Not long ago medias were still talking about when EV prices in Australia could drop below A$50,000 before government incentives. In October 2023, The BYD Dolphin became Australia’s cheapest EV, undercutting the most affordable MG 4 by just $100 at $38,890 before on-road costs. As consumers, we always prefer More for Less. So when can Australian car shoppers purchase EVs with a price tag less than A$30,000?
To answer this question, iEV team has studied the world’s two biggest EV manufacturers’ plan on smaller EVs – Tesla and BYD. According to unofficial news, Tesla Motors is preparing to unveil its highly anticipated, affordable EV the "Model 2." Scheduled for a grand debut in 2024, this cost-conscious EV is projected to be priced between U$25,000 (around A$39,000) and U$30,000 (around A$47,000). Therefore, it is unlikely that Tesla will introduce any model below A$30,000 in the near future.
BYD’s current cheapest model available for ordering in Australia is still BYD Dolphin (A$38,890). However, it already released a smaller & cheaper new mode – Seagull in April this year. The compact Seagull hatchback has an inviting price tag starting at just RMB73,800 (around $AU17,000) and an impressive driving range spanning 300 to 400 kilometers, the Seagull is set to make a significant impact in the electric car market. However, BYD has not planned to launch the brand new Seagull in Australia market soon. This is due to its current production priority is to meet EV demand in China and Europe, the top two major EV markets in the world, and both have their steering wheels on the left side of the cars.
BYD Seagull (Source: www.bydauto.com.cn)
Back to our original question: when can Australian car shoppers purchase EVs with a price tag under A$30,000? Our expected answer might not lie in the hands of the world’s largest EV manufacturers like Tesla or BYD. However, iEV team has found some other manufacturers that are likely to bring A$30,000 or less EV models into Australia market before the end of 2025.
- GEOME, produced by Geely Auto, approximately A$26,200 based on current overseas price & exchange rate
- UPRO, produced by Hozon Auto, approximately A$25,600 based on current overseas price & exchange rate
- BINGUO, produced by Wuling Auto, approximately A$18,220 based on current overseas price & exchange rate
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