Chinese rival for the Hilux and Ranger
JAC has officially arrived in New Zealand, with a range of diesel and electric trucks. And a ute could soon join the picture, writes Matthew Hansen.
Another new vehicle manufacturer has officially landed in New Zealand, with Chinese company JAC launching its Manukau site. Whilst the brand deals mostly in commercial trucks, a model that is attracting just as much interest is its double-cab ute offering – the T9.
The T9 just launched across the ditch at an event in Sydney as an affordable dieselpowered alternative to the likes of the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, with pricing positioning it in the same territory as the GWM Cannon and LDV T60.
So if Australia is getting it, what about New Zealand?
A local spokesperson for JAC, told Stuff that the T9 was currently being evaluated for local release. But further comments have indicated that a local launch isn’t likely to take place soon – with the brand potentially waiting for an electric-assisted hybrid variant to become available before releasing the model here.
Speaking at the opening of the brand’s Manukau site, JAC’s managing director of Asia and Pacific, and director of commercial for JAC international, Henry Xia, said that New Zealand’s main difference relative to Australia was the focus on low-emission vehicles.
“In New
Zealand, the green energy [vehicle] demand is higher than Australia. The New Zealand Government is more aggressive to encourage new-energy vehicles. So we think there is more chance for a newenergy vehicle here,” said Xia.
“The New Zealand market is very special, so we’re very careful.”
Xia explained that local ute customers placed more emphasis on high-end trim levels than Australian customers, with Xia wanting to launch the T9 with “a special model” for New Zealand – as opposed to a run-of-the-mill diesel.
That special model is likely to be a plug-in variant of some sort. Whilst a fully electric T9 exists, Xia’s emphasis on the T9 plug-in hybrid that is currently being developed seemed to underline that the looming PHEV could be the desired launch ute of choice.
The T9 has had an odd road to release, with previous distributor BLK Auto initially promising to bring the model to New
Zealand in 2023. The brand is now backed by NZ Automotive Limited, a subsidiary of Colonial Motor Company.
According to Xia, the not-yet-revealed T9 plug-in hybrid is a strong performer and will be able to drive around 100km on fully electric power. That’s an impressive range figure that would seemingly indicate the model will be fitted with quite a big battery for a PHEV.
Xia would not be drawn into mentioning when such a launch might happen – not only for a T9 plug-in hybrid, but also with regard to the brand’s light-vehicle wing. With the plug-in hybrid confirmed for Australian launch in mid-2025, a New Zealand berth could share similar timing.
The standard Internal Combustion Engine T9 comes with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel 4-cylinder producing 125kW/410Nm paired to an 8-speed automatic, with a low-range transfer case and locking rear differential. The diesel hits a lot of the requisite towing markers have come to expect, thanks to its 1000kg payload and 3500kg braked towing capacity.
JAC, pronounced ‘Jack’, turns 60 years old in 2025. Alongside its truck and ute line-ups, it sells numerous passenger vehicles in its home market – including a range of EVs. Speaking to CarExpert at the T9’s Australian launch Danny Lenartic, deputy managing director of JAC’s offshore distributor LTS, said that customers in the region were putting value ahead of country of origin. And Chinese cars are benefiting.
“They have found a lot of homes. It’s all about value. People have a number in their mind to spend, and then they look at the features and benefits. And then they make an educated decision,” he said.
“For many Australian homes the decision has been a Chinese brand. I think country of origin is slowly becoming less of a concern ... There is a softening in attitude. All the Chinese brands are producing quality products at great value for money.”