JAC T9 UTE News

New car reviews are the backbone of CarsGuide’s offering to its readers and viewers. The aim is to provide in-market buyers with the independent information they need to make an informed purchase decision and interested browsers with enough detail to satisfy their curiosity.

Despite a huge onslaught of fresh competition in the Australian ute market, November new car registration figures show established players continue to lead the category by a healthy margin.

A Chinese Ranger chaser has beefed up its range.

JAC has confirmed four new versions of the T9 turbo-diesel dual-cab ute will be launching in Australia in November.

Chinese carmakers aren’t just winning over Aussies with affordable electric SUVs, the same manufacturers have quickly established themselves as serious competitors in the popular ute segment that's dominated by the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. Just this year we’ve seen a stack of new Chinese utes models arrive in Australia to join some already well-established players. So, here’s the ultimate list of Chinese utes in Australia to help you keep up to date with what’s on the ground now and those expected to arrive soon.BYD has taken Australia by storm with its affordable electric cars, but wading into the treacherous and competitive waters of the ute segment inhabited by the likes of Toyota’s HiLux and Ford’s Ranger was brave. BYD, however, didn’t just wade in, it backstroked in during late last year and stole a sizable chunk of the market with the Shark 6 becoming the fourth best-selling 4x4 ute on the market so far in 2025.The Shark 6 is a plug-in hybrid that uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with two electric motors for a combined output of 321kW and 650Nm. Braked towing capacity is 2500kg.The GWM Cannon is the most established Chinese ute in Australia and is popular for its combination of good looks and good value.The Cannon dual-cab has a 2.4 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit making 135kW and 480Nm. Braked capacity is 3500kg.JAC’s T9 arrived in Australia in late 2024 and there are currently two grades on sale - the Oasis and the Haven. Powering the T9 is a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine making 120kW and 410Nm, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Braked towing capacity is 3200kg.LDV’s Terron 9 is the latest member of the brand’s growing ute family. Larger in every way than the T60 both in dimensions and grunt.Powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four cylinder making 163kW and 520Nm, the Terron 9 has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.An eTerron 9 electric version could also be arriving in Australia soon. The LDV T60 is the smaller stablemate of the Terron 9 and is powered by a 160kW/500Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, mated to an-eight speed automatic, with a six-speed manual gearbox also available. LDV upgraded the T60 in 2025 and this T60 Max, as it's called now, has a higher braked towing capacity of 3500kg.The new Foton Tunland arrived late in 2025 a very different vehicle to the one we used to know with strikingly handsome exterior and lavish looking cabin.All variants have a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with a 48V mild hybrid system, with outputs of 120kW and 450Nm.Chery has confirmed that it will bring a plug-in hybrid ute to Australia to compete against BYD’s Shark 6 in 2026 and the Rely P3X could be it.Rely is one of the many brands owned by Chery, along with Omoda and Jaecoo which are already in Australia. Rely showed off the P3X recently at the Chengdu motor show and it's very likely one or both of these will be vehicles to be picked and arrive wearing a Chery badge.The P3X appears to have all the ingredients to make it a tough rival to the BYD Shark 6 with its ladder frame chassis and 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine with dual electric motors.MG’s U9 arrives right about now and could be a game changer, even if it’s based on a ute that’s already here - the LDV Terron 9.MG’s bosses say that the U9 will come with a choice of diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, and that variety, along with its good looks and expected affordable price point, will make it a big market disrupter. A 3500kg braked towing capacity is confirmed as well - possibly only on the diesel.Unlike all the other utes here the Geely Riddara doesn’t sit on a ladder frame and is far more car-like and lifestyle focused than a work truck.Still, there’s definitely a market for a small and comfortable little ute like the Riddara RD6, which is likely to come to Australia with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.When it does come isn’t certain, with Geely appearing to concentrate more on growing its passenger car line-up first.

China’s JAC is set to bring a new plug-in hybrid version of its T9 ute to Australia, according to documents seen by CarsGuide.

The JAC T9 EV Dual-Cab 4x4 ute has been slotted into a real-world trial with WA-based mining services provider, Warrikal, to examine its performance in one of the harshest work environments in the country.

Think back to the before times – before GWM sent its Cannon Alpha PHEV charging up Beer O'Clock Hill, before BYD caught the old-guard napping with its Shark 6, and before brands like MG, JAC and more announced their own plans for innovative dual cabs.

JAC has slashed the pricing of its T9 turbodiesel dual-cab ute in Australia with the introduction of a limited-time drive-away pricing offer for run-out model year 2024 (MY24) stock.

JAC has revealed the production right-hand drive version of its upcoming Hunter plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute which will sit atop the T9 range when it arrives in Australia early next year.Unveiled at the 2025 Greater Bay auto show (a motor show for the Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau area), the specific T9 Hunter PHEV shown was dubbed the “Australian Edition”, suggesting it will mirror the specification that will arrive on our shores.It features various changes over the diesel model which recently launched, including aero-style 18-inch alloy wheels, a slightly redesigned front bumper with JAC logo in blue and a sports bar over the tray.Inside, it scores a new steering wheel design and does away with the lever-style shifter in the centre console, replacing it with a rotary dial.The biggest changes are to the mechanicals. It scores a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine (160kW/360Nm) with dual electric motors on each axle, producing 130kW/300Nm on the front, and 150kW/340Nm on the rear, for a claimed total combined output of 380kW/1000Nm.It is equipped with a four-speed dedicated hybrid transmission linking the two power sources, and unlike the BYD Shark, it has a solid link to the rear axle rather than just an e-motor range-extender style set-up.To support this system, the Hunter is equipped with a 31.2kWh lithium battery, with an estimated 100km of driving range. According to the NEDC cycle, the Chinese-spec vehicle consumes 2.0L/100km in combined conditions, or 8.0L/100km when the battery is at its reserve power level.For the Chinese market, its payload capacity is rated at 715kg, although towing capacity is yet to be revealed. On the Chinese spec-sheet, it can sprint from 0-100km/h in six seconds. It will also feature a vehicle-to-load (V2L) discharge function good for powering tools, campsites, or even home appliances in a black-out.Expect local numbers for driving range, power outputs, towing and payload to be subject to Australian Design Rules and confirmed closer to its local launch.The Hunter PHEV was already previewed in Australia at the Melbourne motor show in April, where it was shown with a significantly tougher styling package, consisting of chunky all-terrain wheels, larger aftermarket-look alloys, as well as a black styling package for the sports bar, wheels, and grille.At this stage it is unclear whether JAC will launch the Hunter with the more tame look of the “Australian Edition” ute seen overseas, or the tougher look of the vehicle seen at Melbourne.Either way, the T9 will have its work cut out for it in order to challenge an array of new hybrid ute offerings. BYD’s Shark 6 has already made an impact with thousands of units on the road already, and GWM’s Cannon Alpha PHEV is now also available, offering mechanical links to the wheels for what the brand says is deeper capability for off-road scenarios.Ford will also soon launch its much-anticipated plug-in hybrid ranger in multiple trim levels, while further down the track Mitsubishi and Nissan have both made no secret of their intent to offer plug-in hybrids in the future.Pricing may be JAC’s way to carve out a space for itself, with BYD setting a hard-to-beat bar of just $57,900 before on-roads for its well-equipped Shark 6. As it stands, JAC’s T9 diesel range tops out at $45,630 before on-roads.JAC has yet another trick up its sleeve though, with the T9 platform also supporting a fully electric option. The full EV would complete the trifecta, potentially making the T9 the only dual-cab to offer diesel, hybrid, and fully electric drivetrain options in Australia.