The Avatr 12 is a mid-to-large-sized sedan that will be powered by electric motors supplied by Huawei and will be available in single-motor and dual-motor versions.
(Image from the MIIT website.)
Avatr Technology, an electric vehicle (EV) brand backed by Changan Automobile, CATL, and Huawei, has filed for a new model that will intensify competition in China's mid-to-large-size sedan segment.
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released its latest catalog of models that will be allowed to be sold for public comment today, and the Avatr 12 is included.
The public can submit feedback between July 14 and July 20. Entry into the catalog is the last major regulatory process by which a model can be allowed to be sold in China.
There are two versions of the Avatr 12 on the catalog, both pure electric models, including a single-motor version and a two-motor version.
The single-motor version of the Avatr 12 is equipped with an electric motor with a peak power of 230 kW, while the dual-motor version is equipped with two motors with a maximum power of 195 kW and 230 kW, respectively. The supplier of the electric motors for both versions is Huawei.
(Image from the MIIT website.)
The model has a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour and is powered by a Li-ion ternary battery pack supplied by 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 suggest it's a mid-to-large-size sedan, and it's expected to compete with Nio's (NYSE: NIO) ET7 sedan, albeit with slightly smaller dimensions.
The Nio ET7 measures 5,101 mm in length, 1,987 mm in width and 1,509 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 3,060 mm.
Avatr was originally founded as Changan Nio on July 10, 2018 by Changan and Nio.
However, its product launches have not progressed over the past few years and with new financing, Nio has basically exited from the joint venture.
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.
In addition to the Avatr 11, Avatr also has a limited-edition model, the Avatr 011 SUV, whose deliveries began in February of this year.
Currently, the Avatr 11 is offered in four versions with starting prices of RMB 319,900 ($44,880), RMB 349,900, RMB 369,900 and RMB 409,900.
Avatr's sales performance has been weak, selling 1,753 units in June and below 2,000 units for the past three months, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
Notably, a new patent Avatr was granted in May hints that it could potentially add models with internal combustion engines to its product array.
($1 = RMB 7.1286)
Here are two additional images from the MIIT website:
Here are images circulating in multiple WeChat groups, possibly from Avatr's distribution.
