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Published Feb 2025
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23 January 2025 By: Toby Hagon
The growth in sales of electric vehicles (EV) may have slowed dramatically, but there’s no shortage of new model activity ready to reignite some EV excitement.
While Australians bought a record 91,292 electric vehicles in 2024, it’s 2025 that is shaping up to be even bigger with dozens of new models due Down Under.
As well as the first EV arrivals from familiar brands, there’s a bunch of new brands planning to tempt Australians into going electric.
Here are some of the highlights of the EV year ahead.
Deepal S07
One of about a dozen new brands looking to tackle the Australian market, Deepal began trickling its S07 into the country early in the year. The mid-sized SUV has some Lamborghini design vibes up front and packs in a heap of equipment (including head-up display and heated and ventilated seats) to justify its $53,900 plus on-road costs price tag. Less impressive is the obtrusive beeps and warnings from the driver assistance systems. And while performance is adequate from the single electric motor cornering dynamics are less convincing.
Leapmotor C10
Yep, yet another new brand but with experience behind the scenes courtesy of its partnership with Stellantis, owner of brands such as Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Peugeot. The C10 mid-sized SUV is the first vehicle from the aspirational Chinese newcomer and arrives early in the year with a tempting $47,500 drive-away price tag. The rear-drive five-seater packs in plenty of equipment, although initially misses out on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
XPeng M03
It’s shaping up to be a busy 18 months for relative minnow XPeng, which recently started selling the G6 mid-sized SUV in Australia. It will be joined sometime this year by the X9 people mover, but it’s the M03 front-drive five-door liftback that is more interesting because of its sharp price in China. Expect to see it in the second half of the year priced from somewhere below $35k.
Zeekr 7X
Part of the Geely family that also owns Volvo, Zeekr recently began selling the X small SUV and opulent 009 people mover. But the 7X will take on the all-important mid-sized SUV category. Due around the middle of the year, pricing is expected to start north of $70k. But the 7X should come loaded with kit, including a head-up display and massaging seats and up to 475kW of power for supercar-like acceleration.
BYD Atto 3 Up
Hard charging Chinese brand BYD is gearing up for a huge 2025 with both plug-in hybrids and EVs. And the Atto 3 Up looks set to offer an affordable SUV for those who don’t need a large EV with big cruising range. Relatively compact batteries provide up to 401km of range, something likely to limit it predominantly to suburban duties, but the anticipated sharp pricing could make it a viable alternative to petrol-powered compact SUVs.
BYD Sealion 7
Fresh from new more affordable versions of the Dolphin hatch and Atto 3 SUV comes the larger Sealion 7 that has the top selling Tesla Model Y in its crosshairs. The five-seat electric SUV delivers on space and early first drives suggest it’s fun to drive. And with pricing set to kick off below $60k it could be just the value-focused antidote for those less than enamoured with Elon Musk’s recent actions.
IM Motors LS6
The brand may not be familiar to Australians, but IM Motors is closely related to MG, providing the mainstream maker with a luxury sub-brand. The LS6 promises big performance and a sprinkling of luxury gear to help it stand out in an increasingly crowded market.
Alfa Romeo Junior
The brand known for its sonorous engines is about to delve into some EV silence in the form of the Junior. Briefly known as the Milano (before Italian authorities pointed out that name couldn’t be used because the car is being built in Poland rather than Italy) the sleekly styled newcomer joins the throng of compact electric SUVs. Beneath the skin is an electrical architecture shared with others in the Stellantis group - including the Jeep Avenger - along with suspension tuned to live up to the Italian brand’s ethos. Expect to see it around the middle of the year priced from about $60k.
Audi Q4 e-tron
It’s taken years to make its way here, but the Q4 will finally arrive in the early part of 2025. Priced from $84,900 plus on-road costs, it slides in under the luxury car tax threshold, allowing it to leverage generous fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemptions that have tempted plenty into electric cars, including those from rival BMW. The compact electric SUV will be offered as a single motor front-drive model or dual motor all-wheel drive wearing Quattro badging.
Audi Q6 e-tron
The mid-sized Q6 e-tron is a great way to get a healthy dose of Porsche engineering nous with a more palatable price tag. That’s because beneath its stylish exterior is the architecture of the recently arrived Macan. Like the Porsche it gets an 800V electrical system for some of the fastest EV charging in the business. Performance is snappy, too, especially in flagship SQ6 guise, where 380kW zips the five-seater to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds. The more affordable single motor model (from $115,500 plus on-roads) is calmer but promises similar dynamic talents courtesy of the dedicated EV platform underpinning it.
BMW iX3
BMW has enjoyed plenty of EV success so far and in 2025 it plans to get more serious with the next generation iX3, a car based on the much-hyped Neue Klasse architecture that will be spread liberally around the BMW family. The new generation steps up to an 800V electrical system and promises 25 per cent improvements on the already impressive efficiency of the popular iX3. Expected in the latter part of the year, early images show the iX3 should also do its bit for evolving the brand’s design language.
Ford e-Transit Custom and Tourneo
The electric version of the Transit Custom (smaller than the regular Transit) is a snappier thing to drive thanks to its rear-drive layout and easily accessible pulling power. And while pricing hasn’t been announced, something below $70k would make it a tempting proposition compared with the diesel alternative considering the potential fuel savings and lesser servicing requirements.
