Jaecoo J5 News

Chinese carmakers are leading the way went it comes to EVs, but this one brand is flipping the script.Every car in the top 10 best-selling EVs for May 2026 was built in China, including the Jaecoo J5 EV.The J5 EV claimed the title for the best-selling small SUV in May 2026. Omoda Jaecoo’s Australian Chief Commercial Officer Roy Munoz said the brand is not classed as a specialist electric carmaker, despite this result.The J5 EV was one of Chery Group’s first fully-electric models put on sale Down Under, with much of its range adopting petrol or hybrid set-ups. It was the group’s most successful model in May, but Munoz said it is doing so while tackling more EV-specific competition.“Being that Omoda Jaecoo, and I guess Chery as a wider group, is not just an EV brand. We are a traditional car company,” Munoz on CarsGuide.  “It also proves that we are a technology company where an EV is within our capability as well. “To be able to achieve that, not being known as an EV brand is a true testament to the capabilities of Omoda Jaecoo and Chery as a group.”A petrol variant of the J5 recently launched in Australia, with Omoda Jaecoo still eager to cater for an internal combustion engine consumer base. This approach contrasts many of Chery’s key rivals, such as BYD, that does not offer any petrol-only models in Australia. It demonstrates Omoda Jaecoo trying to cover all bases. A plug-less version of the J5 is also due in showrooms before the end of the year. It comes as many legacy brands also phase out petrol-only options for key models. One of the J5’s rivals the Kia Seltos will launch for its new generation with a hybrid offering, ditching its popular pure petrol variant. It will become more difficult for brands to have pure internal combustion engines in their lineups with Australian emissions regulations becoming more stringent in the coming years. Munoz said Omoda Jaecoo is aware of the potential impacts of New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) fines on a strong sales return for the petrol J5. He said the brand would balance to ensure it meets its NVES obligations, with J5 EV acting as a shield to provide credits at this stage. 

New car intenders are on the decline in Australia. While Chinese brands such as BYD and Chery are on the up, many of Australia’s most popular brands are struggling. Total sales for cars in Australia are down more than two per cent for May 2026 compared to May 2025. This decrease grows to nearly five per cent, if sales of the Tesla's Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan are excluded.This is reflected year-to-date data, which shows a more than one per cent overall drop compared to 2025 so far. The decrease comes after total sales declined slightly in 2025 compared to 2024, with sales already coming off a downturn in the second half of 2024. Even dominant players in the Australian car market like Toyota have experienced a near 25 per cent drop this year compared to 2025 numbers.This has been partly driven by a delay on supply for the new-generation RAV4 SUV, though. Economic factors are key drivers for buyer decline, including the ever-increasing costs of buying a new car, coupled with higher fuel prices. Potential buyers also need to satisfy cost of living pressures before thinking about buying a new car. The impacts of these economic conditions increases the possibility of the Australian market continuing to stagnate.Data provided from Roy Morgan last month showed buying intention to purchase a new car in the next four years has decreased by four per cent, and overall intention has dropped to 47 per cent. “The latest data on car buying intention reflects Australians believe now is not a good time to make big purchase decisions in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis,” Roy Morgan Chief Executive Officer Michele Levine said.The Kia Picanto, Australia’s cheapest new car on sale, remains the only car priced from less than $20,000. The exponential growth of Chinese brands in Australia has been driven by the comparative cheapness to legacy brand alternatives. Cars like the Chery Tiggo 4 and Jaecoo J5 EV small SUVs find themselves in the top 10 best sellers and have a price tag much lower than many of its legacy competition. 

