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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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