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The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
GWM sets new sales records in Australia
GWM continues to be one of Australia's fastest growing auto brands – and the nation's favourite Chinese brand – posting its best-ever monthly sales result in June and a new record for half-year sales today. The automaker was the country's seventh best selling brand last month, and now holds the same rank in the year-to-date sales standings – up from 10 in the first six months of 2024. So far this year GWM has sold 25,189 vehicles, placing it behind only Toyota (120,978), Mazda (48,942), Ford (47,300), Kia (40,750), Hyundai (38,948) and Mitsubishi (33,379). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Behind it in the top 10 are BYD (23,355), Isuzu Ute (21,883) and MG (21,674), making GWM the best-selling Chinese brand in the first half of 2025. BYD placed fifth last month with a huge sales tally in June, but it remains behind GWM in eighth so far this year, while MG was outside the top 10 in 11 last month and now lies 10 year-to-date. GWM set its highest monthly sales figure since it entered the Australian market 16 years ago in 2009 with 5464 deliveries, accounting for a record 4.5 per cent share of all new-vehicle sales – up 1.0 per cent versus June 2024. Its June result was 30.9 per cent higher than the same month last year, and a 24.4 per cent increase on the brand's previous monthly record set in March 2025. GWM sales are now up 17 per cent year-to-date in an industry that has declined by 1.3 per cent in the first six months of 2025, and it says it's on target to deliver more than 50,000 vehicles this year. Based on 2024 figures, that would see GWM rival MG as Australia's seventh most popular auto brand, behind only Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Kia, Mitsubishi and Hyundai. Last year MG sold 50,592 vehicles (down from 58,346 in 2023), but so far this year its sales are down 11.9 per cent. Last month MG sales dropped by 7.8 per cent, placing it 12th with 3896 deliveries. Meantime, Chery placed 14th in June with 3024 deliveries – up a huge 180.3 per cent on June 2024, and helping to entrench China as Australia's second largest source of new vehicles ahead of Thailand and behind only Japan. GWM attributes its sales growth to a diverse model lineup, and strong sales of both traditional combustion-powered and both hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. New model launches for GWM in the first half of 2025 included an upgraded Cannon ute with a new diesel engine and a 3500kg towing capacity, a new diesel variant of the Tank 300 off-road SUV, the Tank 500 Vanta flagship SUV, its first PHEV in the new Haval H6 GT mid-size SUV, and the Cannon Alpha PHEV dual-cab. GWM's answer to the BYD Shark 6 found 269 buyers in June – its first month on sale – accounting for 45 per cent of total Cannon Alpha ute sales. The Tank 300 and Tank 500 off-road SUVs combined for 783 sales in June. The former recorded its strongest month since October 2023 with 630 units sold – an 84.2 per cent increase over June 2024 – and the new diesel variant now accounts for 62 per cent of Tank 300 sales. The Haval Jolion small SUV attracted a record 2000 sales in June, securing second place in its segment with 12.6 per cent share, and marking an 18.3 record increase over its previous record set in December 2024 (1691 sales) and a 26.6 per cent increase year-to-date. The Haval H6 found 1278 new homes in June as the mid-size SUV entered run-out. It was up 4.2 per cent on June 2024 and 6.0 per cent year-to-date. The updated Cannon ute arrived in February and found 1074 new homes in June, before the release of additional variants including the Premium dual-cab, Lux dual-cab/chassis, Vanta, and XSR. However, Cannon 4×4 sales are down 53 per cent so far this year with 2028 sales to June. The Ora electric hatch was the only other dark spot for GWM in June, as it found just 60 buyers (down over 47 per cent on the same month last year), to notch up just 331 sales so far this year – down more than 44 per cent on 2024. "Delivering this level of growth in a competitive and constantly evolving market is a direct reflection of the dedication shown by our dealer network, partners, and of course our GWM staff," said GWM ANZ chief operating officer John Kett. "2025 was always set to be more competitive than 2024, with new brands entering and established players refusing to yield. GWM won't be dialling back in the second half – we're maintaining EOFY pricing to reinforce our commitment to being a price accessible brand. "From July 2025, we'll also accelerate the rollout of our next-generation technology, led by innovations in HEV, Hi4, and Hi4T PHEV systems across key models like the Cannon Alpha, Haval H6, and Tank 500," said Mr Kett. GWM also says it will expand its Australian dealer network from a current 115 retailers to about 125 by the end of 2025. MORE: Everything GWM Content originally sourced from: GWM continues to be one of Australia's fastest growing auto brands – and the nation's favourite Chinese brand – posting its best-ever monthly sales result in June and a new record for half-year sales today. The automaker was the country's seventh best selling brand last month, and now holds the same rank in the year-to-date sales standings – up from 10 in the first six months of 2024. So far this year GWM has sold 25,189 vehicles, placing it behind only Toyota (120,978), Mazda (48,942), Ford (47,300), Kia (40,750), Hyundai (38,948) and Mitsubishi (33,379). