer Group is one of the largest luxury brand car dealerships in the UAE, with a history of over 40 years of distributing top luxury brands including Rolls-Royce, BMW, and McLaren, the release noted.

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Al Saqer Group will be one of Avatr's most important partners in achieving its strategic goal of globalization, and the partnership will help boost its presence in the Middle East, the Chinese EV maker said.

2024 marks the first year of Avatr's expansion into overseas markets, and the company will focus on three key regions, it said.

Avatr will enter more than 40 countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, aiming to open more than 90 officially authorized stores, and will also enter the European market, it said.

This is the second time Avatr has announced its moves in overseas markets.

On April 26, Avatr said it completed the signing of a series of partnership agreements with dealer groups to expand its overseas footprint to Singapore, Nepal, and Azerbaijan.

Avatr's progress overseas will be one of Changan's key measures to achieve its sales targets overseas.

Changan will make its three new energy vehicle (NEV) brands Deepal, Nevo, and Avatr available in the European market this year, according to the minutes of an investor conference the company released last month.

Changan will also finalize the establishment of a European company this year and look into setting up a production base there, with six new energy models to be launched in Europe by 2027, according to the minutes.

Later this year, Changan will complete the launch of its Avatr brand in Thailand and aims to become one of the top three Chinese brands in the region in terms of awareness by 2025, it said.

Avatr delivered 4,569 vehicles in May, up 162.89 percent year-on-year but down 12.92 percent from April, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.

In the January-May period, Avatr delivered 24,348 vehicles, up 170.77 percent year-on-year.

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