Avatr is to make foray into the United Arab Emirates, which will be the Chinese premium electric carmaker’s first major market in the Middle East.

The company partnered on Thursday in Abu Dhabi with Smart Mobility International for exclusive distribution of Avatr vehicles in the UAE.

Smart Mobility International is part of the United Al Saqer Group, one of the leading multi-sector business groups in the country.

Since 1982 it has played host to some of the biggest automotive brands in the region including BMW, Rolls-Royce and McLaren.

This is the first year that Avatr has kicked off its efforts to explore the overseas markets. The carmaker said it will first focus on three major regions of Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

China's new energy vehicles are becoming popular in overseas markets thanks to their quality, driving range as well as cutting-edge functions.

A total of 519,000 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids were shipped overseas from China in the first five months this year, up 13.7 percent year-on-year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.