Chery's newest Australian brand has put a number on its first electric SUV. The Lepas L6 lands from $47,990 before on-road costs as a single battery-electric variant, with test drives due in dealerships from early November.
What $47,990 buys
The L6 is a mid-size electric SUV, roughly the size of a Toyota RAV4, with one motor making 160kW and 275Nm. It carries a 65kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and a quoted 440km WLTP range, and DC fast charging takes it from 30 to 80 per cent in about 22 minutes on a 120kW charger.
Where it lands
Here is the catch. A Geely EX5 and the BYD Atto 3 Evo both start from about $41,990 before on-road costs, roughly $6,000 under the Lepas. The L6 arrives late to the busiest, most price-sensitive corner of the EV market, and on price it does not undercut the brands already parked there.
Cartell Assessment
Lepas is yet another badge from the Chery group, which already sells here under several names. The L6 looks like a competent, well-equipped EV, but competent is the floor in this segment now, not the ceiling. Launching $6,000 above a Geely is a bold way to introduce a brand that almost nobody knows yet.
AU Outlook
Watch the response once test drives open in early November, and watch for any sharpening of that price. A firm on-sale date has not been confirmed. Hold at $47,990 and Lepas is asking buyers to pay more for the newer, less proven name.
