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Chinese brand JAC – returning to local showrooms with a diesel ute – has set its sights upon an expanded range of plug-in hybrid vehicles for Australia, including utes and SUVs.
Chinese car and truck manufacturer JAC – coming to Australia later this year with a new diesel ute – is due to add a plug-in hybrid pick-up to its line-up in 2025.
The plug-in hybrid T9 ute – due to join a diesel version due later this year – is planned to be followed by an SUV to compete in Australia’s largest new-car market segment.
The JAC T9 ute is being imported and distributed in Australia by new company LTS Auto, which says it has invested $AU40 million so far in local operations.
MORE: 2024 JAC T9 price and specs
JAC Vice General Manager David Zhang told a media conference the company plans to build upon the diesel T9 with a plug-in hybrid variant of the same ute.
“This year, we will focus on the diesel 4×4 with the automatic transmission … In China, we are in the process of developing the PHEV (plug-in hybrid),” Mr Zhang said.
“We hope next year, we will launch [it] in Australia … to [introduce] more environmentally-friendly products [to the market].”
JAC, which produced 592,000 vehicles last year, has aspirations to expand beyond the ute segment in Australia and target the SUV market.
“For the Australian market, right-hand drive is different from other countries and China. So firstly, we will focus on the pick-up, for diesel and for PHEV,” Mr Zhang said.
“At the same time, we also noticed there is very good potential for the SUV… with new energy [hybrid or electric],” he said.
“We are now in the process [of having] a more detailed … investigation into the market. We will discuss with our partners to launch the new products for passenger use.”
A new energy vehicle (NEV) is the Chinese-market term for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.
When asked which propulsion type his mention of “new energy” was intended to refer to, Mr Zhang said: “I think PHEV is a good choice for the market, because Australia is big.”
One option for JAC in Australia is the JS6 plug-in hybrid mid-sized SUV – a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV or MG HS Plus EV rival – which is also known as the Sehol QX in China.
The JAC JS6 plug-in hybrid uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor developing 150kW and 300Nm, combined with a 21.67kWh battery which can be charged at up to 26kW.
The post JAC T9 plug-in hybrid ute due in Australia in 2025, SUV to follow appeared first on Drive.
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