Chery E5 Reviews

Chery is tapping a local engineering firm to sharpen its incoming Stockman ute into a real-life Toyota HiLux and BYD Shark 6 smasher.Aussie outfit Premcar, which already turns Nissan Patrols and Navaras into 4WD beasts, will undertake extensive local testing and validation to get the Stockman ready for Aussie roads and adventures.Chery Australia Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris previously said the brand had one chance to get the ute right, and it appears it is throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it to make it a proper success."Australia is one of the world's most demanding ute markets, and we know our customers expect a vehicle that performs confidently across everything from urban streets to highways, construction sites and remote off-road tracks," said Harris.Premcar boss Bernie Quinn said Chery had very clear vision on what it wanted from its Stockman ute.“Chery has gone the extra mile with its first-ever Stockman ute,” he said.The move to undertake a comprehensive ride and handling program is a change of course for the brand, which previously told CarsGuide it doesn’t need to tune its cars in Australia to get a better result.“I think as long as we have the intelligent and educated input, whether we do that work in China or Europe or North America is irrelevant,” Harris said previously.“As long as the request is right of the spec we want and how we want it to behave and then a local validation of whether we got what we asked for. You don’t need a facility here to do that.”The importance of getting the Stockman right for Aussies appears to have changed that.The Stockman is due to go on sale by the end of the year, and will be powered by a diesel plug-in hybrid set-up. Not even Toyota - the master of diesel utes and hybrids - has delivered this set-up.The Stockman combines a 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine with an electric motor to deliver 350kW and 800Nm sent to all four wheels.It can drive up to 100km under electric-only power, but this is calculated via the more lenient NEDC test cycle. Expect closer to 80km when tested to the benchmark WLTP cycle.A petrol plug-in version will join the range in 2027.The Stockman will be a proper work truck, with leaf spring rear suspension paired with more sophisticated double wishbone hardware up front.It will have a 750kg unbraked and 3500kg braked towing capacity. Chery has not revealed payload yet.The Stockman will wear all terrain tyres as standard and will have 247mm of ground clearance.It is a big unit measuring 5450mm long, 2010 wide and 1890 tall. It’s wheelbase is a large 3250mm. The tub is 1560mm long, 1560mm wide and 500mm high.Chery has also previously said it would have front, centre and rear diff locks, and it should have low gearing for proper off-roading.

KGM, formerly SsangYong, has received a large investment from Chery as the Chinese giant looks to secure a long-term strategic presence in South Korea.Chery has pledged a US$75 million (over $107 million) investment in Korea’s third largest automaker, following on from a previously-announced deal to build a mid-size and large SUV using Chery platforms in South Korea.Both brands will also deepen collaborations on software, electrical architecture and autonomous driving features.The deal will grant KGM access to Chery platforms, which will give it a boost on the electrification front, and accelerate product development cycles. For Chery it will potentially open up a manufacturing base in South Korea, which can have several trade benefits, particularly to markets like Europe in the future.The previous strategic agreement between the brands will result in a co-developed vehicle (code-named SE-10) on the Chery T2X platform, which currently underpins the Tiggo 9 large SUV. The Tiggo 9 is currently Chery’s flagship offering in Australia.This platform will give KGM access to desirable plug-in hybrid tech, which is a notable omission from its current line-up.KGM said the SE-10 will be in the upper large segment and “continue the Rexton’s legacy”. It also said the joint-venture vehicle will launch in early 2027 globally and will be available both as a plug-in hybrid and 2.0-litre petrol turbo.It is unclear whether this model will live alongside the Musso-based Rexton, which KGM dubs “Korea’s only ladder frame SUV” or replace it entirely. The latter would mean no replacement Rexton based on the new-generation Q300 Musso.The Korea Times reports Chery said it was open to the idea of launching the Chery brand in South Korea, but for now was focused on its partnership only.Chery is not the only manufacturer eyeing South Korea as an important and globally strategic manufacturing base. Geely and Renault share resources and build cars at the former Renault/Samsung plant in Busan, including the new-generation Grand Koleos and Polestar 4.For KGM the investment is critical as it seeks to be more of a global player after years of financial turmoil under the SsangYong brand.The automaker languished under its previous owner Mahindra and for a long time struggled to find a buyer, which has had the knock-on effect of delaying new model roll-out plans. This is part of the reason the brand has long lived in the shadow of Korea’s most famous duo, Hyundai and Kia.Now owned by South Korean