GAC to launch plug-in hybrid ute in Australia with 2027 firming as likely release date

Chinese carmaker GAC arrives this month on Australian shores with two SUVs and a minivan, nonetheless it indubitably already has its sights residing firmly on some of the nation’s most lucrative segments: dual-cab utes.

Having published the brutalist, futuristic “PICKUP 01” idea on the 2025 Auto Shanghai motor present, fashion of the GAC ute is all of a sudden progressing in direction of what Chinese media has reported will seemingly be a 2027 birth date.

Now, GAC’s most senior executive for non-China markets has confirmed that the ute will utilise a hotfoot-in hybrid powertrain, and it would be backed with a petroleum — no longer diesel — engine.

“At the Shanghai Auto Uncover in April this year, GAC Neighborhood confirmed a hybrid pick-up as a idea automotive. We are making some preparations on this regard,” said Wayne Wei, president of GAC World — the division of the firm that contains 84 non-China markets.

“Now we non-public a cramped bit be taught about the prospects of introducing a ‘recent energy’ pick-up into the Australian market, to spy Australian customer demands and articulate the product,” Wei published.

Chinese producers in overall take a look at with partial and fully-electrified automobiles as ‘recent energy’ — in self-discipline of pure combustion.

Toddle-in hybrid powertrain favoured for GAC ute

Wei, who has executive oversight over GAC in the Australian market, confirmed that the carmaker sees hybrid powertrains as the actual fit for the ute and fascinating SUV segments because of prospects can resolve to bustle in electric or gasoline-powered modes.

“Our be taught has proven that for fascinating-size automobiles, as an instance pick-americaand SUVs, per chance the hotfoot-in hybrid is a real different.”

Quizzed about whether or no longer a pick-up is one thing GAC wants in Australia, Wei agreed: “it is seemingly you’ll per chance per chance also be real.”

GAC sees the pick-up segment as a growth different. No matter dual-cabs accounting for handiest spherical one percent of China’s recent automotive market (mute a sizeable 400,000 objects), approximately six million pick-americaare sold globally per annum.

Chasing Automobiles understands that Australia, the Middle East, South The usa and Mexico will seemingly be the target markets for the manufacturing version of the GAC ute.

In the neighborhood, the BYD Shark 6 hotfoot-in hybrid ute has established itself strongly in the twin-cab segment this year, with more than 15,000 deliveries to the tip of October representing an 8.5 percent market fragment.

PICKUP 01 idea gives hints for manufacturing GAC ute

Cosmetically, the ute became as soon as foreshadowed by the PICKUP 01 idea, which — treasure the Tesla Cybertruck — has a stainless-steel exoskeleton.

While the eventual manufacturing GAC ute will seemingly be pared-wait on when put next with the idea, the Guangzhou-basically basically based carmaker has foreshadowed that the pick-up will seemingly be a top charge contender in desire to a piece truck.

The idea that, which is declared to sit down down on the GAC Adaptive Shimmering Structure (GAIA platform) has camera-told ‘shining’ adaptive suspension, a PHEV system and a reported 12,000Nm of torque on hand on the wheels.