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Behind it in the top 10 are BYD (23,355), Isuzu Ute (21,883) and MG (21,674), making GWM the best-selling Chinese brand in the first half of 2025. BYD placed fifth last month with a huge sales tally in June, but it remains behind GWM in eighth so far this year, while MG was outside the top 10 in 11 last month and now lies 10 year-to-date. GWM set its highest monthly sales figure since it entered the Australian market 16 years ago in 2009 with 5464 deliveries, accounting for a record 4.5 per cent share of all new-vehicle sales – up 1.0 per cent versus June 2024. Its June result was 30.9 per cent higher than the same month last year, and a 24.4 per cent increase on the brand's previous monthly record set in March 2025. GWM sales are now up 17 per cent year-to-date in an industry that has declined by 1.3 per cent in the first six months of 2025, and it says it's on target to deliver more than 50,000 vehicles this year. Based on 2024 figures, that would see GWM rival MG as Australia's seventh most popular auto brand, behind only Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Kia, Mitsubishi and Hyundai. Last year MG sold 50,592 vehicles (down from 58,346 in 2023), but so far this year its sales are down 11.9 per cent. Last month MG sales dropped by 7.8 per cent, placing it 12th with 3896 deliveries. Meantime, Chery placed 14th in June with 3024 deliveries – up a huge 180.3 per cent on June 2024, and helping to entrench China as Australia's second largest source of new vehicles ahead of Thailand and behind only Japan. GWM attributes its sales growth to a diverse model lineup, and strong sales of both traditional combustion-powered and both hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. New model launches for GWM in the first half of 2025 included an upgraded Cannon ute with a new diesel engine and a 3500kg towing capacity, a new diesel variant of the Tank 300 off-road SUV, the Tank 500 Vanta flagship SUV, its first PHEV in the new Haval H6 GT mid-size SUV, and the Cannon Alpha PHEV dual-cab. GWM's answer to the BYD Shark 6 found 269 buyers in June – its first month on sale – accounting for 45 per cent of total Cannon Alpha ute sales. The Tank 300 and Tank 500 off-road SUVs combined for 783 sales in June. The former recorded its strongest month since October 2023 with 630 units sold – an 84.2 per cent increase over June 2024 – and the new diesel variant now accounts for 62 per cent of Tank 300 sales. The Haval Jolion small SUV attracted a record 2000 sales in June, securing second place in its segment with 12.6 per cent share, and marking an 18.3 record increase over its previous record set in December 2024 (1691 sales) and a 26.6 per cent increase year-to-date. The Haval H6 found 1278 new homes in June as the mid-size SUV entered run-out. It was up 4.2 per cent on June 2024 and 6.0 per cent year-to-date. The updated Cannon ute arrived in February and found 1074 new homes in June, before the release of additional variants including the Premium dual-cab, Lux dual-cab/chassis, Vanta, and XSR. However, Cannon 4×4 sales are down 53 per cent so far this year with 2028 sales to June. The Ora electric hatch was the only other dark spot for GWM in June, as it found just 60 buyers (down over 47 per cent on the same month last year), to notch up just 331 sales so far this year – down more than 44 per cent on 2024. "Delivering this level of growth in a competitive and constantly evolving market is a direct reflection of the dedication shown by our dealer network, partners, and of course our GWM staff," said GWM ANZ chief operating officer John Kett. "2025 was always set to be more competitive than 2024, with new brands entering and established players refusing to yield. GWM won't be dialling back in the second half – we're maintaining EOFY pricing to reinforce our commitment to being a price accessible brand. "From July 2025, we'll also accelerate the rollout of our next-generation technology, led by innovations in HEV, Hi4, and Hi4T PHEV systems across key models like the Cannon Alpha, Haval H6, and Tank 500," said Mr Kett. GWM also says it will expand its Australian dealer network from a current 115 retailers to about 125 by the end of 2025. MORE: Everything GWM Content originally sourced from: GWM continues to be one of Australia's fastest growing auto brands – and the nation's favourite Chinese brand – posting its best-ever monthly sales result in June and a new record for half-year sales today. The automaker was the country's seventh best selling brand last month, and now holds the same rank in the year-to-date sales standings – up from 10 in the first six months of 2024. So far this year GWM has sold 25,189 vehicles, placing it behind only Toyota (120,978), Mazda (48,942), Ford (47,300), Kia (40,750), Hyundai (38,948) and Mitsubishi (33,379). