Plug-in hybrid

BYD's Sealion 8 is a full-sized family SUV with seating for seven and a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

High demand and the production volume to meet it has pushed two emerging challengers in the Australian new vehicle market to even greater heights in the first month of 2026.With 2025 new model additions including the Shark 6 ute, city-sized Atto 1 electric hatch and compact Atto 2 EV SUV, as well as the larger pure-electric Sealion 7 and plug-in hybrid Sealion 8 SUVs, BYD’s year-on-year sales for the month of January grew by a spectacular 640.9 per cent.In outright numbers, that’s 5001 units sold compared to 675 in the same month last year.In particular, the Sealion 7’s popularity has seemingly put the squeeze on several established medium SUV contenders like the Honda ZR-V (-15 per cent), Kia Sportage (-30.7 per cent), Nissan X-Trail (-34.2 per cent) and even the normally segment-leading Toyota RAV4 (-65.4 per cent), the latter two in run-out mode.Given the pure-electric Sealion 7’s size, specification and starting price ($54,990, before on-road costs), arguably its most direct competitor is the Tesla Model Y (from $58,900, BOC), the latter down 38.1 per cent in January, the BYD outselling it four to one (1171 units to 288).   At the same time, Chery more than doubled its January sales (+105.8 per cent), largely thanks to the ongoing success of its Tiggo 4 Pro, which comfortably led the small SUV category ahead of 2025 segment heavyweights like the Hyundai Kona, GWM Haval Jolion and MG ZS.With a starting price of $23,990, drive-away, it’s not hard to see why the Tiggo 4 Pro, easily the most affordable small SUV in the country, has made such an impact. Again, some long-standing players in this part of the market like the Mazda CX-30 (-3.9 per cent), Mitsubishi ASX (-90.9 per cent, in new model ramp-up) and Subaru Crosstrek (-22.8 per cent) took a backwards step, year-on-year.Another solid improver from China for January sales was GWM (+31.3 per cent), while other volume brands, LDV (-19.5 per cent) and MG (-16.5 per cent), declined. 

GWM’s Cannon ute will get plug-in hybrid power in 2026 as a potential budget option to battle the BYD Shark 6.The Cannon PHEV has appeared in Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filings over in China, according to AutoHome. A spokesperson for GWM Australia said there was nothing to confirm at this stage about the Cannon PHEV’s future in Australia. It is likely the petrol-electric ute will arrive Down Under, as the plug-in hybrid ute market is expanding rapidly as emission regulations trample conventional ute options. Australia is also a major export market for GWM, which puts us at the front of the queue for new models.It will give GWM a second plug-in hybrid ute choice for buyers, which is likely to come in cheaper than competitors in the space. The more expensive Cannon Alpha ute already has a plug-in variant in Australia, which starts from $61,490 (drive-away). The Cannon PHEV’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric motor will produce 185kW, a far cry from the hot selling Shark 6's 321kW. We also know the ute will employ a lithium-iron-phosphate battery.  The Cannon PHEV measures up bigger than diesel Cannon, at 5653mm long compared to 5416mm and with a wheelbase of 3470mm as opposed to 3230mm.The Cannon PHEV will face some stiff competition if it comes here, with the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute (the current 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year best ute). It is priced from $57,900 drive-away.If it comes to Australia it is likely the Cannon PHEV will be cheaper than the Shark 6, given the base dual-cab diesel variant starts from $35,990 (drive-away). Ford's Ranger PHEV is more expensive, but again offers more grunt and a 3500kg towing capacity.The Cannon PHEV could be following a similar trajectory to many other GWM products on their route to Australia. GWM Australia officially announced the Tank 300 PHEV soon after its official China unveiling last year. Based on this, it can be speculated we might see the Cannon PHEV hit Australian showrooms in the next few months.

