Arcfox confirmed: New Chinese EV brand announced for NZ

Following on from the recent arrival of mainstream Chinese carmaker BAIC, the brand’s premium electric arm Arcfox has also been confirmed for local launch by Auto Distributors New Zealand.

The first model to arrive in the country is the T1 [pictured], a fully electric crossover that will compete with the likes of the Jaecoo J5 and BYD Atto 2. More models will “follow soon after”, but it’s yet to be confirmed exactly what they will be.

The T1 has already been priced for our market, with the Arcfox release confirming a retail price of $36,990 plus on-road costs, and a limited time launch price of $34,990. Orders are open from today, each car comes with a 6-year/200,000km warranty, and deliveries are slated to kick off in July.

Auto Distribution Holdings chief executive Simon Rutherford referenced the recent unprecedented rise in local petrol prices in the distributor’s Arcfox press release. These market conditions prompted a surge in EV interest across March and April.

“Arcfox, as BAIC’s premium, technology-driven EV brand and we know it will have distinctive appeal for our customers, offering stylish exterior designs alongside comfortable and spacious interiors and advanced operating systems that deliver a premium experience in the heart of the electric vehicle market,” said Rutherford.

“We are working very closely with Arcfox to expedite launch stock to New Zealand so we can do our part to help Kiwis manage through this unprecedented period of petrol pump pain, whilst reducing the amount of tailpipe emissions from the country’s new vehicle fleet.”

Arcfox is joins a flurry of Chinese brands that have recently joined the ADNZ stable. Along with being the distributor of Citroen, Peugeot and Smart, the group also distributes Leapmotor, Dongfeng, and BAIC. 

Full local specifications for the Arcfox T1 hae yet to be confirmed, with the brand’s press release only noting that the model will have a WLTP-rated range of more than 300km to a charge, and detailing a suite of safety technologies that includes front, side and curtain airbags, autonomous emergency braking, and lane departure warning. 

Arcfox New Zealand general manager Shiguang Guo says the model sits “in the sweet spot between car and SUV”.

“Dealers are able to take orders now, meaning there’s every possibility the first boatload of arrivals into the country will be sold out given the interest in full EV models, so there is urgency to secure your new car today if you want to make the switch to electric,” said Guo.

ADNZ has confirmed eight Arcfox dealership sites around the country. Three are in Auckland (Albany, Newmarket, Takanini), with the balance of the North Island served by sites in Tauranga, Waikato, and Wellington. The South Island gets two sites, one in Christchurch and one in Dunedin.