chemical and resource giant KG, the company has since paid its debts and launched a range of new models, including the mid-sized Torres and Actyon SUVs, and has spun-off its Musso ute range into a sub-brand, launching the Musso EV and next-generation Q300 diesel ute.Under the SsangYong brand, the Korean company had significant staying power in Australia despite a relatively small operation thanks to a cult following for its affordable and unassuming diesel Musso ute which continues to be its best-seller.While KGM has struggled with the rise of affordable Chinese rivals in the Australian market, it will no doubt be pinning its future sales success Down Under on the Q300 Musso which launches here later in 2026.Meanwhile Chery has surged up the charts locally, now ranking amongst Australia’s top-10 automakers thanks largely to the success of its ultra-affordable Tiggo 4 small SUV and Tiggo 7 mid-sizer.Chery also looks set to flood the market with its sub-brands building on the existing success of Omoda/Jaecoo (albeit largely via the Jaecoo J5 EV).Not only will it launch Lepas in Australia later this year, but the arrival of the off-road focused Jetour and blocky iCaur lifestyle brands are also expected.While many headlines are drawn to BYD, and SAIC (MG, LDV) has been established for longer in Australia, Chery is China’s largest vehicle exporter, sending 1,146,350 vehicles overseas, nearly doubling its tally from last year.Its deal with KGM is just one of a range of strategic investments, with others around the world including with Jaguar Land Rover (which has spawned a re-boot of Freelander as a new joint-venture brand) and also a memorandum of understanding with Indian giant, Tata Motors.It also plans to utilise part of Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the UK to build Chery models for the UK and Europe.

Could a Jaecoo-badged version of the upcoming Chery Stockman ute be on the cards for Australia?The Chinese-made Chery workhorse is set to enter the super competitive dual-cab market later this year and it will be the first ute powered by a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain.Being part of the massive Chery Group, Omoda Jaecoo could potentially offer its own version of the ute if it can make a business plan stack up.Omoda Jaecoo Australia Chief Commercial Officer Roy Munoz told CarsGuide Chery Group shares platforms and tech, but he was coy on whether his brand was developing its own version of the ute.“So because we're part of Chery as a group, obviously we share platforms, we share powertrains, we share R&D and technology. So it's always possible that we could have our own version, but nothing's been confirmed at this stage,” he said at the recent Jaecoo J8 launch.When asked if he thought a ute would be a good fit for the brand in Australia, Munoz quickly said “yes.”“I always think that there's always room for another option for the Australian market, and yeah, ultimately the customer will decide whether that product belongs or not.”While not officially confirmed, a Jaecoo ute makes sense given the positioning of the brand. Under the wider Chery banner, Jaecoo is positioned as the adventure brand, although the coming iCaur brand is also undoubtedly an adventure brand.Yet another Chery brand, Jetour, has already detailed its version of the Stockman, dubbed the F700 for China.The Stockman’s powertrain combines a 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine with an electric motor delivering 350kW/800Nm sent to all four wheels.It has an EV-only driving range up to 100km, but this is calculated via the more lenient NEDC test cycle. Expect closer to 80km when tested to the WLTP cycle.Chery Group Australia’s management must also be looking at dual-cab ute sales and considering whether further growth is even possible.The 4x4 dual-cab ute segment has stagnated with year-to-date sales figures to the end of June down 11.1 per cent, or close to 12,000 units. A number of new ute models that have arrived in the past 12 or so months have failed to fire, including the MG U9 and its LDV Terron 9 twin, the JAC T9, Foton Tunland (all from China) and Kia’s Tasman.The only new ute that’s struck a chord with buyers is the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which is now Australia’s third best-selling 4x4 dual-cab behind the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.The Chery Stockman’s strong design and innovative diesel plug-in hybrid setup could help it buck the trend in the ute segment, but could a Jaecoo version do the same? Time will tell.Regardless of whether Jaecoo opts for a ute based on the new ladder-frame platform that underpins Stockman, there is a possibility that the brand could use it to form the basis of a large premium SUV - something Chinese marques are increasingly focusing on.Munoz wouldn’t be drawn on whether a new SUV model built on the platform was in development, but left it open to possibility.“It's certainly always appealing. I wouldn't be able to comment on whether there is something coming or not, but certainly, the powertrain now exists, the platform exists, so anything is possible.”Carmakers typically don’t spend millions developing new platforms and powertrains for a single model, so expect the diesel plug-in hybrid ladder frame to surface somewhere new soon.

