EVs

The GAC Aion V Premium is the latest mid-size electric SUV to enter the market. The Chinese brand is going head-to-head with the likes of the Geely EX5 and BYD Atto 3 with this small SUV.

Chery’s Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris said there were many more Chery models to come.

GAC, otherwise known as the Guangzhou Automobile Group, is the latest in a seemingly endless armada of new car brands arriving in Australia from China. So what will make it stand out from the crowd? We drive its new Aion V electric SUV to see if it can make an impact on the Australian market, or will it just be another new arrival quickly forgotten.

Earlier this month the New South Wales government announced a near $6 million investment in EV charging across regional communities.

Best new cars coming to Australia in 2026

Electric vehicle battery factories are being built faster than EVs are selling.

A camouflaged Geely EX2 has been spied in China, with small changes to the recently launched budget electric car - and it could come to Australia.

China’s Zeekr has been spied testing a new large SUV in its domestic market ahead of an expected reveal before the end of 2025.As reported by Car News China, this new SUV will be called the Zeekr 8X, slotting between the electric 7X and plug-in hybrid 9X.It will reportedly be based on the Zeekr’s SEA-S hybrid platform, which underpins the 9X, meaning the 8X will likely be a plug-in hybrid.Power will reportedly come from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with dual electric motors, producing a projected total system output of 400kW and 700Nm. This allows for a projected 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds.The electric motors will reportedly be fed by a 70kWh ternary-lithium battery pack, allowing for more than 400km of electric range, according to an undisclosed testing cycle. A smaller 55kWh will also reportedly be offered but will have less EV range.Total range in the 8X will reportedly be more than 1200km with the larger battery pack option and a full tank of petrol.The vehicle will reportedly operate on a 900V electric architecture, allowing for a 10-80 per cent battery charge in around 15 minutes.It’s understood the 8X will offer a three-row seating configuration with second-row captain’s chairs, bringing the total seating capacity to six. All the seats will reportedly be upholstered in Nappa leather.Standard equipment will reportedly include an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch central touchscreen multimedia system.There will also reportedly be semi-autonomous driving capabilities thanks to a LiDAR sensor, multiple cameras, as well as radar and ultrasonic sensors.This large hybrid SUV segment has been growing in China specifically and there is now plenty of competition in the domestic market. This includes the Li Auto L8 and the Aito M8.It’s unclear whether the Zeekr 8X will ever come to Australia.Zeekr has been selling vehicles in the Australian market around 12 months now, launching initially with the small X electric SUV and then the 009 electric people mover.The Chinese carmaker recently launched the mid-sized 7X electric SUV in Australia, also confirming it won’t receive any updates for the next 12-18 months.

BYD says its ready to climb the ute rankings in Australia, with the Chinese giant readying three new variants to take on the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max.

Changan, the parent brand for Deepal, has confirmed it will launch a new small electric SUV in the UK, following its recent Chinese market debut.