New Zeekr rival headed to Australia - 2026 Avatr 07 set to hit our shores as new rival to Zeekr 7X and MG IM6

2026 Avatr 07
Tom White

Deputy News Editor

4 min read

The Chinese luxury brand space is about to expand in Australia.

Avatr, the luxury arm of Changan, is set for an Australian arrival imminently as the company goes on a hiring spree for Avatr Australia on LinkedIn.

Whether the brand will launch at the same time as its mainstream arm Changan locally, and whether it will use the same sales model and dealer network, remains to be seen.

Read More About Avatr 07

Avatr serves as a rival to Zeekr (Geely’s premium arm), and MG’s IM Motors division, as well as other tech-forward Chinese brands not sold yet in Australia, including Nio.

In Changan’s portfolio it sits above Deepal, which is already distributed in Australia via Subaru importer Inchcape.

What Avatr models will come to Australia?

As to what to expect from the company, we can look at other right-hand drive markets for a clue.

2026 Avatr 06T
2026 Avatr 06T

Avatr is already on sale in Thailand, where it sells two models in right-hand drive, the 07 and 11. Both are unusually-shaped models, with the Avatr 07 being a swoopy mid-size SUV, and the Avatr 11 adopting a crossover-styled liftback design, similar to the likes of the Polestar 4.

This is just a fraction of the brand’s range available in China, which includes the 06 sedan and 06T wagon as competitors to the Zeekr 7GT, and the flagship 12 limousine.

Avatr’s range is available both in fully electric and range-extender hybrid forms in China, although the 07 and 11 offered in right-hand drive for the Thai market are both electric only.

2026 Avatr 07 details

The 07, which will go into battle with the overwhelmingly popular Zeekr 7X has a 82.16kWh LFP battery with 575km of driving range in base rear-wheel drive form, or 545km of driving range in top-spec AWD form, although both of these range figures are calculated to the more lenient NEDC methodology.

The rear-drive version produces 252kW/365Nm able to sprint from 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds, while the AWD version produces a combined 440kW/645Nm, reducing 0-100km/h sprint time to just 3.9 seconds, according to the brand.

The 07 has an 800-volt electrical architecture, allowing it to charge at a maximum speed of 420kW on DC for a charge time (quoted at 30 - 80 per cent) in 10 minutes.

In Thailand, where Avatr is distributed rather than factory-backed, the 07 costs from the equivalent of $70,635 for the RWD to $79,150 for the top-spec AWD.

They are priced at a little over half that in the Chinese domestic market. The reality for Australia is prices will likely being somewhere in-between, particularly if the 07 wants to take market share from the Zeekr 7X that is priced from $57,900 before on-roads.

2026 Avatr 11 details

Meanwhile the unusually-styled 11 comes with a massive 116.79kWh NMC battery, allowing it a much longer driving range of 680km for the rear-drive version or 630km for the all-wheel drive version (also to NEDC figures).

It produces 230kW/350Nm in RWD form with a 0-100km/h print for 6.9 seconds, while the all-wheel drive produces a combined 395kW/641Nm and reduces the 100km/h sprint to just 4.8 seconds.

Its charging speed is less than the 07, rated at a maximum 240kW for a 30 - 80 per cent charge in 25 minutes.

Both cars are able to output power via a vehicle-to-load system at 3.3kW, and both cars score continuously variable damping in all-wheel drive form.

2026 Avatr 12
2026 Avatr 12

The Avatr 11 is built in Thailand, with the brand also planning to produce knock-down-kit versions of the 07.

Plans for a further right-hand drive expansion for the Avatr brand are yet to be seen, but given the brand's recent rapid export-market expansion, we expect to see more soon.

Changan as a group is also plotting a new product offensive across other right-hand drive markets in South East Asia ever closer to Australia like Malaysia, where it is contemplating other important products, including the affordable Nevo Q05 as a new rival to the Geely EX5, and even a range-extended hybrid dual-cab ute to be sold under the Changan marque.

Stay tuned for more info on Avatr and Changan as their new model roll-out plans come to fruition.

Tom White

Deputy News Editor

Tom’s way into motoring journalism was anything but straightforward despite annoying his parents to no end as a child by identifying makes and models with ease, and acquiring a large collection of Matchbox models. Other interests took over in the intervening years, including tinkering with electronics and computers, and an interest in the past, which eventually culminated in a Bachelor of Arts and Science from the University Of Sydney with a major in Ancient History. During this time, Tom was exposed to all sorts of cars by working as a valet and eventually the Bell Captain at The Star casino in Sydney. He then went on another side-quest, studying law at Macquarie University before applying for a job at CarsGuide. After being hired Tom worked his way up the ranks in a variety of roles and refined his craft, now serving as CarsGuide's Deputy News Editor, with special interests in new technologies and electric vehicles, as well as emerging trends from China. Tom has been recognised by his peers as the EV Journalist of the Year at the 2026 Newspress Australia Awards. He’s personally owned a selection of wheels from a 1981 Holden Gemini to a 2009 Ford Falcon, through to his current 2011 Subaru Forester and many others in between. You can find Tom on LinkedIn and Instagram. Education Bachelor of Arts and Sciences | The University of Sydney | 2010 - 2014 Graduate Certificate of Laws | Macquarie University | 2015 - 2016 Awards 2026 Newspress Australia EV Journalist of the Year Featured Publications CarsGuide | 2016 - present
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