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Behind it in the top 10 are BYD (23,355), Isuzu Ute (21,883) and MG (21,674), making GWM the best-selling Chinese brand in the first half of 2025. BYD placed fifth last month with a huge sales tally in June, but it remains behind GWM in eighth so far this year, while MG was outside the top 10 in 11 last month and now lies 10 year-to-date. GWM set its highest monthly sales figure since it entered the Australian market 16 years ago in 2009 with 5464 deliveries, accounting for a record 4.5 per cent share of all new-vehicle sales – up 1.0 per cent versus June 2024. Its June result was 30.9 per cent higher than the same month last year, and a 24.4 per cent increase on the brand's previous monthly record set in March 2025. GWM sales are now up 17 per cent year-to-date in an industry that has declined by 1.3 per cent in the first six months of 2025, and it says it's on target to deliver more than 50,000 vehicles this year. Based on 2024 figures, that would see GWM rival MG as Australia's seventh most popular auto brand, behind only Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Kia, Mitsubishi and Hyundai. Last year MG sold 50,592 vehicles (down from 58,346 in 2023), but so far this year its sales are down 11.9 per cent. Last month MG sales dropped by 7.8 per cent, placing it 12th with 3896 deliveries. Meantime, Chery placed 14th in June with 3024 deliveries – up a huge 180.3 per cent on June 2024, and helping to entrench China as Australia's second largest source of new vehicles ahead of Thailand and behind only Japan. GWM attributes its sales growth to a diverse model lineup, and strong sales of both traditional combustion-powered and both hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. New model launches for GWM in the first half of 2025 included an upgraded Cannon ute with a new diesel engine and a 3500kg towing capacity, a new diesel variant of the Tank 300 off-road SUV, the Tank 500 Vanta flagship SUV, its first PHEV in the new Haval H6 GT mid-size SUV, and the Cannon Alpha PHEV dual-cab. GWM's answer to the BYD Shark 6 found 269 buyers in June – its first month on sale – accounting for 45 per cent of total Cannon Alpha ute sales. The Tank 300 and Tank 500 off-road SUVs combined for 783 sales in June. The former recorded its strongest month since October 2023 with 630 units sold – an 84.2 per cent increase over June 2024 – and the new diesel variant now accounts for 62 per cent of Tank 300 sales. The Haval Jolion small SUV attracted a record 2000 sales in June, securing second place in its segment with 12.6 per cent share, and marking an 18.3 record increase over its previous record set in December 2024 (1691 sales) and a 26.6 per cent increase year-to-date. The Haval H6 found 1278 new homes in June as the mid-size SUV entered run-out. It was up 4.2 per cent on June 2024 and 6.0 per cent year-to-date. The updated Cannon ute arrived in February and found 1074 new homes in June, before the release of additional variants including the Premium dual-cab, Lux dual-cab/chassis, Vanta, and XSR. However, Cannon 4×4 sales are down 53 per cent so far this year with 2028 sales to June. The Ora electric hatch was the only other dark spot for GWM in June, as it found just 60 buyers (down over 47 per cent on the same month last year), to notch up just 331 sales so far this year – down more than 44 per cent on 2024. "Delivering this level of growth in a competitive and constantly evolving market is a direct reflection of the dedication shown by our dealer network, partners, and of course our GWM staff," said GWM ANZ chief operating officer John Kett. "2025 was always set to be more competitive than 2024, with new brands entering and established players refusing to yield. GWM won't be dialling back in the second half – we're maintaining EOFY pricing to reinforce our commitment to being a price accessible brand. "From July 2025, we'll also accelerate the rollout of our next-generation technology, led by innovations in HEV, Hi4, and Hi4T PHEV systems across key models like the Cannon Alpha, Haval H6, and Tank 500," said Mr Kett. GWM also says it will expand its Australian dealer network from a current 115 retailers to about 125 by the end of 2025. MORE: Everything GWM Content originally sourced from: GWM continues to be one of Australia's fastest growing auto brands – and the nation's favourite Chinese brand – posting its best-ever monthly sales result in June and a new record for half-year sales today. The automaker was the country's seventh best selling brand last month, and now holds the same rank in the year-to-date sales standings – up from 10 in the first six months of 2024. So far this year GWM has sold 25,189 vehicles, placing it behind only Toyota (120,978), Mazda (48,942), Ford (47,300), Kia (40,750), Hyundai (38,948) and Mitsubishi (33,379). Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Behind it in the top 10 are BYD (23,355), Isuzu Ute (21,883) and MG (21,674), making GWM the best-selling Chinese brand in the first half of 2025. BYD placed fifth last month with a huge sales tally in June, but it remains behind GWM in eighth so far this year, while MG was outside the top 10 in 11 last month and now lies 10 year-to-date. GWM set its highest monthly sales figure since it entered the Australian market 16 years ago in 2009 with 5464 deliveries, accounting for a record 4.5 per cent share of all new-vehicle sales – up 1.0 per cent versus June 2024. Its June result was 30.9 per cent higher than the same month last year, and a 24.4 per cent increase on the brand's previous monthly record set in March 2025. GWM sales are now up 17 per cent year-to-date in an industry that has declined by 1.3 per cent in the first six months of 2025, and it says it's on target to deliver more than 50,000 vehicles this year. Based on 2024 figures, that would see GWM rival MG as Australia's seventh most popular auto brand, behind only Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Kia, Mitsubishi and Hyundai. Last year MG sold 50,592 vehicles (down from 58,346 in 2023), but so far this year its sales are down 11.9 per cent. Last month MG sales dropped by 7.8 per cent, placing it 12th with 3896 deliveries. Meantime, Chery placed 14th in June with 3024 deliveries – up a huge 180.3 per cent on June 2024, and helping to entrench China as Australia's second largest source of new vehicles ahead of Thailand and behind only Japan. GWM attributes its sales growth to a diverse model lineup, and strong sales of both traditional combustion-powered and both hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. New model launches for GWM in the first half of 2025 included an upgraded Cannon ute with a new diesel engine and a 3500kg towing capacity, a new diesel variant of the Tank 300 off-road SUV, the Tank 500 Vanta flagship SUV, its first PHEV in the new Haval H6 GT mid-size SUV, and the Cannon Alpha PHEV dual-cab. GWM's answer to the BYD Shark 6 found 269 buyers in June – its first month on sale – accounting for 45 per cent of total Cannon Alpha ute sales. The Tank 300 and Tank 500 off-road SUVs combined for 783 sales in June. The former recorded its strongest month since October 2023 with 630 units sold – an 84.2 per cent increase over June 2024 – and the new diesel variant now accounts for 62 per cent of Tank 300 sales. The Haval Jolion small SUV attracted a record 2000 sales in June, securing second place in its segment with 12.6 per cent share, and marking an 18.3 record increase over its previous record set in December 2024 (1691 sales) and a 26.6 per cent increase year-to-date. The Haval H6 found 1278 new homes in June as the mid-size SUV entered run-out. It was up 4.2 per cent on June 2024 and 6.0 per cent year-to-date. The updated Cannon ute arrived in February and found 1074 new homes in June, before the release of additional variants including the Premium dual-cab, Lux dual-cab/chassis, Vanta, and XSR. However, Cannon 4×4 sales are down 53 per cent so far this year with 2028 sales to June. The Ora electric hatch was the only other dark spot for GWM in June, as it found just 60 buyers (down over 47 per cent on the same month last year), to notch up just 331 sales so far this year – down more than 44 per cent on 2024. "Delivering this level of growth in a competitive and constantly evolving market is a direct reflection of the dedication shown by our dealer network, partners, and of course our GWM staff," said GWM ANZ chief operating officer John Kett. "2025 was always set to be more competitive than 2024, with new brands entering and established players refusing to yield. GWM won't be dialling back in the second half – we're maintaining EOFY pricing to reinforce our commitment to being a price accessible brand. "From July 2025, we'll also accelerate the rollout of our next-generation technology, led by innovations in HEV, Hi4, and Hi4T PHEV systems across key models like the Cannon Alpha, Haval H6, and Tank 500," said Mr Kett. GWM also says it will expand its Australian dealer network from a current 115 retailers to about 125 by the end of 2025. MORE: Everything GWM Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
VFACTS June 2025: Chinese cars surge in buoyant market
