Key Points
- Chery's premium sub-brand Lepas has confirmed its L6 electric SUV will launch in Australia in Q4 2026.
- The L6 BEV uses a 67kWh battery with a claimed range of 450km and supports up to 120kW DC fast charging.
- Pricing has not been announced; Lepas will operate its own dealer network separate from Chery and Omoda Jaecoo.
Lepas, Chery Group's newest sub-brand, has confirmed the L6 electric SUV for the Australian market in the fourth quarter of 2026. The announcement follows the brand's European debut at Milan Design Week in April and its world premiere in Bangkok in March. Australia joins the UK as a confirmed launch market.
The L6 is a five-seat medium SUV targeting a segment that includes the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and Zeekr 7X. Pricing and full Australian specifications have not been announced.
What is Lepas?
Lepas is Chery International's premium export brand and the latest in a growing list of sub-brands the Chinese automaker has launched globally. Chery's other sub-brands include Omoda, Jaecoo and iCaur, all of which sit below Lepas in the lineup. Lepas is positioned as a design-led, semi-premium offering and does not exist as a separate brand in China.
The name is a portmanteau of "leopard" and "passion". The brand's design language reflects that link, with LED headlights designed to resemble a leopard's eye and sculpted bodywork. In Australia, Lepas will launch its own dealer network rather than share showrooms with Chery or Omoda Jaecoo.
Lepas L6 BEV: Key Specs
The press release confirms a 160kW / 275Nm electric motor and a claimed range of 450km for the Australian-market L6 BEV. International specs from the Bangkok world premiere and UK launch reveal more detail about the platform. The table below combines confirmed Australian figures with international data; cells marked with an asterisk (*) are drawn from overseas specifications and may differ in the Australian-market version.
Spec | Detail |
Body style | 5-seat medium SUV |
Powertrain | Single front electric motor (BEV) |
Power | 160kW |
Torque | 275Nm |
Battery capacity | 67kWh LFP* |
Claimed range | 450km (AU press release); ~430km WLTP estimated* |
DC fast charging | Up to 120kW (30-80% in ~20 min)* |
AC charging | Up to 7kW* |
0-100km/h | 7.9 seconds* |
Length | 4,570mm* |
Width | 1,852mm* |
Height | 1,683mm* |
Wheelbase | 2,700mm* |
Platform | Chery NEV modular / LEX platform* |
Seating | 5 |
Price (Australia) | TBC |
Australian launch | Q4 2026 |
* Figures sourced from international specifications. Australian-market figures may differ and will be confirmed closer to launch.
Design and Interior
The L6's exterior uses slim LED lighting signatures and a modern stance. Lepas says the headlights are designed to resemble a leopard's eye, a motif carried through the brand's identity. The exterior drew on a running leopard for its sculpted bodywork and aerodynamic silhouette.
Inside, the cabin follows a minimalist approach with a focus on materials, comfort, and space. Confirmed interior features include a panoramic glass roof. CarsGuide's international drive noted the review car came with a heated front screen, panoramic sunroof with electric sunshade, electric tailgate, dual-zone climate control, 50W wireless charger, synthetic leather six-way adjustable heated and ventilated electric seats, 360-degree cameras, and a Sony sound system. It is not confirmed which of these will carry over to the Australian specification.
The L6 is built on Chery's new NEV modular platform, which the brand refers to internationally as the LEX architecture. The same platform underpins the smaller Lepas L4.
How It Competes
The medium SUV segment is among the most competitive in Australia's EV market. The L6 BEV will go up against the Tesla Model Y, which starts from $58,900 and remains the country's best-selling EV. The BYD Sealion 7 sits lower in nearby in price ($54,990), while the Zeekr 7X recently crossed 5,000 deliveries in under eight months in Australia.
With a 450km claimed range and up to 120kW DC charging, the L6's headline figures are competitive but not class-leading. The Tesla Model Y Long Range exceeds 500km, and the Zeekr 7X supports up to 200kW DC charging. Where Lepas will need to differentiate is on price, interior quality, and the dealer experience it can offer through its own retail network.
Australian Launch Plans
Lepas Australia COO Lucas Harris confirmed the Q4 2026 launch date in the brand's local announcement. Full pricing and specifications will be released closer to the on-sale date.
The L6 is expected to be one of the first Lepas models in Australia, alongside the larger L8. The smaller L4 is expected to follow in 2027. Lepas will establish its own dealer network in Australia, separate from Chery and Omoda Jaecoo retailers.
Chery has also confirmed Lepas's arrival will not be standalone. The group has iCaur and a revived Freelander brand also slated for the Australian market from 2026, expanding what is already one of the busier brand rollout programs from any single automaker in Australia.
About the author
Danny is a consultant and entrepreneur working at the cutting edge of the electric vehicle and energy transition. He is passionate about educating and helping consumers make better decisions through data.