It’s rare for a car brand to introduce a petrol variant after its EV is already flying out of dealerships, especially with fuel prices soaring.Many brands have struggled to get EVs up and running in Australia, despite huge popularity for petrol- and diesel-powered variants. This includes the Hyundai Kona, where the sales split is heavily in favour of petrol and hybrid variants at the expense of the EV.But this has not been the case for the Jaecoo J5 EV, which has been a resounding success so far in Australia.It was crowned the best-selling small SUV, and the second best-selling EV in the country, for May 2026. Deliveries of the petrol J5 are about to begin, with dealers currently receiving demonstrator models. The petrol J5 joins the market at a curious time when pure internal combustion sales are dwindling at an increasingly rapid pace.The continuing fuel crisis has accelerated the decline of petrol power in Australia, and Omoda Jaecoo is paying close attention to this.The J5 petrol has the potential to shoot up the sales charts in a similar way to the J5 EV and the closely-related Chery Tiggo 4, but buyers hesitant over fuel prices could now look elsewhere. It is priced from $25,990 (drive-away), making it $2000 expensive than the Tiggo 4 ($23,990), but more than $10,000 cheaper than the J5 EV ($36,990).Omodoa Jaecoo Chief Commercial Officer Roy Munoz said the fuel crisis is impacting expectations for the petrol J5.“Absolutely,” he said. “Fuel prices can hit in more ways than one.“At this stage it really depends if we hit another fuel crisis, where customers will be swayed more into EV or new energy.”The petrol J5 is also facing other challenges in Australia.If the J5 hits a similar run of success to its EV counterpart, it could leave Omoda Jaecoo exposed to potential New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) fines. Brands incur fines on cars sold that emit CO2 over a certain limit, which the J5 petrol does.Munoz said Omoda Jaecoo was aware of the potential impacts of a huge petrol J5 sales return on the brand’s emissions regulation position.“Potentially it could,” he said.“We are balancing that to ensure we can meet our obligations under NVES. “We’ve sold plenty of J5 EVs to protect us at this stage.” The hybrid J5 is due before the end of the year, and will alter the balance further, offering a more emissions-friendly, but budget-oriented and electrified J5. 

For the first time in Australia, electric cars are outselling diesel ones in what appears to be a major turning point for the Australian market.The latest data, compiled from both the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council, shows registrations of electric cars have more than doubled year-on-year, and now account for just under 20 per cent of Australia’s new car market.This is the culmination of multiple factors, including an influx of affordable Chinese models as the country’s behemoth manufacturers seek export markets to flee tough local conditions, and Australia’s new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES) heavily incentivise lower-emissions models, either to avoid fines or rack up credits.On top of this, skyrocketing fuel prices have clearly made many Australians think twice about committing to another combustion car, and the prospect of government incentives ending further down the track as outlined in the latest federal budget has no doubt only bolstered the latest figures.Digging into the data and one thing becomes obvious - amongst the 10 best-selling EVs, all of them were built in China. In what should come as a warning to legacy automakers yet to embrace “China Speed” as part of their business model in our market, even the most successful models from Tesla and Kia are built in China.This trend looks to continue, with Mazda the next brand to introduce Chinese joint-venture models via the Mazda 6e sedan and CX-6e SUV, both of which use Changan platforms. The Japanese giant will no doubt be betting heavily on these two models to reduce its market-leading projected fine under the new NVES rules.Nissan will also begin to introduce its array of successful-in-China Dongfeng-based models in the coming years, with Suzuki, Toyota and Volkswagen potentially being left behind as they continue to source cars from more traditional manufacturing locations like Japan, Thailand and Europe.May in particular was a bumper one, not just for market leader Tesla, but also for keen newcomers Jaecoo and Geely. BYD dominates nearly half of the top-10 charts, including the Atto 2 and Atto 1, which both arrived in 2026.EV Sales May 2026The year-to-date numbers paint a slightly different, but overall familiar story, with the Model Y managing to maintain its lead over the Sealion 7.Some year-to-date surprises include Geely’s EX5 rising to third place and Jaecoo’s aggressively-priced J5 has largely captured the entry-level EV space.Zeekr has had a huge year off the back of the launch of its 7X as it keeps up with its big order bank, and Kia has managed to hold onto 9th place with its relatively popular EV5.The Tesla Model 3 is in seventh place and is the only sedan on the list.EV sales year-to-date 2026It is hard to say what this chart will look like by the end of 2026, although the complete and ongoing re-shuffle of Australia’s favourite cars looks to continue. One thing is for sure though, China has the market well and truly cornered on fully electric cars in Australia.