New-vehicle deliveries increased in June 2025, despite market-leading Toyota stumbling slightly, and Chinese brands were the growth powerhouses. A total of 127,437 new vehicles were registered in June, up 6.5 per cent on June 2024, according to figures published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council. Compared to June 2024, deliveries in Australia's three most populous states all increased. The market was also fuelled by an increase in private, business and rental fleet sales. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Chinese cars continue their rise in Australia, with BYD taking fifth position for the month – the highest spot in the top 10 ever enjoyed by a Chinese auto brand. Just 1122 more Japanese-built cars were delivered here in June than Chinese-built ones (31,055 versus 29,933). China is fairly comfortably ensconced as Australia's second largest source of new vehicles, despite our love of Thai-built utes. A total of 2131 more Chinese-built cars were delivered here than Thai-built models. Market leader Toyota was down by 3.2 per cent, with its top-selling HiLux bested by the rival Ford Ranger (after the inverse in May), its RAV4 outsold by the Mazda CX-5, and its Prado outsold by the Ford Everest. Ford rose in line with the overall market, up 6.4 per cent year-on-year to 10,103 deliveries – almost exactly half Toyota's figure of 20,225. Mazda held onto third spot, though it was down slightly by 0.8 per cent to 9405 deliveries. Hyundai surged by 28.3 per cent compared with last June, reaching 8407 deliveries – almost 600 more than sister brand Kia in sixth place, which for some time has been the thorn in its side by beating it each year. Kia is still ahead year-to-date, mind you, with 40,750 deliveries, down 1.3 per cent on the same period last year. But Hyundai is closing the gap, up 7.9 per cent year-to-date to 38,949 deliveries. Hyundai's significant rise would have been the headline news in June's top 10, were it not for impressive performances by Chinese brands. GWM was in seventh place, up a significant 30.9 per cent to 5464 deliveries. Unusually, GWM deliveries increased by 30.9 per cent… the exact percentage change that eighth-place Mitsubishi experienced, but in reverse. But the real star of June was BYD, which occupied fifth place with 8156 deliveries – up a staggering 367.9 per cent year over year, thanks to strong performances by its two plug-in hybrid models and the new Sealion 7 electric SUV. More on that later… The top 10 was rounded out by Isuzu Ute (5152 deliveries, up 15.9 per cent) and Subaru (4610 deliveries, up 3.4 per cent). Tesla sat in 11th, and posted its best month of deliveries since June 2024 with 4589 in total (down 2.0 per cent, but part of a clear turnaround by the brand). MG dropped 7.8 per cent to finish in 12th with 3896 deliveries and Nissan stumbled with 3468 deliveries, a decline of 19.2 per cent. Chery sat in 14th with 3024 deliveries, up a huge 180.3 per cent year over year. After taking back the top spot in May, the Toyota HiLux fell back to second place in June with 6195 deliveries against 6293 for the market-leading Ford Ranger. As usual, the HiLux continues to outperform the Ranger in 4×2 sales, but the Ranger bests it in 4×4 sales. Rinse, repeat. The updated Tesla Model Y had a strong month, up 19 per cent and beating out the Isuzu D-Max for a podium finish in June. Sitting in fifth position was the BYD Shark 6, with 2993 deliveries – evidently showing the now axed Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for plug-in hybrids wasn't the only reason the ute had sold so well after its launch earlier this year. Another BYD PHEV, the Sealion 6, took 19th position. It was beaten by BYD's Model Y rival, the Sealion 7, which took 17th position. The sixth-place Ford Everest rose 19.3 per cent year over year, beating out the 11th-place Toyota Prado. The seventh-place Mazda CX-5 also scored an upset, bettering the Toyota RAV4 by 161 units despite being down 3.9 per cent year-on-year. The RAV4 had a larger 38 per cent drop. Both mid-size SUVs are being replaced in 2026. The Hyundai Kona took eighth spot, once again claiming the title of Australia's best-selling small SUV by beating out the GWM Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo 4, both of which finished in the overall top 20. Kona deliveries increased 37.7 per cent year-onyear, making it one of a few Hyundais to see double-digit increases in June; the others were the i30, Tucson and Venue. The Tucson came close to beating the RAV4 too, but ended up finishing 10th overall. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. Excludes Tesla and Polestar sales. Excludes Tesla, Polestar and heavy commercial sales. Excludes heavy commercial sales. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. MORE: VFACTS May 2025: HiLux outsells Ranger, Model Y pushes past PradoMORE: VFACTS April 2025: Australian new vehicle deliveries dropMORE: VFACTS March 2025: Ford Ranger back on top as market expands for the first time this yearMORE: VFACTS February 2025: Petrol, diesel and EV sales drop as PHEVs, hybrids surgeMORE: VFACTS January 2025: Slow start to slower year Content originally sourced from: New-vehicle deliveries increased in June 2025, despite market-leading Toyota stumbling slightly, and Chinese brands were the growth powerhouses. A total of 127,437 new vehicles were registered in June, up 6.5 per cent on June 2024, according to figures published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council. Compared to June 2024, deliveries in Australia's three most populous states all increased. The market was also fuelled by an increase in private, business and rental fleet sales. