EV News

It might so far only be known for a single dual-cab ute, but Chinese brand JAC has big plans for Australia, recruiting the dynamics engineer behind models like the VE and VF Commodore to prep its vehicles for local conditions.Michael Barber, now of Multimatic but formerly of Holden, has been tasked with tuning the model's next ute, the T9 Hunter plug-in hybrid, for sale in Australia, but the project will likely balloon from there, with JAC confirming a host of new vehicles on the cards for Australia. "There's a huge range, including trucks. There are passenger cars. There are small electric vehicles, which we're also considering," says Ahmed Mahmoud, Managing Director of JAC Motors Australia."We can access the majority of those. We just need to make sure they're fit for purpose, five-star ANCAP, all of those things."They're the requirements of the average Australian. You can't just bring junk into the country, right? "If you're going to bring something in, you've got to make sure that it fits the brand and what we're trying to do. But it's also not going to be ripped apart from an ANCAP or a driving perspective."Next to arrive for the brand will be a Ford Everest-style ute-based SUV that rides on the T9 platform, though it's unclear whether it will take the diesel powertrain or the new and potent plug-in hybrid system. It is expected to arrive within the next 12 months.Beyond that, the brand says "we have options for small passenger cars and SUVs in that hybrid or full electric space".Top of the list would surely be the JS6 PHEV - a mid-size SUV that pairs a to deliver a 120km all-EV driving range, and a total 1150kms on a tank of fuel and a charged battery. A bigger JS8 SUV offers three-rows of seating.Also on the table is the smaller E30X city EV, a direct rival to models like the BYD Atto 2 and GWM Ora. With a Holden flavour to the ride and handling, and a growing product portfolio, it makes JAC the latest Chinese brand to lean on local expertise to produce fit-for-purpose vehicles in our market."(Barber) is contracted to do a lot of the testing," Mr Mahmoud says.

BYD has revealed a new electric vehicle (EV) that’s capable of flash charging at a rapid rate.The 2026 BYD Song Ultra EV, an electric mid-size SUV, comes with the Chinese maker’s second-generation lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade battery and is capable of charging from 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes.Four trim levels of the Song Ultra EV have been detailed for now. There are two electric motor and battery configurations.Entry-level versions come with a single, rear-mounted electric motor that produces 240kW of power and 305Nm of torque. This is fed by a 68.4kWh battery pack, allowing for a claimed range of 620km, according to relatively lenient CLTC testing.Higher models feature a slightly more powerful rear-mounted electric motor that produces 270kW. They also get a larger 82.7kWh battery pack allowing for a CLTC-claimed range of 710km.In terms of design, the Song Ultra EV has elements reminiscent of a number of other BYD models. There’s minimal front fascia with a full-width light bar, a clean side profile with flush door handles as well as a full-width light bar at the rear.Standard equipment includes adaptive dampers across the line-up, as well as a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 15.6-inch central touchscreen multimedia system, head-up display, interior ambient lighting, fridge/hotbox, plus heated and ventilated front seats.On the safety front there are seven airbags, as well as an optional package that adds Lidar and 27 sensors enabling semi-autonomous driving functionality in city and highway scenarios.At this stage it’s unclear whether the mid-size Song Ultra EV will come to Australia. BYD’s electric SUV line-up currently consists of the small Atto 2 and Atto 3, as well as the mid-size Sealion 7.If it does come here it will go up against rivals like the Kia EV5, Tesla Model Y, XPeng G6 and Zeekr 7X among others.Although BYD sales in China have been faltering over the past few months, they have been accelerating in Australia.In the first two months of 2026, the Chinese carmaker sold a total of 10,324 vehicles, which is up 161.0 per cent year-on-year.Its best-seller currently is the Sealion 7 electric SUV (2498 sales), followed closely by the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute (2166 sales).

