Exlantix confirmed for NZ: ET SUV and ES GT due in 2027

A new name is preparing to enter New Zealand's luxury-car conversation — and it comes from one of the Chinese manufacturers already becoming familiar to Kiwi motorists. Chery has confirmed plans to bring its premium Exlantix marque here, with the ET SUV and ES GT shooting brake expected to lead the introduction in the first half of 2027.

That makes Exlantix more than another overseas concept worth watching. It is a proposed addition to the local showroom landscape, although the crucial buying details — final NZ prices, equipment and powertrains — have yet to be announced.

What exactly is Exlantix?

Exlantix is associated with Exeed, Chery's premium division. The name is used for its electrified models in selected overseas markets, while Chinese buyers also encounter the related Sterra name. To New Zealand customers the distinctions between these badges may initially be confusing, especially when Chery already sells vehicles under its own brand and has other associated marques.

The brand was confirmed for Australasia by Exeed and Exlantix International chief executive Lilian Xiong during an event in Shanghai, according to EVs and Beyond and CarExpert. The Exlantix identity rather than Exeed is intended for Australia and New Zealand because of reported trademark constraints. Those details explain why an international model may appear online under different branding from the version eventually sold here.

The local range is expected to open with the ET SUV and ES GT shooting brake. Right-hand-drive examples were reportedly shown at the Shanghai event, a significant step for markets where vehicles need more than a badge change before local sale.

The ET SUV: a more conventional luxury proposition

An SUV is a natural starting point for an unfamiliar premium brand. New Zealand shoppers have embraced higher-riding family vehicles, and an upmarket ET could attract buyers who want a quieter, well-equipped alternative to traditional European premium models.

But until the New Zealand distributor publishes a specifications sheet, it is premature to quote a local range, charging rate, battery size or towing capacity. Internationally marketed models can have different battery packs, infotainment software, suspension and safety equipment depending on the country. A photographed right-hand-drive demonstrator establishes that the configuration exists; it does not establish what every local delivery will contain.

The ET will also have to prove the everyday attributes luxury-SUV buyers expect: supportive seats, quiet high-speed cruising, useful luggage room, effective assistance systems and reliable after-sales support. Premium status cannot be established by screens and dramatic launch presentations alone.

ES GT shooting brake: the more unusual entry

The ES GT is the more distinctive of the two announced vehicles. A shooting brake combines elements of a low-roof performance car with a longer rear body and more practical luggage area. That gives Exlantix an opportunity to offer something less conventional than the many medium and large SUVs now crowding the market.

In New Zealand, however, that styling choice introduces questions. How much usable boot space is available below the sloping tailgate? Can rear passengers sit comfortably beneath the roofline? Is ground clearance suitable for steep driveways, and does the charging port position work with typical local public chargers?

Those questions are a useful reminder that overseas concept photography and production-ready local specification are different things. The right-hand-drive ES GT displayed overseas is encouraging, but there is no confirmed NZ price or final equipment list for buyers to compare today.

Electric, plug-in hybrid or range extender?

Exlantix plans include electrified powertrains, and overseas coverage describes pure-electric and range-extender technology within the wider product strategy. Exactly which system New Zealand gets in each of its first two models remains unconfirmed.

These distinctions matter. A battery-electric vehicle relies entirely on charging for propulsion, while a range-extender arrangement uses a combustion engine to generate energy for an electric drive system. A conventional plug-in hybrid can use its engine in different ways. Each offers a different compromise involving fuel, electricity, long-distance travel and servicing.

New Zealand buyers should therefore wait for certified local consumption and range figures. A China-market CLTC result should not be compared directly with a European WLTP figure or taken as a guarantee of Auckland-to-Wellington driving range. Charging speed is also only meaningful when paired with battery conditions and the capabilities of actual chargers available to the owner.

Who will Exlantix compete with?

A premium Chinese entrant arrives in a crowded but changing market. Established European luxury brands have strong histories of dealer service, refinement and residual values. Meanwhile, a growing number of Chinese brands are trying to win buyers through technology, equipment and pricing.

Exlantix will need to persuade people who might otherwise investigate a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi or another high-spec electric SUV. Yet a direct price comparison would be speculative at this stage: nothing official establishes whether Exlantix will undercut those models dramatically or position itself closer to them.

The parent group's New Zealand activity may help introduce the name. CarWatch has already covered Chery's developing local range and its Stockman ute plans. Those stories show the broader expansion, but they do not confirm Exlantix's dealer footprint or ownership experience.

What Kiwi buyers should ask before ordering

The most important missing pieces are straightforward: confirmed launch timing, exact right-hand-drive specifications, retail prices, vehicle warranties, battery coverage, servicing locations, software support and independent crash-test information for the market version.

It will also matter whether the ET and ES GT arrive at the same time, whether demonstrations are available outside major cities and how long parts take to reach regional repairers. These are not glamorous launch specifications, but they often determine whether an unfamiliar premium car becomes a sensible long-term purchase.

The reported first-half 2027 timing is an expectation, not a guarantee of dealer deliveries on a particular date. Buyers should avoid treating overseas deposit campaigns or promotional graphics as a New Zealand ordering announcement.

A significant launch, with big questions still open

Exlantix's confirmation is important because Chery is moving beyond value-focused volume models into territory where buyers demand a complete premium ownership package. Two very different body styles could help the brand stand out from a sea of conventional SUVs.

For now, the confirmed story is the brand's intention to enter New Zealand and the ET and ES GT models identified for its early rollout. Whether they become compelling alternatives will depend on local pricing, usable range, quality, service backing and the final equipment delivered in 2027.