Sharply-priced deals can be the best way for buyers to get into a new car in Australia. Car sales are surging, with June 2026 an all-time monthly Australian record. Brands continue to put enticing deals on the table, even for their most popular models.From SUVs to utes and hybrid to electric, there are plenty of cars on offer at a cut price. Here are some of the best ones we’ve found. Ford is currently offering $3000 off and five free general services on select Ranger ute and Everest SUV models until the 30th of September. The 2.0-litre diesel Ranger XLT 2WD top-spec dual-cab model is now available from $49,990, before on-road costs. The V6-powered Wildtrak grade of the 4WD dual-cab pick-up is available from $72,090.The 4WD XLS and XLT cab-chassis grades start from $55,450 and $63,590, respectively, as part of the offer. Two grades of the V6 Everest SUV are also eligible for the $3000 discount, with the Sport starting from $73,990, while the Tremor starts from $76,990. These deals are only available on the Blue Oval’s MY26.5 stock.Peugeot is offering some serious discounts on its hybrid SUVs as it parts ways with its local distributor Inchcape. The 2008 compact SUV is available on a drive-away offer of $39,990, with it previously on sale from $42,990, before on-road costs. The mid-sized 3008 starts from $48,990, drive-away, down from $52,990 (before on-road costs). Peugeot’s 5008 large SUV has a drive-away price of $48,990, contrasting its $52,990, before on-road costs, price tag. Leapmotor has put a series of sharp deals on the table for its electrified SUV range until September 30. The mid-sizer C10 range-extender hybrid has a $42,990 drive-away offer, with a $3000 cash-back offer reducing that price to $38,990. The car normally retails from $43,888, before on-road costs. EV versions of the C10 are also available on a drive-away deal of $47,990, with an additional $3000 cash back decreasing the price to $44,990. This is a sizeable discount on the $45,888 before on-road costs starting price. The smaller B10 EV is available from $38,990, drive-away, down from $43,888 (before on-road costs).BYD continues to add competitive deals across its line-up in Australia. Shark 6 cab-chassis and Premium examples are available with a $2500 cash-back until July 31. This reduces before on-road costs pricing on the cab-chassis price to $52,500, and $60,500 on the Premium. The cash-back offer extends to its Sealion 5, Sealion 6 and Sealion 7 SUV range, with the Atto 3 electric SUV eligible for a $2000 cash back. Chery similarly has $2000 cash-back offers on most of its range including the Tiggo 4, Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 9 SUVs. This deal is only available until 31 August on cars built in 2025.Nissan has slashed the price of its Navara ute range until August 31. There are heavy discounts on lower grade Navara units, with the base car available from $49,990 (drive-away), down from $53,348, before on-road costs. The range-topping Navara Pro-4X ute is just $63,990, drive-away, compared to its original $68,418, before on-road costs pricing. Existing Nissan customers are also eligible for a $2000 loyalty bonus. 

