Futuristic, hyper-fast LDV electric people-mover possible for Australia

Could this futuristic-looking hyper-fast battery electric people-mover one day be sold in Australia?

Called the Maxus Mifa in its Chinese home market, the six-seat wagon goes into production in November with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds. That’s supercar fast.

The Aussie connection? Maxus is sold in Australia under the LDV brand by the powerful independent Ateco Group.

LDV was a British van-maker until going bankrupt in 2008, and is now part of the huge SAIC Motor automotive company.

SAIC also controls the MG brand, which it sells in Australia via a fully-owned subsidiary. The MG ZS EV is Australia’s cheapest battery electric vehicle.

In Australia, Ateco sells a range of LDV SUVs, pick-ups, vans, a small bus and the G10 people-mover. But no EVs.

So could the Mifa come to Australia as a first foray into electrification for LDV here?

“We are working with our colleagues in China on future product roll-out and are looking at a range of vehicles suitable for the Australian market,” an Ateco Group spokesman told EV central.

“We will communicate more in due course.”

First unveiled as a concept at the Shanghai motor show earlier this year, the people-mover shares its name with the new architecture that underpins it.

Mifa is expected to have dual eMotors that combine to produce 500kW and 900Nm, hence the 0-100km/h claim of an astonishing 3.8 seconds.

Equipped with a ternary lithium battery pack, the range is forecast to be as much as 600km … but not if you’re often reaching 100km/h as quickly as claimed.

The exterior design is obviously edgy and futuristic, as is the interior, which in the concept featured a huge continuous screen for the dashboard and a Tesla-like steering yoke.