The electric vehicle revolution is in full swing after another standout month in Australia. There were 21,303 EVs sold in May 2026, as they continue to take hold at the expense of petrol- and diesel-powered cars. SUVs remain the dominant player in the electric segment, accounting for nine of the 10 best sellers.Tesla’s smashing May performance was headlined by 5605 sales for its Model Y SUV, cementing its position as the leading EV in Australia.The Model Y also claimed the title for the best-selling car in Australia last month.  The Jaecoo J5 EV had its best month on sale since it hit Aussie showrooms at the start of this year, selling 2126 units, up from less than 700 in April. This makes the J5 the best-selling small SUV in the country currently, even outselling its closely related and cheaper petrol sibling, the Chery Tiggo 4. The Geely EX5 also surged up the sales charts, achieving 1814 sales, while the BYD Sealion 7 experienced another bumper month, with 1538 sales. The Zeekr 7X rounds out the top five following a continued solid performance since its introduction late last year. BYD’s budget EV trio the Atto 3, Atto 2 and Atto 1 shifted more than 2000 units between them.The BYD Seal (580) is the only non-SUV on this list.Every car in the top 10 selling EVs for May is primarily built in China, with none coming from legacy brands. Some of the other EVs to miss out on a top 10 spot include the MG4 as well as Kia's EV3 and EV5 duo.Top selling electric cars May 2026

Jaecoo’s J5 small SUV has been a revelation for the brand since it hit the Australian market at the start of this year, flying up to be the brand’s best-selling car in its line-up.In just three months since its official launch, the electric version of the J5 has sold 1153 units, with the brand reporting more than 5000 orders that need to be filled.These figures have made it the eighth best-selling EV in the country for March, outselling the likes of the BYD Atto 1, Australia's cheapest EV on sale.The J5 has been subject to a staggered launch by Jaecoo, with the EV launching first, followed by the petrol variant due to hit showrooms in the coming weeks. There is also a plug-less hybrid version of the car expected to launch in the third quarter of this year. The introduction of a fully electric version of a car followed by a petrol variant is an unusual pathway in Australia. It seems to have worked a treat for Jaecoo, given the J5 EV's sales success.The plot thickens further now with the petrol J5 launching at a time when soaring fuel prices have boosted electric sales and pushed down petrol ones.Roughly 70 per cent of all orders for Chery vehicles currently are for electric and plug-in hybrid models.This means now might not be the best time to introduce a petrol model in a market favouring electric alternatives.According to Omoda Jaecoo Chief Commercial Officer Roy Munoz, the staggered launch of the J5 range was not by design.“It has exceeded my expectations and it is not lost on me that it is fuelled by the current economic crisis,” Munoz said. “I wish I could say that we planned everything. “It just happened to be that the EV was ready for our market first.”Munoz said there is still space in the market for petrol models, especially as they have a cheaper starting price than EVs generally. The petrol J5 is roughly $10,000 cheaper than the electric version at current drive-away pricing. “Electrification and new energy is definitely growing, but we can’t ignore the fact petrol is still probably the largest segment,” Munoz said. “There are a lot of customers who might not be ready for an EV.“We find that there is still a huge opportunity for petrol, which is why we’re very glad we are releasing this at this time.”Jaecoo plans to add a plug-less hybrid version of the J5 before the end of the year, which will complete the model’s line-up.There are no immediate plans to add a long-range version of the J5 EV to boost its current 402km WLTP driving range. The brand's attentions will turn to Omoda in the second half of this year.

A new budget small SUV player has just emerged, with Chery sub-brand Jaecoo officially unveiling its petrol-powered J5 variant.It will start from $25,990 (drive-away), with the top trim level of the car an extra $4000 at $29,990. This represents a decent price drop on the well-received electric version of the car already on sale in Australia, which starts from $36,990 (drive-away).The new petrol option is $2000 more than the base variant of the popular Chery Tiggo 4, which shares much of the same underpinnings, including the T1X platform.It will be tasked with taking on the likes of the other Chinese rivals, such as the GWM Haval Jolion and the MG ZS which have similar price tags when comparing trim levels. The J5 will also tackle rivals from established brands, including the Mazda CX-30 and petrol variants of the Hyundai Kona, which carry higher price tags.The car comes with Chery’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 108kW and 210Nm, with power directed to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission.In addition, a hybrid version of the J5 is due towards the end of this year as part of a staggered roll-out for the small SUV's range.While sharing a similar wheelbase as the Chery Tiggo 4 at 2620mm, the J5 is towards the bigger end of the small SUV scale, measuring at 4380mm long, 1860mm wide and 1650mm tall.On the inside, there is a 13.2-inch central touchscreen display and an 8.8-inch digital driver display, along with cloth seating as standard. The up-spec version of the J5 introduces features such as a panoramic glass roof and a power tailgate, as well as synthetic leather seats.The J5 will arrive in showrooms from early June of this year.2026 Jaecoo J5 pricing Australia 2026 Jaecoo J5 engine and efficiency 2026 Jaecoo J5 standard features Other standard features: Auto headlightsAuto wipersPush button startRemote engine startSummit grade addsPanoramic glass roofPowered sunshadePower tailgateDual zone climate control8-speaker sound system50W wireless phone chargerSynthetic leather seatsPower adjustable front seatsHeated and ventilated front seats2026 Jaecoo J5 safetyThe Jaecoo J5 has not been crash tested yet, but Omoda Jaecoo said it is working on securing a rating for the car. The related Tiggo 4 has a five-star ANCAP rating.Standard safety features: 7 airbagsAuto emergency brakingEmergency lane keep assistAdaptive cruise controlForward collision warning360-degree camera2026 Jaecoo J5 warranty and servicing The J5 comes with an eight-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. It will be available with an eight-year capped price servicing plan, occurring at intervals of 12 months. A full eight-year plan costs a total of $3,326.09  Servicing plan  

