Ute News

BYD’s hot-selling Shark 6 ute just got a little cheaper.

This diesel plug-in hybrid ute could be Chery's first dual-cab in Australia.

China’s Geely launched the Radar King Kong EM-P plug-in hybrid (PHEV) dual-cab ute earlier this year, but it has now detailed a version that’s even more affordable.

At a glance, last month's sales numbers paint a familiar picture of Australia's dual-cab market. The Toyota HiLux was the country's best-selling vehicle in July, with the Ford Ranger the nation's second best-selling ute.

Hyundai is building a ute to battle some of the biggest names in the business.

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.

Will the Ram 1500 Big Horn turn into the 1500 Warlock instead as the big US truck value opener? With the introduction of the DT Series II “Hurricane” facelift earlier in 2025, the old Big Horn from $119,950 has not yet been replaced, leaving the Laramie Sport as well as newly-released Rebel that both commence at $141,950 as the 1500 range entry points. But with comparatively slow sales of the superseded version (despite being the last of the Hemi V8s – for now), it appears that a completely different grade is in the pipeline, to slip in between. Yet to be confirmed for Australia, the expected new Warlock grade would be a comparatively affordable and more youth-orientated take on the ‘cheapest’ Ram 1500.

Ford's brand-defining new model attack has officially landed in Australia, with the auto giant going on a trademarking spree to secure six model names for our market.The news follows a huge Ford reveal earlier this month, with the brand in the USA unveiling a US$5 billion push into the EV space via a "Universal EV Platform" that will spawn a series of affordable vehicles.Not just a platform, but an assembly process, too. Ford's announcement promised cheaper, faster and less parts-heavy production, which would flow on as savings to customers.First will be a circa US$30,000 pickup truck with four doors and a focus on passenger and tray space.And now Ford in Australia has been on a trademarking spree, securing the names 'FUZE', 'HIVE', 'MYTHIC', 'FATHOM', 'EVOS' and 'RANCHERO' for our market.It's that last name that is most of interest, given that the trademark application specifically refers to 'pick-up trucks' among its potential uses, and that it is the name of an old US car-based pickup, discontinued in the late 1970s, which blended car-like comfort with ute-like practicality.While Fuze, Hive, Mythic and Fathom have all been touted as Ford's future EV product, the Evos is also of interest, given its already been applied to a model, and one that has global potential.Built in China as a partnership between Ford and Changan, the crossover SUV was renamed the Mondeo Sport in China last year, so whether this new trademark means a new Evos is coming, or that the Mondeo Sport could retain the Evos name in some international markets, remains to be seen.As far as the Ranchero goes, Ford's first Universal EV Platform vehicle – the four-door mid-size ute – will roll out of Ford's Louisville Kentucky pant in 2027, with a price that would equate to roughly $46,000 here.Finally, a word of caution — not all trademarks materialise into actual product, and brands have been known to secure names in international markers they have no intention of launching in. What this trademarking spree turns into? We'll have to wait and see.

Nissan to lean into its successful Chinese joint-venture to source more models more quickly for export markets like Australia.

The new Toyota HiLux is getting close.