There is no doubt that 2022 is the “year of electricity” in the Israeli car market. In the first three quarters of the year, approximately 15,000 electric vehicles were delivered compared to approximately 10,000 in the entire year of 2021, i.e. a doubling of the annual delivery rate. So what do the Chinese offer us – which electric car brands are offered to us in the car market, and what do we know about the brand and all its models? Here’s a quick overview.
Geely – GEELY
With 4,254 deliveries in the last three quarters, compared to 163 in 2021, all for a single model marketed in Israel, the Geometric C is the proof of the Chinese takeover of the electric vehicle industry in Israel and the beginning of the takeover of the entire industry. So far, Geometric has reached 11th place in the overall delivery figure, not far from old competitors who have dominated the Israeli landscape for many years such as the Kia Picanto, Hyundai Ionique and Toyota Corolla.
The success can be easily understood with the help of the dry data, a geometric price starts at NIS 139,900, which gives the buyer about 204 horsepower and an acceleration figure from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds. And also a driving range of about 350 km from the basic model to about 450 km in the Pro model. Geely is imported by Geo Mobility, owned by the Union Group, Toyota importers. As of the time of writing, there is no prospect of marketing additional models in Israel, although the manufacturer markets a large number of models in China .
Hongqi – hongqi
In stark contrast to the other Chinese brands marketed in Israel, Hongchi has an extensive history of being the first automobile company founded in China. Since the year of its establishment, 1958, Hongchi has been producing luxury vehicles intended mainly for the wealthy of the Chinese market and the top of the government. Hongchi entered the Israeli market during the last few months and by the end of the third quarter had already delivered about 73 units. A surprising figure for a Chinese car with a very high price tag of up to half a million shekels.
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In Israel, Hongchi markets only one electric model E-HS9 in three trim levels at prices ranging from NIS 399,000 to NIS 499,000. The Hongchi has the option of choosing between six and seven seats, with engines providing 435 to 551 horsepower and a driving range of 380 to 441 km. Hongchi is imported to Israel by Semlat, which imports Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jeep, Subaru and more.
AIWAYS
Eways was established only about five years ago and succeeded in zero time in terms of the automotive world to establish a production and innovation system around the world on pure electricity. The manufacturer has a production capacity of about 300,000 vehicles per year. Eways entered the Israeli market relatively calmly when it began marketing in 2021 and delivered approximately 431 vehicles and approximately 805 vehicles by the end of the third quarter this year. It can be assumed that Eways will finish 2022 with more than double the number of deliveries compared to 2021.
The only model marketed in Israel so far is the U5, a relatively large recreational vehicle. The price of the U5 is NIS 162,500 for the basic Excite version and it offers good value for money compared to the competition. For an additional NIS 16,500 you can get the Prime version, which offers a large panoramic roof, leather upholstery and a host of technological aids. U5 comes with about 204 horsepower that allows acceleration from 0 to 100 in 7.5 seconds. The driving range is relatively good and is about 410 km.
Eways is imported by Auto Chen, which is preparing for the introduction of the U6, which is a sporty electric coupe recreational vehicle with an unusual exterior and interior design in the streetcar market. Eways opened an option for pre-registration for the purchase of the U6, but its launch date has not yet been announced.
Chery – CHERY
Cherry is not among the leading brands in the Chinese market, but is in first place in exports from China. Chery has identified the United States, South America and Europe as its growth engines, and even established development centers there in preparation for the opening of marketing in Western countries in addition to the countries of Asia, South America and Africa, where there is already regular marketing of Chery vehicles.
The import of Chery vehicles to Israel was decided on her initiative and this even before it was decided who would be the importer. The chosen importer, Carso, began importing the brand’s vehicles, and they are expected to be marketed in the market at the beginning of this month, in several crossover models of different sizes (Omoda 5, Tigo Pro 7 and Tigo Pro 8), where all, please note, are pure gasoline engines and will offer an engine with a volume of 1.6 liter turbo-gasoline that provides 197 horsepower. What about Chery electric models? They will come but only later. Chery was imported to Israel by the aforementioned Carso company, which imports Renault, Nissan, Dacia models and more.
chery-omoda (photo: PR)If G – MG
The originally British manufacturer, which has gone through many incarnations, is now under Chinese ownership and marketed in Israel by Lubinski. MG is one of the oldest Chinese manufacturers in the Israeli market with 3,747 deliveries in the first three quarters of 2022, 2,955 deliveries in 2021 and 1,461 deliveries in 2020. It can be seen that Lubinsky succeeds in doubling the brand’s deliveries every year.
MG markets in Israel two models: EHS PHEV, which is a hybrid-rechargeable recreational vehicle with a maximum driving range on electricity of about 52 km and 258 horse power that jumps from 0 to 100 in about 6.9 seconds. And the ZS EV model , we stayed on pure electricity with a driving range of about 320 or 440 km, depending on the model, and a maximum power of about 177 or 156 horse power respectively. The price of the hybrid EHS PHEV is about NIS 172,222, while the price of the electric ZS EV starts at NIS 144,444.
Skywell – SKYWELL
Skywell is a young Chinese manufacturer that started its journey in 2017. The vehicle models are mainly intended for the American market, and in Israel it markets only one model, electric – ET5 in two trim levels but with identical range and battery specifications. Skywell delivered 487 vehicles during the first three quarters of the year. The driving range is about 400 km, and the price of the car is 194,900 for the luxury model and 206,900 for the premium model. Skivel is imported by the Kadori group, which owns the Al-Hamar company.
BYD – BYD
Three models will be marketed in Israel: ATTO, a crossover that can already be ordered with an estimated delivery time of December 2022, and two additional models that are not yet marketed in Israel but you can already register to receive updates about them: TANG – a promising recreational vehicle with a driving range of about 400 km m with 518 horse power, and HAN, an extremely powerful sedan coupe with 518 horse power, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. The driving range is respectable and stands at 521 km.
byd (photo: PR)WEY
Another Chinese brand that should land in Israel soon and will be imported by Semlat. Way will market the Coffee 01 model, a plug-in recreational vehicle with a particularly impressive driving range on electricity alone: 150 km. The gasoline engine, which together with the electric motor provides 467 horsepower, will extend the driving range by an additional 700 km.
SERES
Seres, imported by Telecar, a Kia importer, is marketed in Israel in one model: the E3. The E3 is an electric recreational vehicle with a relatively low driving range of 301 km. Seres recorded approximately 448 deliveries in the first three quarters of 2022.