The boss of the largest auto parts business in Thailand is on the frontline of Chinese expansion, and he has explained why Chinese companies are beating Japan and Europe at an alarming rate.Speaking to Nikkei Asia, Yeah Swee Chuan, CEO of Aapico Hitech, predicted the rise of Chinese automakers will lead to a rapid re-ordering of the industry, with the market share of combustion-engined (ICE) vehicles falling by about a third in the coming years.“They will win the war for sure” he told Nikkei, “You know why? All the people in the world, whether it’s European or anybody, they think of ICE and ICE and ICE. They are all ICE brain.”“The Chinese started up from EV. Their brain is EV, EV, EV.”China is now the dominant country of origin for new vehicles in Australia thanks to a massive array of new brands offering affordable and desirable products, with BYD, GWM, MG and Chery storming the top-10 vehicle charts.A big part of this rise is not just cheap cars like the small SUV segment-dominating Chery Tiggo 4, but also the rise of electric vehicles. As of July, EVs are now at a 16.4 per cent market share overall, with July alone seeing electric vehicles accounting for 36 per cent of sales.A similar story is playing out across our South East Asian neighbours, with EV market share reaching 15 per cent in Indonesia, 23 per cent in Thailand. The advance of electric vehicles has been less of a slam-dunk in Malaysia where market share is at 6.8 per cent (H1 2026), and the dominant market player is still Toyota-aligned Perodua, which has a 38.7 per cent market share.Even there EV market share has more than doubled year-on-year with Geely-aligned Proton holding second place in the market, and Jaecoo also leaping up the charts.Yeap predicts legacy automakers will need to increase their collaboration with Chinese automakers in order to survive.Yeap told Nikkei he thinks this explosive growth is because the perception of Chinese cars is turning in many of the markets his company operates in.“Three years ago when the Chinese cars came to Thailand everybody said they were junk but today, it’s not junk anymore. Their cars, the electronics, their systems and all that. Very advanced and the kids and young people love it,” he said.Yeap was of the opinion that the only market able to resist the surge of electrified vehicles from China would be the US as it increasingly uses trade barriers to isolate itself from the global auto market.Chinese automakers are storming the charts both here and overseas, it’s not necessarily good news for everyone, with the boss of Bartons Motor Group in Queensland, Mark Beitz, telling CarsGuide recently all is not well in the Australian market behind the glossy sales figures.He warned EV market share figures in July, which boosted market share to historic highs was largely due to artificial inflation thanks to deliveries being fulfilled that month from orders placed when fuel prices temporarily skyrocketed during the opening weeks of the Iran war.He also said profitability in the industry was hitting unprecedented lows due to huge amounts of inventory being dumped into the market by automakers and intense competition by “way too many brands”.While he alluded to the idea that some might not work in the long term, he was more positive about the chances of so-called legacy automakers like Nissan, who he predicted would adjust with new Chinese-built products, or Mitsubishi which would play to its strengths with the incoming and highly-anticipated Pajero 4WD and tactical adjustments to the Triton ute range. Both models are built in Thailand.Beitz agreed that the surge of Chinese automakers was changing buyer preferences, and ultimately once-giants from Japan would shrink in dealer footprint alongside their market share.Globally, Japanese giants are aware of the existential crisis facing them. Nissan has chosen to re-structure its business and orient its manufacturing footprint more towards its successful Chinese joint-ventures. Even bosses from Toyota are shaken, with Japan Automobile Association Chairman and Toyota Chief Industry Officer Koji Saito telling Automotive News “unless things change, we will not survive”.2026 is a year of a car industry in flux in Australia, with a major re-shuffling of the top-10 underway. It will be unsurprising to see four or five Chinese automakers supplant once-favourites from the list before the end of the year.