China’s BYD is upgrading its top-selling Shark 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute in Australia with more power and towing capacity.According to local government approval filings, this version of the Shark 6 will receive a more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 200kW front electric motor and a 150kW rear electric motor, bringing a total system output of 345kW.This is up from the current 321kW total system output which is achieved by a smaller 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, a 170kW front electric motor and a 150kW rear electric motor.It’s worth noting that this new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and dual-electric motor set-up is borrowed from the recently launched Denza B5, though it’s a detuned version. The B5 has a total system output of 400kW.Thanks in part to the extra power, the maximum braked towing capacity has been increased from 2500kg to a segment-meeting 3500kg.The larger engine and more powerful front electric motor however has also increased the tare mass from 2675kg to 2738kg. No payload or gross vehicle mass (GVM) figures have been detailed yet.It’s unclear whether BYD will add this forthcoming more powerful version as a flagship offering in the line-up, or whether it will completely replace the existing model.Regardless it will likely cost more than the current Shark 6 Premium, which starts at $57,900 before on-road costs.For now BYD hasn’t officially announced when this upgraded version of the Shark 6 will be going on sale, though government approval filings like the typically are published just a few months before a vehicle goes on sale.As previously reported, the approval filings also include a cab-chassis version of the Shark 6.It’s worth noting that it still features the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol dual-electric motor powertrain as the existing Shark 6, meaning it also only has a 2500kg braked towing capacity.BYD similarly hasn’t confirmed exactly when this Shark 6 cab-chassis will be going on sale.In Australia the Shark 6 has been a runaway sales success since it was first launched in early 2025.Last year a total of 18,073 examples were sold, making it the best-selling PHEV in Australia.Even in January 2026, a total of 1108 Shark 6 examples were sold. This saw it outsell the likes of the GWM Cannon and Cannon Alpha (885 sales combined), Kia Tasman (410 sales) and the Mazda BT-50 (780 sales).

Toyota is reportedly set to boost production of vehicles with its popular hybrid powertrain technology by around 30 per cent in the next two years.As reported by Nikkei Asia, the Japanese carmaker expects to produce 6.7 million hybrid vehicles globally in 2028. This is up from the planned five million hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars it expects to produce in 2026.This also means that 50 to 60 per cent of the 11.3 million cars Toyota expects to make globally in 2028 will be equipped with a hybrid powertrain.Nikkei Asia reports a key driver of this boost in hybrid vehicle production will come from the US as people are moving away from electric vehicles (EVs) due to subsidies and incentives being cut.In November 2025, Toyota announced its plans to invest 1.5 trillion yen (~A$13.86 billion) in the US over the next five years.It will initially spend 140 billion yen (~A$1.29 billion) to produce hybrid powertrains and components at five of its US facilities.According to GlobalData as reported by Nikkei Asia, Toyota currently holds a 58 per cent share of the global hybrid vehicle market as of the end of 2025.Toyota is far from the only carmaker that is ramping up and adjusting its strategy in response to falling EV demand in certain markets. Examples include Ford, General Motors, Hyundai and even Volkswagen, among others.In Australia hybrid vehicles accounted for 16.5 per cent of overall new vehicle sales during 2025, as reported by VFACTS. This is up 15.3 per cent year-on-year.Toyota has long been the top-selling hybrid brand in Australia and was one of the first to market with its Prius hatchback that launched locally in 2001.Many Toyota vehicles, including the C-HR, Camry, Corolla, Corolla Cross, Kluger, RAV4, Yaris, Yaris Cross and the Tundra are exclusively offered with hybrid powertrains in Australia.Lots of other brands are reacting though to growing hybrid vehicle interest and are offering more options. Examples include GWM, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Subaru.There has also been meteoric growth in PHEV sales in Australia. Last year a total of 53,484 examples were sold, which was up 130.9 per cent year-on-year.Toyota is set to dive into this segment in Australia during 2026 with the forthcoming PHEV version of its new-generation RAV4. It’s set to arrive in the third quarter of 2026 after the regular hybrid versions.

A new automotive battleground is forming, with brands such as BYD, Zeekr, Leapmotor and now even Volkswagen joining the fray.All are developing, or about to launch, mega petrol-electric SUVs in China that put US supersized family haulers to shame.Volkswagen has confirmed its new ID.Era 9X extra-large SUV for China, which is developed with its partner SAIC that also owns MG.It is pitched as a rival to the Zeekr 9X, Leapmotor D16, BYD Tang 9 and IM LS9, which all deliver luxurious interiors, premium looks and huge batteries than deliver massive EV driving range rangeThe ID.Era 9X is a monster, measuring 5207mm long, 1997mm wide and 1810mm tall, which would dwarf the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser.It also has a wheelbase — the distance between the front and rear axles — of more than three metres. This means it will have an absolutely cavernous interior with acres of space in all three rows.The ID.Era 9X uses an extended range hybrid set-up, which pairs a petrol engine and electric motors with a sizable battery.The petrol engine is used purely as a generator for the battery, with the wheels being driven by the electric motors only.This is unlike a plug-in hybrid, which has the same elements, but it can be driven by electric, petrol or blended power.The ID.Era 9X is available in three different set-ups.The first is a single 220kW rear motor paired with a roughly 51kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers 267km of electric range.Next grade up uses a more sophisticated and larger circa-65kWh Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery that delivers a 340km EV driving range.Range-topping examples use the same NMC battery but add dual-motor power, which ups power to 380kW and reduces EV driving range to 321km.All driving ranges are calculated via the WLTC test regime, which is more lenient than the benchmark Worldwide Harmonised Light-Duty Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) more commonly used in Australia.