MG is offering you more car for less.The Chinese brand has locked in prices for its new MG4 Urban, which is not to be confused with the MG4 hatchback.The MG4 Urban is notably bigger than the MG4 hatchback at 4395mm long, 1842mm wide and 1551mm tall with a 2750mm wheelbase.That puts it up against popular rivals such as the BYD Atto 3, Kia EV3 and Chery E5.Despite this, it comes in cheaper than the MG4 hatchback, at $31,990, drive-away, or about $4000 cheaper than the base MG4 hatchback. It is also significantly less than the BYD Atto 3's $39,990, before on-road costs, starting price.The reason according to former MG Australia boss Peter Ciao is the MG4 Urban is more of an all rounder and balances the drive experience with standard equipment, compared to the standard MG4 that has a greater focus on driving dynamics and engineering.So, expect plenty of glitz and glamour inside, but a dulled down drive experience. A big part of that is the switch from the MG4’s rear-wheel drive set-up to a more city-focused front-wheel drive layout.This switch to front-wheel drive allows for numerous cost saving methods such as the use of a less sophisticated torsion beam rear suspension and simpler packaging with less components and a lower weight.It will be available in two variants, with the standard range versions priced at $31,990 and the long range at $34,990 (both drive-away).At the heart of the Standard version is a 43kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers a driving range of 323km (WLTP), while the 54kWh battery bumps the range up to 415km.MG claims both versions can accept up to 150kW via a DC charger, which can replenish the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes.MG covers its vehicles with a conditional 10 year/250,000 warranty, which requires owners to service their vehicle with MG or it reverts to a seven-year/unlimited km guarantee.The MG4 Urban will land in dealerships next month.

BYD could soon have some serious company in Australia.Chinese brand Nio has just launched its BYD Atto 1 and Geely EX2 rivalling pint-sized electric car in Thailand, with a starting price of the equivalent to $35,000 in Australia.This adds fuel to the fire of a potential Australian expansion, as Thailand is a fellow right-hand drive market.The Nio Firefly was approved for sale in Australia by the federal regulator back in August last year, which is often the final hurdle before a vehicle goes on sale.The filings to federal government were updated in November when right-hand drive production was confirmed.There have also been pre-production cars spied on Australian roads.It has been radio silence on an Australian launch since then, but now that right-hand drive production and sales have commenced it could lob onto our roads soon.CarsGuide has contacted Nio's global operations for more Australian details and will update the story with its response.Homologation details published by the federal government last year show two variants will be offered in Australia.Power comes from a single electric motor that makes 105kW and 200Nm, which is fed by a circa-42kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery that provides a driving range of up to 330km via the benchmark WLTP test cycle.It uses 14.5kWh/100km and offers 100kW DC charging for a 10-80 per cent charge in 29 minutes as well as either 7.0kW or 11kW AC charging with a vehicle-to-load (V2L) feature.The Firefly also has the benefit of Nio’s battery swap technology. This allows owners to simply swap the battery when it has run low instead of recharging it. Nio claims this can take about five minutes, which is similar to refilling a petrol or diesel vehicle but not as expensive.The Nio Firefly is a small hatchback measuring about four metres long, 1780mm wide and 1560mm high.Homologation details published by the federal government hint that the Nio operation will be factory-backed with approval holders and contact details attributed to the head office in Shanghai, China.No signs of a dealer network have been sighted in Australia, yet.

GWM’s Ora band confirmed in early March this year it was moving from making just electric cars to hybrids (HEVs ) and pure combustion vehicles, and now three weeks later the Ora 5 hybrid has debuted at the Bangkok motor show. The Ora 5 HEV is the same size as the electric version of the small SUV at 4471mm end to end and 1641mm tall, but is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine combined with an electric motor.The four-cylinder engine and motor produce a combined 164kW and 476Nm. According to GWM the combined fuel consumption is a low 2.3L/100km.Now on sale in fellow right-hand drive market Thailand, which oopens the door to an Aussie expansion.The Ora 5 HEV has the same suspension tune as the EV and comes in two grades.Standard features between the HEV and EV are identical with the top-of-the-range Ultra coming with LED headlights and daytime running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, power tailgate and proximity unlocking. Inside, there’s power adjustable front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, air-conditioning, 14.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless phone charging.The electric Ora 5 will come to Australia in mid-2026, but GWM Australia wouldn't confirm if it would be joined by the hybrid variant, too. “HEV represents a new addition to the ORA range expanding beyond its existing BEV offering,” said a GWM spokesperson. “At this stage, the only information we can share is that all options remain under investigation for the ANZ region.”Currently GWM has the Ora small five-door hatch on sale in Australia, having arrived in 2023, and the Ora 5 EV SUV version will be sold alongside it.Pricing for the Ora 5 EV in Australia has yet to be announced, but it will be more than the smaller Ora hatch's $32,990 drive-away starting point.Buyers can expect the Ora 5 EV to come in closer to the Leapmotor B10 and Chery E5, both from $38,990.A hybrid version could drop below the $30,000 mark.GWM has been open about expanding the Ora brand even as it struggled with just the small and aging Ora hatch doing all the heavy lifting.GWM Australia Chief Operating Officer, John Kett, told CarsGuide in 2025 that Ora will grow in Australia and even thrive in the years ahead.“From our perspective, and without announcing our (future) portfolio, we have Ora sitting in the small car segment, and we will have a small SUV next year,” he revealed.“And, we're still considering a mid-size SUV also coming out of the Ora line-up (for Australia).”