Aussie buyers could soon get their hands on a cheap new EV.The Chery QQ3 is a budget-focused electric hatchback that would rival the BYD Atto 1 for the title of the cheapest electric car on sale Down Under. It is substantially bigger than the Atto 1, and closer in size to the BYD Dolphin and incoming Geely EX2.The China-built hatch is about to hit Indonesian showrooms in right-hand drive as a potential final stepping-stone before landing in Australia.It is currently under review for Australia, but it seems to be only a matter of time before Chery confirms its arrival. Chery Australia’s Chief Operating officer told CarsGuide at the start of this year the brand was keen on introducing a car from the QQ series.“I think having a very small and then a small hatchback would be a game changer,” Harris said.“So if we could bring something like the QQ, I think it’d be a huge amount of opportunity.”Here is what we know so far about the QQ3 as it pushes towards an Australian launch. The QQ3 is available in China in rear-wheel drive, with a single electric motor producing either 58kW/90Nm or 90kW/115Nm.It is offered with 29kWh and 41kWh battery units, and a driving range of up to 420km, according to lenient CLTC standards.The Indonesian model has a driving range of 400km, according to the more reliable, but still outdated, NEDC cycle that is still not reflective of real-world figures. DC charging from 30 to 80 per cent takes less than 17 minutes. The QQ3 features similar elements to the petrol-powered first-generation QQ city car.It is substantially bigger than the first generation, measuring up at 4195mm long, 1811mm wide, 1568mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2700mm.It has a bubble-like overall design, with a rounded headlights and side mirrors.There is a crossed-over ‘X’ wheel design, with two vertical strips, contrasting a spoked alloy set-up. The interior has a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital driver display, along with a six-speaker audio system. It also boasts plenty of storage space for a small car, including up to 1450L of boot space and a 70L front storage compartment.The QQ3 is pitched as a budget electric car, so it will have to be competitive with the BYD Atto 1 starting from $23,990, before on-road costs.It is priced in Indonesia from 200,000,000 rupiah, which is roughly $16,000. It costs 68,920 yuan ($14,500) in China, so it could potentially be offered from less than $25,000 in Australia.  The QQ3 has still not been officially confirmed for Australia, but its right-hand drive status accelerates its path here. The car also underwent hot-weather testing in Australia at the start of 2026.It is unlikely we will see the car Down Under this year, with 2027 a more likely prospect.

Aussies are going to be buying more Chinese cars than ever as exports boom.Our market is proving to be the perfect place for under-fire Chinese brands to move on from their oversaturated domestic market.Meanwhile, new Chinese government rules mean smaller Chinese automakers will have a better chance of becoming true competitors to bigger brands like BYD.Legislative changes have diminished the advantages of mass-production, reducing the profit on a single car sold for 200,000 yuan ($42,000) to just 3000 yuan (or $633) according to Auto Home.Brands now must look more closely at overseas markets, and Australia is standing out.Australia does not have a domestic car industry to protect so it does not impose the same expensive tariffs or rules as other markets, making it more attractive to some importers.Europe has had a series of up to 35 per cent tariffs in place on Chinese manufacturers importing EVs since late 2024 to encourage or protect local production.Thailand, one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world, has also introduced rules requiring two cars to be locally produced for every car imported.Chinese car exports surged by 65 per cent in the first half of 2026, with a whopping 5.1 million cars sold, via Auto Home.BYD and Chery have contributed nearly 2 million overseas sales between them so far this year.Virtually three-quarters of Chery’s total sales came from overseas in the first half of 2026.Many of these cars are coming to Australia as our market now sources more cars from China than it does from Japan.Nothing says this more than the current top 10 best-selling electric cars all being built in China. The BYD Sealion 7 electric mid-size SUV (from $54,000, before on-road costs) has been a raging success for the brand in Australia.Chery’s budget-friendly small SUVs the Tiggo 4 petrol/plugless hybrid (from $23,990, drive-away) and Jaecoo J5 EV ($36,990, drive-away) are some of the most popular cars on the roads today.The BYD Atto 1 hatchback is the cheapest new electric car in Australia, starting from $23,990 (before on-road costs). The larger Dolphin is also available from under $30,000.Chinese brands will continue to place further emphasis on Australia as they look to expand their local line-ups.Geely has already seen success with its EX5 electric mid-size SUV, but its methodical approach will see plenty more models hit showrooms in the next year.Brands like GAC and XPeng are also accelerating their launch plans as they feel the squeeze back home.

