CHINESE car-maker JAC Automotive has made Melbourne the worldwide star of its worldwide reveal of its new T9 ute with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) driveline and a high-performance potential with its 1000Nm output.
The T9 Hunter PHEV, earmarked for an early 2026 launch in Australia, was a shock reveal on the Melbourne Motor Present together with JAC’s all-electric T9 EV and its De-Tremendous idea automotive, a precursor to a string of passenger automobiles on their approach to native JAC showrooms.
It’s going to compete with the upcoming Ford Ranger PHEV and the 2 on-sale PHEV utes, the BYD Shark 6 and the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV.
JAC says the Hunter targets not solely common 4×4 dual-cab ute gamers however particularly performance-oriented variations such because the Ford Ranger Raptor.
It’s fitted with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and two electrical motors which have a mixed output of 385kW and 1000Nm of torque.
JAC Australia director of technical and help, Hongjian “Hong” Jiang advised GoAuto that the Hunter makes use of a 32kWh lithium-ferrous phosphate (LFP) battery which permits an electric-only vary of 100km.
He mentioned the battery output additionally permits for vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality to energy work instruments and different home equipment.
The ute additionally has a payload of greater than 1000kg – JAC places 1045kg on its figures, outstripping the BYD and GWM by a big margin whereas beating the Ford to a smaller diploma – plus a tow ranking of 3200kg (larger than the BYD), though Mr Hong indicated it could possibly be engineered to ship 3500kg to match the Ford and GWM.
Externally, the Hunter is similar to the T9 diesel whereas inside, the PHEV follows the identical cabin design theme because the T9 diesel with the obvious distinction being a rotary gear selector for the PHEV.
The Hunter is thought to be a key car for Australia, based on JAC Australia managing director Ahmed Mahmoud.
He mentioned that Chinese language car-makers had historically began from truck-based automobiles and that JAC was no totally different.
“In Australia, of curiosity to us is this massive ute sector,” he mentioned.
“There are about 205,000 items a yr within the 4WD ute sector. Half of that’s fleet and reveals there may be potential for us to extend the product vary by including cab-chassis and SUV variants.”
Requested if the latest taxation adjustments to the FBT affected gross sales potential, he mentioned that even a novated market was nonetheless important.
JAC has a diesel dual-cab ute and follows that with the Hunter PHEV in early 2026. It additionally has a battery electrical model that’s going to Western Australia in a sequence of trials with chosen mining firms and mining fleet operators.
A key a part of increasing gross sales in Australia with its utes is what Mr Mahmoud mentioned was “doing issues a little bit bit totally different in after gross sales”.
“We’ve got a seven-year guarantee, and that is for everybody – retail and fleet.
“What we have now additionally launched prior to now yr is a ‘ute for ute’ program that offers all homeowners a mortgage automotive whereas they’re in for restore, service or guarantee work.
“We see this as being of specific worth to fleet homeowners, together with tradies, who can’t afford to have their car off the highway.”
JAC has greater than 60 sellers in Australia and not too long ago opened a elements warehouse in Melbourne.
