The first example of the electric Omoda E5 has arrived in New Zealand. It will join the petrol-powered C5 as Omoda’s first offerings in the local market.
The SUV has a 150kW/340Nm motor paired with a 61kWh battery, and a WLTP range of up to 450km. Some other EV info includes a 9.9kW max AC charge rate, and 80kW on DC, the charge port being in the nose. The front looks a bit different to the C5, the big spider’s web grille replaced by a smooth, Stormtrooper look.
Read our first drive report of the Omoda C5
That’s what everyone wants to know, but you’ll have to wait. Sheldon Humphries, Country Manager for Omoda and Jaecoo New Zealand says the numbers will be revealed at the end of the month. He says to expect it to be competitive, hinting it’s likely to be somewhere in between the MG ZS EV and BYD Atto 3, two key Chinese rivals. Humphries reckons the E5 has spec levels, styling and quality more on a par with the BYD Atto 3 and hopes to make the price as sharp as possible.
There will be two models available initially, both with the 61kWh battery, differentiated by specification levels. They are evaluating a 50kWh battery model for potential fleet opportunities. The E5 will have a similar specification to the C5, and things to expect include an electric tailgate, a power sunroof, dual 10.25-inch displays, voice control, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto and a wireless phone charger.
All Omodas will be covered with a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty while the E5 EV comes with an additional eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty.
Though the brand is yet to sell a car, it has 13 dealers and two more ready to open. Most of these are dual franchise operations, but Humphries says some dealers are in the process of building stand alone showroom on the back of the brand promising eight new models in the short term. He says these dealers have noted how well the brand has done in Australia, selling over 6000 vehicles in a few short months, Omoda being quickly accepted across the Tasman. As stated, pricing will be revealed towards the end of the month, and that’s when interested parties can register their orders, with first deliveries expected in March.
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