A new adventure-focused SUV is now available in right-hand drive.The Jetour T1 from Chery's off-road sub-brand has gone on sale in Malaysia, a common stepping stone for Chinese brands on the way to Australia. The T1 is on the larger end of the mid-size SUV segment, measuring at 4705mm long, 1967mm wide, 1840mm high, with a wheelbase of 2800mm.It is dimensionally similar to the GWM Tank 300 affordable off-roader that has been a confident seller in Australia so far. The T1 could take on a similar mantra to the Subaru Forester as a boxy SUV for urban or all-terrain activities.This version of the T1 is equipped with either a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 125kW/270Nm or a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol unit, with 180kW/375Nm. It will be available in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Both are paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It is a scaled down version of its bigger off-road-ready sibling that is powered by a hefty plug-in hybrid set-up. The smaller T1 also features an electrically upward swinging powered tailgate as opposed to a side-hinged one. Inside, there is a 12.8-inch central touchscreen and 10.3-inch digital driver display as standard, along with an eight-speaker audio system and 50W wireless phone charger. The AWD variant upgrades cloth seats to synthetic leather and adds a panoramic sunroof.It also introduces a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 10.3-inch digital driver display, as well as a premium Sony nine-speaker audio system. The T1 has officially launched in Malaysia, but it is unclear whether it will make its way to Australia in the future. Jetour is scheduled to launch in Australia next year as its own operation. It will not be directly connected to the Chery Group set-up like Omoda Jaecoo and the incoming Lepas sub-brand.Its Malaysia arrival confirms it will be available in right-hand drive, which improves its chances of a local launch, but its petrol-only set-up could attract emissions fines.The PHEV T1 could be a better fit for our market.Expect more details on the T1’s potential Australian future in the next few months as Jetour gears up to tackle the market Down Under. 

The boss of a major dealer group has told CarsGuide how competing forces and the state of the economy is taking its toll on the new car industry despite record sales in 2026.Mark Beitz, the managing director of Bartons Motor Group said the record registration numbers released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries in its monthly VFACTs data wasn’t a true reflection of car sales in June as “excess inventory”, which was building up at an alarming pace on dealer lots gets cleared out.“There were a lot of cars which were already sold months prior being delivered in June, so that accounted for a massive spike, particularly in EV and plug-in hybrids,” he said.“There is an adoption trend for EV, we can see that - so for the first quarter you were seeing that natural sustainable growth in EVs.”But, referencing the wave of attention for electric cars in the last three months that stemmed from high fuel prices due to the war in Iran and Strait of Hormuz crisis, he said while dealer groups had "never seen anything like it" it wasn't a sustainable pace for EV sales in the long run.“People were only buying EVs for a month or so” he said.“There was a lot of aged EV stock in the country, this big surge, the panic buying, really cleared that up - but we sold those cars back in April and what we're seeing in VFACTs is deliveries.”“What we’ve seen since then - in May it started to wane and now new order intake is nothing like what we saw in April.”But with many global stockpiles of fuel, which were released onto the market to ease prices, reportedly set to run thin in the coming months, does Beitz think there could be a renewed rush on EVs and plug-ins?“My feeling is no” he said.“I think as a country what we’ve experienced is what’s going to happen - I don’t feel we’ll run out of fuel, there wasn’t Armageddon like people thought there was going to be, so I don’t see another huge surge. I don’t think we’ll see anything like that second quarter for the rest of the year.”