Geely EX5
The parent to Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and others will soon arrive as its own brand. And whereas others in the Geely portfolio have a prestige focus, Geely is expected to ramp up the value proposition, kicking off with the EX5 electric SUV. Expect a sub-$50k start price when the brand launches around March.
Geely Riddara RD6
Aussies love their utes, but the Riddara RD6 is something very different. It’s more about surfboards and push bikes than hardware and caravans. While it’s yet to be confirmed for Australia, the four-door is firming as an option that could provide an interesting city-focused alternative to the Hiluxes and Rangers that dominate. Initial examples power only the rear wheels, limiting its appeal, but if the price is sharp, the RD6 could be an interesting option for businesses and governments trying to lower their CO2 footprint.
Hyundai Inster
Hyundai’s most affordable EV is also one of its boldest from a styling perspective. The diminutive five-door is best suited to singles and couples - and preferably those not planning to travel too far. The largest 49kWh battery delivers just 360km of range and maximum power tops out at a modest 85kW. But a circa-$40k price tag and decent smattering of tech - including dual 10.25-inch screens - could add some spice to the entry level of the electric car market.
Kia EV3
There’s no shortage of activity in the compact SUV segment and Kia plans to join in with its EV3, due around March. Channelling the rugged good looks of the larger EV9, the smallest of the brand’s expanding electric car family should kick off at around $50k. A mass of pixels dominates the dash and the EV3 is bursting with recycled materials. Expect single and dual motor versions and a broad model range that plans to tempt buyers out of petrol-powered alternatives.
LDV eTerron 9
Unlike the underwhelming eT60, the eTerron 9 is a more serious electric ute conceived from the outset as an EV. While there’s a plethora of hybrid utes on the way, the eTerron 9 relies only on electricity, with single and dual motor versions expected, the latter delivering all-wheel drive. The eTerron 9 is also rated to tow 3.5 tonnes and provides up to 430km of range between charges.
MG S5
There’s a plethora of new arrivals due for MG in 2025 including the Marvel R high performance electric SUV, but one of the more interesting is the ES5 electric SUV. It may wear another name when it arrives in Australia in the first half of the year (it’s essentially a replacement for the ZS EV) but whatever the nomenclature, expect value to be at its heart. The compact SUV will utilise a 125kW electric motor driving the rear wheels.
Cadillac Optiq
Fresh from its relaunch in Australia last year, the quintessential American luxury car brand wants to step things up this year. Top of the wish list is the Optiq compact electric SUV, a car that would allow the brand to leverage the FBT exemption that is saving buyers thousands. Sourced from China rather than the States, the Optiq promises all of the Cadillac opulence on display in the Lyriq that’s now on sale, but in a smaller body.
Renault 5 Turbo 3E
Francophiles hoping to see the born-again Renault 5 head to Australia have been given something exotic to get excited about in the form of the Turbo 3E. The wildest version of the three-door hatch is essentially an all-electric supercar, complete with a carbon fibre body and two electric motors driving the rear wheels. Other than the name, it shares little with the regular Renault 5 EV that is still on the wish list for Australia and would likely sell for around $50k; the Turbo 3E, however, will be many multiples of that.
Skoda Elroq
Skoda’s EV presence has so far been minimal, but the brand hopes to accelerate things with the Elroq, which provides an all-electric alternative to the petrol-fed Karoq. Due in Q3 the compact SUV shares its underpinnings with various Volkswagen EVs, including the ID.4. Australian pricing and details are yet to be confirmed but the Elroq should comfortably sneak in below $50k.
Tesla Model Y
As the top selling EV in the country there’s plenty of interest with any updates to the Tesla Model Y. Distinctive new styling front and rear and more upmarket materials inside are designed to increase the appeal of the five-door SUV. There are also efficiency gains and a promise of better driving manners and comfort courtesy of suspension revisions. The Model Y will initially be offered as a Launch Series priced from $63,400 plus on-road costs. Before long we’d expect a regular model with less equipment and a sharper price.
Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5
Volkswagen recently began selling the ID.Buzz – essentially a modern EV version of the iconic Kombi – but it’s the ID.4 and its sleeker ID.5 sibling that have the potential to appeal to more buyers. While it’s running years late, that at least means we’ll get an updated version of the mid-sized SUV when it arrives around the middle of the year. No word on pricing, but it’ll hopefully hover around the $60k sweet spot of the market.
Volvo EX90
While Volvo has walked back from its promise to only sell EVs from as soon as this year, the brand still has big aspirations for an electrified future. The next step is the EX90 that arrives within months to provide an EV alternative to the XC90 large SUV. It’ll be pricier than the petrol-powered large SUV that also offers seating for seven, with pricing expected to kick off at about $120k. But for that you’ll get plenty of gear, including the availability of a 25-speaker sound system, quad zone ventilation and dual motor performance.
Range Rover EV
The brand that gave the world luxury four-wheel drives more than half a century ago now wants to show how electric motors can work in the wild. Set to sneak into the country late in the year, the all-electric version of the Range Rover promises to maintain the legendary off-road ability the brand is known for but with zero CO2 emissions. No word yet on pricing but start saving - a lot.
