iCar V25 Extended-Range SUV to Launch on November 19

Chery's (HKEX: 9973) electric vehicle brand iCar has confirmed that its V25 boxy extended-range SUV will officially launch on November 19. The announcement was made through the brand's Weibo account on Wednesday. The V25 is the brand's second extended-range model and has already arrived in showrooms ahead of its official market launch, according to iCar.

Pre-sales began on October 19, with four variants available in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. Prices range from 139,800 yuan ($20,810) to 175,800 yuan. The rear-wheel-drive Pro and Max variants are priced at 139,800 yuan and 149,800 yuan, respectively. The all-wheel-drive Max+ and Ultra versions carry pre-order prices of 163,800 yuan and 175,800 yuan, respectively.

The V25 retains iCar's distinctive boxy exterior design and measures 4,636 mm in length, 1,920 mm in width and 1,855 mm in height. Its wheelbase is 2,820 mm. The SUV uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine producing a maximum output of 115 kW (154 hp), which serves as a range extender rather than the vehicle's primary drive motor. Energy is supplied by a 33.67-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery.

According to the disclosed specifications, the V25 offers WLTC battery-only driving ranges of 145 kilometers (90 miles) and 150 kilometers. When the battery is depleted, the corresponding fuel consumption figures are 6.9 liters and 7.15 liters per 100 kilometers. These figures provide separate measures of the vehicle's electric-only driving capability and fuel consumption under the specified depleted-battery condition.

At the beginning of pre-sales, iCar also disclosed the powertrain specifications and combined driving ranges for the two drivetrain configurations. The rear-wheel-drive version features a 185-kW electric motor and delivers a CLTC combined range of 1,240 kilometers. The all-wheel-drive configuration uses dual motors with a combined output of 335 kW and has a CLTC combined range of 1,210 kilometers.

For driver assistance, the V25 is equipped with the Falcon 700+ system, powered by Horizon Robotics' (HKEX: 9660) Journey 6P chip. The computing platform provides 560 TOPS of computing power. The inclusion of this system adds an advanced driver-assistance computing platform to the SUV's technical package, alongside its extended-range powertrain and available rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations.

The V25 made its debut on August 14 and primarily targets younger consumers. It is positioned below the larger V27, iCar's flagship extended-range SUV, which launched in March. The two models therefore occupy different positions within the brand's extended-range SUV portfolio, with the V25 serving as a smaller offering while retaining the boxy design approach associated with the lineup.

The November 19 launch announcement comes as iCar experiences slower year-on-year sales growth. The brand sold 11,717 vehicles in October, representing a 5.45% decline compared with the same month last year but a 7.91% increase from September. Although October sales were below the 12,393 vehicles recorded in October last year, they represented iCar's highest monthly sales total so far this year.

For the first 10 months of the year, iCar recorded cumulative sales of 87,264 vehicles, an increase of 10.43% year-on-year. The October results highlight the difference between the brand's improving month-on-month performance and its lower sales compared with the corresponding period last year. The V25's upcoming launch adds another model to its extended-range SUV lineup as the brand continues to develop its product portfolio.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The iCar V25 expands Chery's extended-range SUV portfolio through four configurations covering rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive requirements, with different power outputs and combined driving ranges. Its 33.67-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, 1.5-liter range-extender engine and Journey 6P-powered Falcon 700+ driver-assistance system demonstrate the combination of electrified powertrain technology and computing capabilities in the model. The launch also comes against a mixed sales backdrop, with October deliveries increasing month-on-month but declining year-on-year. The V25's market introduction will add a smaller alternative to the V27 flagship within iCar's existing SUV lineup.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When will the Chery iCar V25 officially launch?
The Chery iCar V25 extended-range SUV is scheduled to officially launch on November 19. iCar announced the date through its Weibo account on Wednesday. The model made its debut on August 14, and pre-sales started on October 19. According to the brand, the V25 has already arrived in showrooms ahead of its official launch. It is the second extended-range model in iCar's lineup and primarily targets younger consumers.

2. What are the pre-sale prices of the iCar V25 variants?
The iCar V25 is available for pre-order in four variants, with prices ranging from 139,800 yuan to 175,800 yuan. The rear-wheel-drive Pro variant costs 139,800 yuan, while the rear-wheel-drive Max is priced at 149,800 yuan. For customers choosing all-wheel drive, the Max+ costs 163,800 yuan and the Ultra is priced at 175,800 yuan. The pre-sale prices correspond to the four configurations announced by iCar on October 19.

3. What are the battery, electric range and combined driving range specifications?
The iCar V25 features a 33.67-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and offers WLTC battery-only driving ranges of 145 kilometers and 150 kilometers. Its 1.5-liter turbocharged range-extender engine produces 115 kW (154 hp). The rear-wheel-drive version delivers a CLTC combined range of 1,240 kilometers, while the all-wheel-drive version offers 1,210 kilometers. These combined-range figures were disclosed by iCar when pre-sales began, alongside the respective motor specifications.

4. What are the power outputs of the iCar V25 rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions?
The rear-wheel-drive iCar V25 uses an electric motor producing 185 kW, while its all-wheel-drive counterpart features dual motors with a combined output of 335 kW. Both configurations use the same extended-range model designation but differ in drivetrain layout and motor output. Their respective CLTC combined driving ranges are 1,240 kilometers and 1,210 kilometers. The two configurations are offered through the Pro, Max, Max+ and Ultra variant lineup announced during the pre-sale period.

5. Which driver-assistance technology does the iCar V25 use?
The iCar V25 is equipped with the Falcon 700+ driver-assistance system, which is powered by Horizon Robotics' Journey 6P computing chip. The chip provides 560 TOPS of computing power. Horizon Robotics is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under ticker 9660. The disclosed specifications identify the computing platform and its processing capability as part of the V25's driver-assistance equipment. iCar announced this technology alongside the model's powertrain, battery and driving-range specifications.

6. How did iCar perform in October sales?
iCar sold 11,717 vehicles in October, marking its highest monthly sales total so far this year. The result represented a 7.91% increase from September but a 5.45% decline compared with October last year, when the brand sold 12,393 vehicles. Cumulative deliveries for the first 10 months reached 87,264 vehicles, up 10.43% year-on-year. The figures indicate that monthly sales improved sequentially even as October's year-on-year performance remained below the previous year's level.