GWM has teased its upcoming V9X luxury large SUV as Chinese carmakers lay the gauntlet down in the hotly contested market segment.GWM’s offering is a big deal for the usually 4x4-focused brand, as it debuts a new platform and will serve as the flagship of the company’s luxury Wey arm.So far, GWM has shown official camouflage pictures of the vehicle, but the new silhouette images tease the car’s light profile and boxy Range Rover-esque roofline which suggest a new design direction for GWM’s future products.The flagship V9X is a plug-in hybrid measuring over 5.3 metres long, and will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with at least dual electric motors. GWM is claiming a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.4 seconds, and an EV-mode driving range of up to 363km, although this will be to the more lenient CLTC measuring cycle.The new GWM 'One' platform set to underpin the V9X is also designed to support multiple powertrain options - whether it’s plugless hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fully electric, or even hydrogen, and will have an 800-volt electrical architecture to support powerful electric motors and ultra-fast charging.GWM has even earmarked the possibility of a diesel hybrid, in the same vein as Chery’s upcoming P3X ute which will also explore rare diesel hybrid tech, which could be a good fit for the Australian market.The Chinese giant also says it will be able to keep costs relatively low for products developed on the One platform thanks to high parts commonality and lower assembly cost.The luxury five-plus-metre-long SUV space is becoming intensely fought over in China, although only BYD’s rugged Denza B8 is currently the only option in Australia.BYD is also plotting a new flagship dubbed the Tang 9 in China, which it has had to delay due to its rivals beating it to market with impressive offerings.The Wey V9X will need to do battle with the upcoming Zeekr 8X and 9X flagship plug-ins, while SAIC’s IM brand which is sold under the MG banner in Australia is plotting similar LS8 and LS9 large SUVs. Even Leapmotor has its eyes on this space, with its soon-to-launch D16 flagship.GWM’s Wey luxury sub-brand is already locked in for an Australian launch, with the Wey 80 people mover arriving in 2026, opening the door for the V9X and other plug-in hybrid SUVs from the marque.It could be bad news for mainstream brands which currently offer three-row large SUVs, like Hyundai with its Palisade, Nissan with its Pathfinder and Mazda with its CX-90, which have thus far remained largely unchallenged by lower-cost Chinese players.The luxury V9X is also not GWM’s only iron in the fire. The brand is also working on a new flagship to top its Tank range of off-roaders, which is rumored to use the company’s brand-new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine in a plug-in hybrid layout.Expect to learn more about GWM’s future plans, globally and locally after the Beijing Motor Show this April, which is incidentally also the launch window for the V9X in China.

China’s GWM has detailed pricing for the new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of its Tank 300 body-on-frame SUV ahead of it arriving at local dealers from March 2026.The 2026 GWM Tank 300 Hi4-T line-up starts at $55,990 drive-away for the entry-level Lux trim and extends to $59,990 drive-away for the top-spec Ultra trim.GWM claims this is a “limited-time special launch offer” and after February 28 pricing will rise $2000 if the offer isn’t extended.For now however the Lux PHEV is priced the exact same as the Ultra Hybrid, and the Ultra PHEV is the new flagship trim in the entire Tank 300 line-up.Powering the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an 120kW electric motor integrated into the nine-speed automatic transmission, bringing total system outputs to 300kW and 750Nm. This is 45kW and 102Nm more than the existing Tank 300 Hybrid.For context, the Nissan Patrol with its 5.6-litre V8 engine produces 2kW and 190Nm less than the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV.A key part of the electric motor being integrated into the automatic transmission is it allows for the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV to retain a mechanical four-wheel drive system with a low-range transfer case. There’s also both front and rear locking differentials, as well as a number of off-road terrain settings.Like the rest of the Tank 300 line-up, the PHEV versions have a 3000kg braked towing capacity. It’s unclear what the payload capacity is just yet.Additionally GWM claims the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV can do up to 115km of electric range, according to lenient NEDC testing, thanks to its 37.1kWh battery pack.It’s capable of being fast-charged at rates up to 50kW, allowing for a 30 to 80 per cent charge in 24 minutes.There’s also vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability at rates up to 6kW, allowing you to power external devices and appliances.Full specifications are set to be detailed close to the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV’s local launch.The addition of this new PHEV powertrain brings the number of engines the Tank 300 is now offered in to a total of four: a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, 2.4-litre turbo-diesel, 2.0-litre hybrid and a 2.0-litre PHEV.It’s unclear how long GWM will continue to offer all four of these powertrains in the Tank 300. When it launched the PHEV option in the Cannon Alpha dual-cab ute it discontinued the hybrid powertrain.Historically the 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine has been the best-selling powertrain in the Tank 300. It’s unclear how this will change with the introduction of the PHEV.“With the Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV, we’re continuing to expand our cutting-edge plug-in hybrid technology providing genuine off-road strength, all at a highly competitive price point,” said GWM Australia and New Zealand COO John Kett. “As demonstrated across our other PHEV variants, we remain committed to delivering vehicles where customers can benefit from strong EV-only range, fast charging, V2L and true mechanical 4×4 capability.“As the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) are likely to change the Australian automotive landscape like never before, GWM stands ready to deliver more technology for less.”

