Diwali 2026 may see the debut of the JSW-Chery joint venture in the Indian market with the launch of Chery’s Jetour T2, a plug-in rugged mid-size SUV. In India, they already have patented multiple new energy vehicles that they have planned to introduce here. Recently, Chery has patented iCAUR V23, a compact all-electric SUV whose launch is anticipated shortly after the first model.
As of now, its launch date in the Indian market is uncertain. Many reports suggest that following its debut in India in October 2026, the iCAUR V23 will be available for sale from the first quarter of 2027. After the launch in the Indian market, it is all set to compete with the Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella, Tata Curvv EV, Hyundai Creta Electric, Maruti Suzuki eVitara, and Mahindra BE 6.
Notably, the Chinese automobile manufacturer Chery sells new energy vehicles in the domestic market with multiple sub-brands, including Luxeed, iCAUR / iCAR, Jaecoo, Jetour, and Exeed. Under the JWS Motors banner, Chery is all set to sell NEVs in India by locally assembling them. The ICAUR V23 coming here is highly anticipated to remain the same as the Chinese model; let’s have a closer look at the same.
Dimensions & Design
The length, width, and height are 4,220 mm, 1,915 mm, and 1,845 mm, respectively, whose wheelbase measures 2,735 mm, and the wading depth is 600 mm. Outside it has round-shaped LED headlights integrating daylight running lights and headlamps, a closed-off front grille with iCaur lettering, a skid plate on a rugged front bumper, five-spoke alloy wheels, and wheel arch cladding.
Other notable features that we find on its exterior are hidden flush-type door handles, a blackout outside rear-view mirror with integrated blinkers, roof rails, lower body cladding, and side steps for easier ingress and egress. Its rear gets double-layer slim horizontal LED taillights above the rear bumper, a side-opening tailgate with a spare wheel, and a horizontal-shaped reflector just below the black trim below the tailgate.
Powertrain & Performance
In China, it is available in three variants that are 301 Youth, 401 Advance, and 501 High with 47.28 kWh LFP, 59.93 kWh LFP, and 81.76 kWh NMC battery packs, giving the CLTC range of 301, 401, and 501. The first two get a permanent magnet synchronous motor with single-speed automatic transmission on the rear axle with a rear-wheel-drive drivetrain, whose power output is 100 kW and peak torque is 180 Nm.
The third gets the motor on the rear axle from two variants and a 55 kW induction motor on the front axle featuring an all-wheel-drive drivetrain. They combined deliver 155 kW power and 292 Nm torque. The RWD variant takes 4.8 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 50 km/h, but the AWD only takes 3.5 seconds; the top speed for all three variants is 140 km/h.
Notably, the rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants support DC chargers up to 100 kW and 150 kW, respectively, which take 30 minutes for 30 to 80 percent charging. For the Indian market, the last two variants are anticipated, although the carmaker is yet to confirm officially what they will offer.
Price Expectations
In the Chinese market, the V23 under the banner of iCaur was unveiled at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, and then the market launch happened in December 2024 with the price between 99,800 yuan (₹14.15 lakh) and 139,800 yuan (₹19.82 lakh). In the Indian market, it will be a little costlier than the amount with which they offer it in the domestic market; the expected cost ex-showroom is ₹18-30 lakh.