China’s Tesla-Beater (Or Not): Aoxin Ibis Electric Full-Size SedanChina’s Tesla-Beater (Or Not): Aoxin Ibis Electric Full-Size Sedan

It’s safe to say that the success of the Tesla Model S electric car hasn’t gone unnoticed in the rest of the auto industry.
Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche are all rumored to be working on Tesla-rivaling luxury plug-in cars.
MORE: Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche Electric Cars To Target Tesla Model S (Plug-In Hybrids Too)
And now, Tesla will also have to fend off an attack from what is becoming one of the world’s largest markets for electric cars: China.
Then again, maybe not.
Aoxin Ibis electric car. Photo by CarNewsChina.com.The car you see here is called the Aoxin Ibis, and it appeared at the recent New Energy Auto Show in Shanghai with Tesla-baiting upscale pretensions, according to Car News China.
While they’re both electric sedans, the Ibis and Model S seem to have little in common–until you look at their badges.
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The Aoxin badge features a similar “T” shape to Tesla’s with some differences, including a wreath surround that appears copied from Mercedes-Benz.
That’s where the visual similarities end, though.
Also known as the Aoxin Heying or Aoxin E45, the Ibis has chunky, generic styling and–interestingly for an all-electric car–a prominent chrome grille that would make Hannibal Lector blush.
Aoxin Ibis electric car. Photo by CarNewsChina.com.One design similarity with the Model S is aluminum bodywork, and there are some carbon-fiber pieces as well. So despite being slightly longer than the Tesla, the Ibis actually weighs about 600 pounds less.
Not that the Ibis is by any means sporty. It features three electric motors–one in the rear axle and an additional one for each rear hub–yet only manages to muster 181 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque.
ALSO SEE: Chinese Car Buyers May Be More Open To Electric Cars Than Americans: Study
Range from the lithium-polymer battery pack is estimated at a genuinely Tesla-rivaling 285 miles, while the top speed is less impressive at 94 mph.
The Aoxin Ibis is made by Aoxin New Energy, a company based in Yancheng City in China’s Jiangsu Province.
Its previous products include small electric utility vehicles and city car called the e-GO EV, which is being marketed in the U.S. by Las Vegas-based 2050 Motors.
Aoxin Ibis electric car. Photo by CarNewsChina.com.The company did not disclose pricing or an on-sale date for the Ibis, but the car appeared just as demand for electric cars is picking up in China.
China overtook the U.S. in monthly electric-car sales late last year after years of steady pressure on consumers from the government.
Tesla hasn’t benefited from this boom, though. Lack of its Supercharger fast-charging stations and other issues have kept sales down.
At least it looks like competition from the Aoxin Ibis isn’t something the Silicon Valley company has to worry about.

[hat tip: Gavin Shoebridge]
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