Volvo is reportedly looking to make a new flagship SUV to sit above the XC90 and EX90 due to rising demand for such vehicles in the US and China.As reported by Autocar, Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson said “bigger SUVs are something we’re looking into”, however the company has “still not made any decision on going there”.“Especially in China and the US, the real three-row SUV is a growing segment and an interesting segment, but so far we have the 90 which covers the three-row,” said Samuelsson.Samuelsson didn’t mention any specific details on what form this new flagship SUV could take, though he did note that the customers in the US and China “probably at least for the next few years would be more interested in a hybrid” and that US production would be likely to minimise tariffs on US vehicle sales.Volvo already has a production facility in South Carolina and currently builds the EX90, along with the related Polestar 3 there.It’s reported this new flagship Volvo SUV could use the Zeekr 9X as a base. Zeekr is another brand that falls under the Geely umbrella and the company is known for sharing its tech between brands.Measuring in at 5.24-metres long, the Zeekr 9X is longer than the circa-5.0-metre Volvo EX90 and XC90. It also has a more overt luxurious focus.The 9X is based on Geely’s SEA-R platform, which is a version of the SEA platform but for large plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or range-extender (REEV) vehicles. It’s set to form the base of the forthcoming Lotus For Me, which is a REEV version of the Eletre SUV.Power in the Zeekr 9X comes from 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine along with three electric motors for a humongous total system output of 1030kW and a claimed 0-100km/h sprint of 3.1 seconds.Depending on the variant there are two battery packs available, a 55.1kWh unit which offers up to 235km of range, or a 70kWh unit which offers up to 302km of range, both according to lenient CLTC testing. It’s unclear whether this type of vehicle will ever come to fruition, nor what name it will receive. Previous reports have indicated it could potentially be called the EX100.In mid-2025 digital artist, Sugar Design, mocked up what this new flagship Volvo SUV could look like with current Volvo exterior design language.This includes the iconic ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED headlights and a full-width rear tail-light set-up with Volvo script written out on the tailgate.

Rumours are circling about BYD’s next-generation plug-in hybrid technology that could blow the competition out of the water.Chinese motoring media are reporting the set-up will be called DM-i 6.0, but there is no official word from BYD yet.This new plug-in hybrid set-up is believed to deliver an all-electric driving range of up to 300km, according to the more generous China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC).That is a jump of about 50 per cent on BYD’s longest legged plug-in hybrids that it claims can travel about 200km.That kind of range pushes plug-in hybrids closer to full EV capability. Most other plug-in hybrids struggle to hit the 100km mark for full EV driving.A new version of BYD’s Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery is the key to this huge boost.This new battery is rumoured to be a new version of a “semi-solid state” battery, which is nothing like a solid state battery.It differs from regular batteries, which have a gel or liquid electrolyte, by adding a few floating chunks into the mix.The result is slightly improved energy density, but still a long way off what is promised for solid-state batteries.Hyper fast charging is expected thanks to the addition of 900-Volt electrical architecture, which could result in charging speeds exceeding 400kW.A more powerful electric motor is expected  and improvements to the petrol engine are believed to make it more fuel efficient and reduce emissions.BYD is rapidly expanding its range of plug-in hybrids in Australia.In the past 12 months the company has launched the Shark 6 ute to complement its Sealion 6 mid-size SUV.These two will be joined by the Sealion 8 large SUV, Sealion 5 compact SUV and a new Seal 6 sedan and wagon that have been approved for sale in Australia.BYD’s premium sub-brand Denza is adding the off-road focused B5 and B8 plug-in hybrids to take on the Toyota Prado and LandCruiser this year, too.