Subaru has confirmed it will unveil a first-ever hybrid version of one of its Wilderness models at this week’s New York International Auto Show and the brand’s current US line-up suggests it will be based on the Forester Wilderness.That spells big trouble for rivalling family favourites - the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson - which can't match the Forester Wilderness' ruggedness.Initially developed for North America, there are currently three Wildnerness varieties - the Outback Wilderness launched in early 2021, the Forester Wilderness that followed later the same year and the Crosstrek Wilderness, which arrived in 2023.Typical upgrades include increased ride height with extra ground clearance, greater roof load capacity, revised transmission gearing and all-terrain tyres to optimise low-speed traction, matt black wheels, retuned ‘X-Mode’ off-highway settings and a transmission oil cooler.All are produced at Subaru’s US manufacturing plant in Lafayette, Indiana. But the US-only factor was side-stepped when the Subaru Outback Wilderness hit Australian off-road tracks in February this year. And Subaru Australia General Manager Scott Lawrence  has previously told CarsGuide to “watch this space” on further Wilderness developments.Subaru currently offers Crosstrek and Forester Hybrid models in the USA, and a Wilderness Hybrid version of the latter is more likely as the Forester Hybrid is built in America while the Crosstrek Hybrid is produced in Japan. If the new Wilderness variant is indeed based on the Forester it’s likely to feature the current Forester Hybrid’s powertrain that combines a (121kW/212Nm) 2.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors (90kW/276Nm) integrated into the car’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) for total system power of 145kW.You could also expect miserly 6.2L/100km fuel consumption on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle and a 1000km-plus range from every 63-litre tank of fuel.Over and above the upgrades detailed above, the Forester Wilderness features a specific nose treatment including a unique grille, skid plates, fog lights, anodized copper accents, and a glare-reducing matt black bonnet decal.Subaru has also confirmed it will unveil an “all-new, all-electric SUV” in New York, positioned under a theme of “Fast. Family. Fun.” and likely based on the recently released pure-electric Toyota Highlander (Kluger).

The latest details on Chinese brand JAC's Hunter PHEV (plug-in hybrid) have been revealed – along with some bold suggestions about its price.First revealed at the Melbourne Motor Show in April 2025, the plug-in hybrid powerhouse is now targeting June deliveries ahead of a July on-sale date in Australia.Powered by a new 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine which combines with twin electric motors — one on each axle — the Hunter PHEV produces an approximate 385kW and 1000Nm in total output.Joining the engine and motors is a 31.2kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery, which JAC suggests should deliver an all-electric driving range ofaround 100kms.The brand today confirmed the NEDC efficiency figures for the Hunter PHEV, with the plug-in hybrid ute to use a claimed 1.6L/100km combined, and deliver a total 1005km in total driving range.There will clearly be an off-road focus, too, with the Hunter grade to spawn a small family of utes, including cheaper entry-level models to diff-lock equipped off-road models.While the brand won't be drawn directly on price, JAC is promising "the right ute at the right time, and it will be at the right price", with its local Managing Director, Ahmed Mahmoud, suggesting it could be the most affordable plug-in hybrid ute in the country."Suffice it to say, (the price) is going to be very, very strong," he told CarsGuide.Asked directly whether the Hunter would be cheaper than the $57,900 (drive-away) BYD Shark 6, Mr Mahmoud replied: "It could be".JAC is also yet to confirm the official zero to 100km/h time of the Hunter PHEV, but international reports from is Chinese reveal claim the run takes just 5.9 seconds – about the same as the 5.8-ish seconds the Ford Ranger Raptor has been tested at. "We’re launching the right ute at the right time, and it will be at the right price,” Mr Mahmoud says.“The Hunter PHEV is arriving in Australia mid this year, and we believe it is going to get the attention of Australians looking to move into a plug-in hybrid without compromising on the capability, practicality and toughness they need from a ute.”