“I think it will instead be an average of the first half of the year for the second half.”He said conditions going forward looked more bleak for the industry, as a combination of factors would make numbers seen in the first six months of 2026 more difficult to replicate going forward.“The industry is seeing some real challenges. The profitability is the lowest it’s ever been - overall the industry has had the lowest return in decades for the first half of the year - that’s unheard of."“There’s a number of factors. The economy is taking its toll - there’s excess inventory everywhere. You’ve only got to drive to the ports, there’s cars everywhere. So there’s an excess inventory issue that’s affecting our ability to retain revenue. Margins have fallen through the floor.”“The other thing which is a massive issue is that there are way too many brands, and only the same amount of buyers. Year-to-date there’s a small growth but it’s bugger all, and 65 per cent of the market is still ICE vehicles, and even there it’s declined.”But despite the intense competition and ultra-low price points coming to the market from new Chinese brands, Beitz was reasonably positive about the survival chances of so-called ‘legacy brands’.“They’ll find a way forward,” he said.“Nissan is a good example, they’ll have a portfolio, which resembles their traditional products like Navara and Patrol, but next year they’ll be bringing across a range of Chinese manufactured options.”He agreed that levels of interest for incoming Chinese-built cars from brands like Nissan seen across automotive media was being replicated by buyer interest at a dealer level.“I think they’re responding but they struggle to move as fast as the Chinese brands are arriving. But legacy brands are coming back, I think they might hold on to where they sit currently."However, he also added their footprint has likely permanently shrunk when it comes to retail space: “It will result in a re-allocation of already limited space for dealers like me.”Despite promising signs for EVs going forward - with many more younger buyers being attracted by lower price points from new brands, Beitz pointed out that non-EV market share is still 75 per cent of the total market, and 78 per cent for his network specifically.He believes combustion vehicles (including plugless hybrids) will continue to make up the majority of the market for years to come.

A new plug-in hybrid ute is about to hit the market.The Jetour Zongheng F700 pick-up style ute has just been offered for pre-sale in China,Jetour Zongheng is a Chery sub-brand specifically focused on off-roading and lifestyle vehicles.The F700 presents as an off-road-ready electrified ute.It boasts a plug-in hybrid set-up like the BYD Shark 6 and Australia-bound Chery Stockman. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors combine to produce 665kW and 1135Nm.  Jetour has given its ute plenty of go-anywhere potential.This includes a four-wheel drive system, front and rear locking differentials and a wading depth of 900mm.The car has a total driving range of 1300km, and up to 150km on electric-only power, according to more generous CLTC standards. It can DC fast charge from 20 to 80 per cent in 10 minutes, courtesy of its 800-volt platform.The F700’s interior features a 35.4-inch digital screen spanning the dashboard and 15.6-inch central touchscreen. It measures in at 5495mm long, 2050mm wide, 1985mm high and has a wheelbase of 3350mm.This makes it a step up on diesel-only rivals like the Toyota HiLux.It offers a direct threat to BYD's hugely successful Shark 6 and the incoming Chery Stockman.The Stockman has become one of the most talked about upcoming utes.It will launch with a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine and electric motor PHEV set-up - the first of its kind in the Australian ute segment.Chery recently confirmed this set-up would produce 350kW and 800Nm.Chery has promised a petrol PHEV variant of the Stockman next year, and it could rely on the same set-up as the F700.It is unclear whether the F700 will make its way to Australia, but Jetour is expected to launch Down Under in early 2027.Jetour won’t fall under the Chery Group banner, and will be its own operation. The F700 would look to leverage the success of the Shark 6, providing an alternative to traditional diesel-only competition.It is priced in China from 364,900 yuan, which is the equivalent of more than $75,000, so it is on the premium end of the ute market.