Electric vehicle sales are booming in a way they never have before in Australia. Buyer options have increased significantly in 2026, with more affordable choices also appearing more regularly. There were 15839 electric vehicle sales for March in 2026, up from 8385 compared to this time last year, representing a near 89 per cent year-on-year growth. Established SUV players such as the Tesla Model Y lead the way with 2818 sales, along with the BYD Sealion 7 (1970). There are also some new competitors climbing up the sales charts, such as the Zeekr 7X performance SUV, which managed 679 registrations for March, having launched late last year.The Tesla Model 3 sedan (667) continues to be present among the top sellers despite its prolonged downturn.The SUV trend continues as Geely’s EX5 (606) and the Kia EV5 (587) are next on the list, before BYD’s presence resumes with the Atto 2 small SUV (572). Another new EV making an early impression is the Jaecoo J5, which launched at the start of this year and achieved 569 sales last month. The BYD Atto 1 (488) and Atto 2 (466) also make the list along with the Kia EV3 (461). Hatchbacks are proving popular amongst EV buyers as well. The MG4 (451) remains among the strongest selling EVs, as does the BYD Dolphin (373). The Toyota bZ4X is also experiencing an upturn to 447 sales for March and BYD is represented again with its Seal sedan (337) to round out the top 15. Top selling electric cars Australia March 2026