Polestar has announced a huge battery recycling initiative on some of its key models. Some Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 models will be fitted with batteries that include at least 50 per cent recycled cobalt. As part of its partnership with Volvo battery centres, Polestar 2 and 3 models requiring a battery replacement will be installed with a refurbished unit as opposed to a new one. Cobalt is a key material in many types of car batteries, such as lithium-iron and Nickel-Managenese-Cobalt (NMC). Polestar uses NMC batteries across its range, meaning mined cobalt is integral to the brand, but this latest initiative demonstrates it is trying moving away from that reliance.The majority of all mined cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is said to have half the world’s reserves.The extraction of cobalt in the DRC has given rise to concerns over the health and safety of people involved as well as the legality of the process itself. Extracting cobalt releases fine dust particles and dangerous chemical byproducts leading to contamination.There have also been substantiated reports of illegal working conditions, including broader African mining practices. Cobalt carries with it a heavy price tag as well.These issues have seen some car manufacturers move away from cobalt-dependent batteries, opting for different make-ups such as lithium-iron-phosphate, which are cheaper, but not as efficient. Polestar said it aims to reduce reliance on virgin materials, such as cobalt, and keep resources in use for longer. “... a key focus is to extend battery life and retain the battery’s value for as long as possible, which benefits both the environment and the customer experience,” the brand said.Polestar is also looking into developing recycling initiatives in other global markets, which is in line with many other manufacturers. The European Union has already introduced increasingly tough battery recycling mandates for car makers. This includes a 90 per cent cobalt reduction mandate by 2027, shifting to 95 per cent by the end of the decade. In Australia, Nissan is re-using a few of its first generation Leaf NMC batteries to power part of the company’s part manufacturing plant.BMW has a similar recycling initiative for its i3 batteries in Australia.

The MG U9 all-electric ute has just been approved for sale in Australia, according to federal government filings, adding a new rival to the developing segment.There are limited alternatives in the electric ute segment, making the MGU9 one of the first to hit Australian showrooms. The dual-cab pick-up will take on the KGM Musso EV, which has a starting price of $60,000, drive-away, as well as the incoming Toyota HiLux BEV, launching in the first half of this year. The MG U9 comes with a dual-motor set-up, with the front motor producing 200kW, while the rear motor produces 125kW for a total system output of 325kW. It is also expected to have ample torque to match its power. Documents show it will be an all-wheel drive exclusive model. Battery size is yet to be revealed, but we know it will be based on the LDV E-Terron 9 sold in China, which has a 102kWh battery offering a driving range of 430km (WLTP) - appreciably more than the HiLux BEV's 240km.It has a braked trailer towing capacity of 3500kg, keeping it in line with many of its diesel rivals, and bettering that of the plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6. It can also tow more than the HiLux BEV, which is only capable of lugging 2000kg. It measures up at 5500mm in length, 1997mm wide and 1860mm high with a wheelbase of 3300mm so it is also a size up on the HiLux BEV.We will likely learn more about MG’s new electric ute at next month's Melbourne Motor Show. 

Leapmotor has unveiled its special edition C10 Sports+ all-electric mid-size SUV, which will shake up the performance EV space. It will be priced from $53,888 (before on-road costs), which is $4000 more than the previous top-spec model. Unlike the rest of the C10 range, the car comes with all-wheel drive, while all other C10s have rear-wheel drive. The main change on this special edition C10 is the addition of a serious power upgrade, with its dual motor set-up producing 440kW and 760Nm, shifting the car from 0-100km/h in four seconds. This is substantially more power than the standard C10, which produces 160kW and 320Nm. These figures mean the C10 has a similar power output to the range-topping Tesla Model Y Performance, with a starting price of nearly $90,000. It is also cheaper than the most affordable rear-wheel drive variant of the Model Y .The car has been given a bigger 81.9kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery, offering a driving range of up to 437km, according to WLTP testing. This is only a slight improvement on the standard car (425km) due to the extra weight and increased power of the dual motor set-up. This version of the C10 is built on a new 800-volt platform, allowing for DC charging at 180kW. It can recharge from 30-80 per cent in 22 minutes. The C10 appears better value on paper compared to pricier key rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV5 and Zeekr 7X.On the inside, the car has a 14.6-inch central touchscreen and 10.25-inch digital driver display, along with synthetic leather seats. Other interior features on the special edition C10 include a panoramic glass roof, as well as electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats. It gets some cosmetic changes as well, like ‘Sports+’ branded cabin mats, rear badging and side decals. The C10 Sports+ Special Edition will arrive in showrooms next month.