With fuel prices surging to around two dollars a litre nationally, and more that three dollars a litre in some regional areas, now is one of the best times to consider switching to a fully electric vehicle.Price was once one of the biggest deterrents for buyers wanting to make the switch, but now that gap has well and truly closed.To highlight this we’ve pulled together the most popular cars from last year in each mainstream car category, and the fully electric alternatives you can now buy for the same money.Seeking a practical small SUV? Top of the charts last year was the Hyundai Kona, and one of its most popular variants is the entry-level Kona Hybrid which starts from $36,950.To be fair here, the Kona Hybrid is a great choice anyway, as one of the most fuel-efficient small SUVs you can buy, but if you’re looking to wean yourself off fuel altogether, a great alternative is the Jaecoo J5.Surprisingly spacious and swish-looking, the J5 starts from just $35,990 before on-roads and offers a 402km (WLTP) range with a 155kW/288Nm electric motor driving the front wheels. It can even charge relatively quickly with its 130kW DC peak speed taking it from 20 - 80 per cent in just over half an hour.Read our Jaecoo J5 review hereYou actually can’t buy the popular GXL hybrid front-wheel-drive version of the Toyota RAV4 anymore, because production ended in the lead up to the launch of the new-gen version. The bad news is, the new one will cost even more than the outgoing car, which started from $45,810 before on-road costs.The RAV4 has earned its place as Australia’s most popular mid-size SUV through its family-friendly design, practical size and interior, and its no-nonsense approach to pretty much everything. The brand’s 2.5-litre 160kW hybrid system remains one of the most user-friendly hybrid systems on the market, too.What can you get as an EV for the same money? Quite a few options these days, as it turns out, and one of the most appealing is the just-updated Geely EX5 Extended Range, which is priced from $45,990 before on-roads.This relatively straightforward EV also provides a spacious interior and practical dimensions, but even combines it with more modern luxuries than the RAV4 offers in equivalent guise. It features synthetic leather interior trim, bigger screens with more connected technology, and its most recent upgrade brought with it a boost in driving range to 450km (WLTP). No wonder this one is storming up the sales charts.Read our Geely EX5 review hereFord’s big Everest off-roader is the most popular option in the large SUV space, and buyers tend to splash a bit more, reaching for the upper mid-grade Sport variant, which wields a 3.0-litre diesel V6 paired to a full-time 4WD system.This car wears a before-on-roads price-tag of $75,990, so what can you get as an EV instead?How about the just-released Tesla Model Y L? Starting from $74,900, sporting six-seats, and expanding in every dimension, this new take on the best-selling electric car in Australia offers more than you might expect.Sure, it’s not a big off-road oriented 4x4, but if it’s a fuel-free family hauler you’re looking for, you could do worse. With 378kW/580Nm it’s rapid, too, and with a huge battery offering up to 681km of range, it’s one of the furthest-travelling EVs on sale in Australia.Plus, it’s much more affordable than truly large electric SUVs, like the Kia EV9, which starts much higher at $97,000 before on-roads.Read more about the Tesla Model Y L hereThe Toyota Corolla continues as a perennial favourite among Australian buyers, and with the popular Ascent Sport hybrid starting from $32,110, why wouldn’t it?The swish little hatch offers Toyota’s perennial 1.8-litre four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain in a front-wheel-drive layout, sporting a modest combined 103kW. There’s no denying that as far as cars with combustion engines go, it’s pretty fuel efficient, officially consuming 4.0L/100km, but what if you could forgo fuel altogether?The obvious answer for some time has been BYD’s Dolphin Premium. Starting from $36,990 before on-roads it carries a slight price premium over the most popular Corolla variant, however, the Dolphin also brings with it a long electric driving range of 490km (WLTP), and a punchier 150kW/310Nm electric motor.It also scores a much more contemporary and screen-laden interior, with bonus luxuries like synthetic leather seats, plus it undercuts the nearest equivalent MG4 by a decent margin.Read our BYD Dolphin review hereKia’s Picanto soldiers on as a hold-out in an embattled city car segment, which, despite ever-rising fuel prices, Australians have turned their back on. It’s still a great option, offering both manual and automatic transmissions, although its 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine feels its age.Starting from $20,790 before on-road costs in automatic form, the Picanto is solid value, and while its wheezy engine produces just 62kW/122Nm it’s hardly the fuel sipping hero you might need, still managing to consume 6.0L/100km.This is where BYD’s Atto 1 comes into play. Now Australia’s most affordable electric car, the sharply-styled city hatch is slightly more expensive than the Picanto, as it starts from $23,990 in base Essential form.This entry-level Atto 1 is about even with the Kia on power, producing just 65kW, but it gets a boost in the torque department, with 175Nm. It also scores a middling 220km of range from its small 30kWh battery, but in a city runabout, do you need more?The smallest BYD also scores spec bonuses over its combustion Kia rival, with synthetic leather interior trim, a more contemporary interior design, and even a vehicle-to-load power distribution system.Read more about the BYD Atto 1 here

Jaecoo has announced it surpassed 1000 Australian orders for its new J5 EV around a month after examples started arriving at local dealers.The Chinese carmaker is offering the J5 EV at $36,990, drive-away, with free premium paint for the first 2000 orders.“The response to the Jaecoo J5 has exceeded our expectations,” said Omoda Jaecoo Australia Chief Commercial Officer Roy Munoz.“Hitting 1000 orders so quickly shows Australians are moving fast when an EV delivers the right mix of modern design, advanced technology and outstanding value.“We’re seeing customers act early to secure their place in the queue,” he said.Although Jaecoo claims to have 1000 orders now of the J5 EV, in January a total of 215 examples were sold.Over the same period BYD sold twice as many examples of the Atto 2 (562 sales), however MG sold 132 S5 EVs and Leapmotor sold 43 B10s.The Jaecoo J5 EV is powered by a single, front-mounted electric motor that produces 155kW and 288Nm.It’s fed by a 58.9kWh lithium-ion battery pack which can be fast-charged from 30 to 80 per cent in 28 minutes at rates up to 130kW.Jaecoo claims the J5 EV can travel up to 402km on a single charge, according to WLTP testing.While the electric version of the J5 launched in Australia first, there are also hybrid and petrol versions due to launch later this year.