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Chinese cars continue their rise in Australia, with BYD taking fifth position for the month – the highest spot in the top 10 ever enjoyed by a Chinese auto brand. Just 1122 more Japanese-built cars were delivered here in June than Chinese-built ones (31,055 versus 29,933). China is fairly comfortably ensconced as Australia's second largest source of new vehicles, despite our love of Thai-built utes. A total of 2131 more Chinese-built cars were delivered here than Thai-built models. Market leader Toyota was down by 3.2 per cent, with its top-selling HiLux bested by the rival Ford Ranger (after the inverse in May), its RAV4 outsold by the Mazda CX-5, and its Prado outsold by the Ford Everest. Ford rose in line with the overall market, up 6.4 per cent year-on-year to 10,103 deliveries – almost exactly half Toyota's figure of 20,225. Mazda held onto third spot, though it was down slightly by 0.8 per cent to 9405 deliveries. Hyundai surged by 28.3 per cent compared with last June, reaching 8407 deliveries – almost 600 more than sister brand Kia in sixth place, which for some time has been the thorn in its side by beating it each year. Kia is still ahead year-to-date, mind you, with 40,750 deliveries, down 1.3 per cent on the same period last year. But Hyundai is closing the gap, up 7.9 per cent year-to-date to 38,949 deliveries. Hyundai's significant rise would have been the headline news in June's top 10, were it not for impressive performances by Chinese brands. GWM was in seventh place, up a significant 30.9 per cent to 5464 deliveries. Unusually, GWM deliveries increased by 30.9 per cent… the exact percentage change that eighth-place Mitsubishi experienced, but in reverse. But the real star of June was BYD, which occupied fifth place with 8156 deliveries – up a staggering 367.9 per cent year over year, thanks to strong performances by its two plug-in hybrid models and the new Sealion 7 electric SUV. More on that later… The top 10 was rounded out by Isuzu Ute (5152 deliveries, up 15.9 per cent) and Subaru (4610 deliveries, up 3.4 per cent). Tesla sat in 11th, and posted its best month of deliveries since June 2024 with 4589 in total (down 2.0 per cent, but part of a clear turnaround by the brand). MG dropped 7.8 per cent to finish in 12th with 3896 deliveries and Nissan stumbled with 3468 deliveries, a decline of 19.2 per cent. Chery sat in 14th with 3024 deliveries, up a huge 180.3 per cent year over year. After taking back the top spot in May, the Toyota HiLux fell back to second place in June with 6195 deliveries against 6293 for the market-leading Ford Ranger. As usual, the HiLux continues to outperform the Ranger in 4×2 sales, but the Ranger bests it in 4×4 sales. Rinse, repeat. The updated Tesla Model Y had a strong month, up 19 per cent and beating out the Isuzu D-Max for a podium finish in June. Sitting in fifth position was the BYD Shark 6, with 2993 deliveries – evidently showing the now axed Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for plug-in hybrids wasn't the only reason the ute had sold so well after its launch earlier this year. Another BYD PHEV, the Sealion 6, took 19th position. It was beaten by BYD's Model Y rival, the Sealion 7, which took 17th position. The sixth-place Ford Everest rose 19.3 per cent year over year, beating out the 11th-place Toyota Prado. The seventh-place Mazda CX-5 also scored an upset, bettering the Toyota RAV4 by 161 units despite being down 3.9 per cent year-on-year. The RAV4 had a larger 38 per cent drop. Both mid-size SUVs are being replaced in 2026. The Hyundai Kona took eighth spot, once again claiming the title of Australia's best-selling small SUV by beating out the GWM Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo 4, both of which finished in the overall top 20. Kona deliveries increased 37.7 per cent year-onyear, making it one of a few Hyundais to see double-digit increases in June; the others were the i30, Tucson and Venue. The Tucson came close to beating the RAV4 too, but ended up finishing 10th overall. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. Excludes Tesla and Polestar sales. Excludes Tesla, Polestar and heavy commercial sales. Excludes heavy commercial sales. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. MORE: VFACTS May 2025: HiLux outsells Ranger, Model Y pushes past PradoMORE: VFACTS April 2025: Australian new vehicle deliveries dropMORE: VFACTS March 2025: Ford Ranger back on top as market expands for the first time this yearMORE: VFACTS February 2025: Petrol, diesel and EV sales drop as PHEVs, hybrids surgeMORE: VFACTS January 2025: Slow start to slower year Content originally sourced from: New-vehicle deliveries increased in June 2025, despite market-leading Toyota stumbling slightly, and Chinese brands were the growth powerhouses. A total of 127,437 new vehicles were registered in June, up 6.5 per cent on June 2024, according to figures published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council. Compared to June 2024, deliveries in Australia's three most populous states all increased. The market was also fuelled by an increase in private, business and rental fleet sales. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Chinese cars continue their rise in Australia, with BYD taking fifth position for the month – the highest spot in the top 10 ever enjoyed by a Chinese auto brand. Just 1122 more Japanese-built cars were delivered here in June than Chinese-built ones (31,055 versus 29,933). China is fairly comfortably ensconced as Australia's second largest source of new vehicles, despite our love of Thai-built utes. A total of 2131 more Chinese-built cars were delivered here than Thai-built models. Market leader Toyota was down by 3.2 per cent, with its top-selling HiLux bested by the rival Ford Ranger (after the inverse in May), its RAV4 outsold by the Mazda CX-5, and its Prado outsold by the Ford Everest. Ford rose in line with the overall market, up 6.4 per cent year-on-year to 10,103 deliveries – almost exactly half Toyota's figure of 20,225. Mazda held onto third spot, though it was down slightly by 0.8 per cent to 9405 deliveries. Hyundai surged by 28.3 per cent compared with last June, reaching 8407 deliveries – almost 600 more than sister brand Kia in sixth place, which for some time has been the thorn in its side by beating it each year. Kia is still ahead year-to-date, mind you, with 40,750 deliveries, down 1.3 per cent on the same period last year. But Hyundai is closing the gap, up 7.9 per cent year-to-date to 38,949 deliveries. Hyundai's significant rise would have been the headline news in June's top 10, were it not for impressive performances by Chinese brands. GWM was in seventh place, up a significant 30.9 per cent to 5464 deliveries. Unusually, GWM deliveries increased by 30.9 per cent… the exact percentage change that eighth-place Mitsubishi experienced, but in reverse. But the real star of June was BYD, which occupied fifth place with 8156 deliveries – up a staggering 367.9 per cent year over year, thanks to strong performances by its two plug-in hybrid models and the new Sealion 7 electric SUV. More on that later… The top 10 was rounded out by Isuzu Ute (5152 deliveries, up 15.9 per cent) and Subaru (4610 deliveries, up 3.4 per cent). Tesla sat in 11th, and posted its best month of deliveries since June 2024 with 4589 in total (down 2.0 per cent, but part of a clear turnaround by the brand). MG dropped 7.8 per cent to finish in 12th with 3896 deliveries and Nissan stumbled with 3468 deliveries, a decline of 19.2 per cent. Chery sat in 14th with 3024 deliveries, up a huge 180.3 per cent year over year. After taking back the top spot in May, the Toyota HiLux fell back to second place in June with 6195 deliveries against 6293 for the market-leading Ford Ranger. As usual, the HiLux continues to outperform the Ranger in 4×2 sales, but the Ranger bests it in 4×4 sales. Rinse, repeat. The updated Tesla Model Y had a strong month, up 19 per cent and beating out the Isuzu D-Max for a podium finish in June. Sitting in fifth position was the BYD Shark 6, with 2993 deliveries – evidently showing the now axed Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for plug-in hybrids wasn't the only reason the ute had sold so well after its launch earlier this year. Another BYD PHEV, the Sealion 6, took 19th position. It was beaten by BYD's Model Y rival, the Sealion 7, which took 17th position. The sixth-place Ford Everest rose 19.3 per cent year over year, beating out the 11th-place Toyota Prado. The seventh-place Mazda CX-5 also scored an upset, bettering the Toyota RAV4 by 161 units despite being down 3.9 per cent year-on-year. The RAV4 had a larger 38 per cent drop. Both mid-size SUVs are being replaced in 2026. The Hyundai Kona took eighth spot, once again claiming the title of Australia's best-selling small SUV by beating out the GWM Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo 4, both of which finished in the overall top 20. Kona deliveries increased 37.7 per cent year-onyear, making it one of a few Hyundais to see double-digit increases in June; the others were the i30, Tucson and Venue. The Tucson came close to beating the RAV4 too, but ended up finishing 10th overall. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. Excludes Tesla and Polestar sales. Excludes Tesla, Polestar and heavy commercial sales. Excludes heavy commercial sales. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. MORE: VFACTS May 2025: HiLux outsells Ranger, Model Y pushes past PradoMORE: VFACTS April 2025: Australian new vehicle deliveries dropMORE: VFACTS March 2025: Ford Ranger back on top as market expands for the first time this yearMORE: VFACTS February 2025: Petrol, diesel and EV sales drop as PHEVs, hybrids surgeMORE: VFACTS January 2025: Slow start to slower year Content originally sourced from: New-vehicle deliveries increased in June 2025, despite market-leading Toyota stumbling slightly, and Chinese brands were the growth powerhouses. A total of 127,437 new vehicles were registered in June, up 6.5 per cent on June 2024, according to figures published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council. Compared to June 2024, deliveries in Australia's three most populous states all increased. The market was also fuelled by an increase in private, business and rental fleet sales. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Chinese cars continue their rise in Australia, with BYD taking fifth position for the month – the highest spot in the top 10 ever enjoyed by a Chinese auto brand. Just 1122 more Japanese-built cars were delivered here in June than Chinese-built ones (31,055 versus 29,933). China is fairly comfortably ensconced as Australia's second largest source of new vehicles, despite our love of Thai-built utes. A total of 2131 more Chinese-built cars were delivered here than Thai-built models. Market leader Toyota was down by 3.2 per cent, with its top-selling HiLux bested by the rival Ford Ranger (after the inverse in May), its RAV4 outsold by the Mazda CX-5, and its Prado outsold by the Ford Everest. Ford rose in line with the overall market, up 6.4 per cent year-on-year to 10,103 deliveries – almost exactly half Toyota's figure of 20,225. Mazda held onto third spot, though it was down slightly by 0.8 per cent to 9405 deliveries. Hyundai surged by 28.3 per cent compared with last June, reaching 8407 deliveries – almost 600 more than sister brand Kia in sixth place, which for some time has been the thorn in its side by beating it each year. Kia is still ahead year-to-date, mind you, with 40,750 deliveries, down 1.3 per cent on the same period last year. But Hyundai is closing the gap, up 7.9 per cent year-to-date to 38,949 deliveries. Hyundai's significant rise would have been the headline news in June's top 10, were it not for impressive performances by Chinese brands. GWM was in seventh place, up a significant 30.9 per cent to 5464 deliveries. Unusually, GWM deliveries increased by 30.9 per cent… the exact percentage change that eighth-place Mitsubishi experienced, but in reverse. But the real star of June was BYD, which occupied fifth place with 8156 deliveries – up a staggering 367.9 per cent year over year, thanks to strong performances by its two plug-in hybrid models and the new Sealion 7 electric SUV. More on that later… The top 10 was rounded out by Isuzu Ute (5152 deliveries, up 15.9 per cent) and Subaru (4610 deliveries, up 3.4 per cent). Tesla sat in 11th, and posted its best month of deliveries since June 2024 with 4589 in total (down 2.0 per cent, but part of a clear turnaround by the brand). MG dropped 7.8 per cent to finish in 12th with 3896 deliveries and Nissan stumbled with 3468 deliveries, a decline of 19.2 per cent. Chery sat in 14th with 3024 deliveries, up a huge 180.3 per cent year over year. After taking back the top spot in May, the Toyota HiLux fell back to second place in June with 6195 deliveries against 6293 for the market-leading Ford Ranger. As usual, the HiLux continues to outperform the Ranger in 4×2 sales, but the Ranger bests it in 4×4 sales. Rinse, repeat. The updated Tesla Model Y had a strong month, up 19 per cent and beating out the Isuzu D-Max for a podium finish in June. Sitting in fifth position was the BYD Shark 6, with 2993 deliveries – evidently showing the now axed Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for plug-in hybrids wasn't the only reason the ute had sold so well after its launch earlier this year. Another BYD PHEV, the Sealion 6, took 19th position. It was beaten by BYD's Model Y rival, the Sealion 7, which took 17th position. The sixth-place Ford Everest rose 19.3 per cent year over year, beating out the 11th-place Toyota Prado. The seventh-place Mazda CX-5 also scored an upset, bettering the Toyota RAV4 by 161 units despite being down 3.9 per cent year-on-year. The RAV4 had a larger 38 per cent drop. Both mid-size SUVs are being replaced in 2026. The Hyundai Kona took eighth spot, once again claiming the title of Australia's best-selling small SUV by beating out the GWM Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo 4, both of which finished in the overall top 20. Kona deliveries increased 37.7 per cent year-onyear, making it one of a few Hyundais to see double-digit increases in June; the others were the i30, Tucson and Venue. The Tucson came close to beating the RAV4 too, but ended up finishing 10th overall. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. Excludes Tesla and Polestar sales. Excludes Tesla, Polestar and heavy commercial sales. Excludes heavy commercial sales. Includes Tesla and Polestar sales. MORE: VFACTS May 2025: HiLux outsells Ranger, Model Y pushes past PradoMORE: VFACTS April 2025: Australian new vehicle deliveries dropMORE: VFACTS March 2025: Ford Ranger back on top as market expands for the first time this yearMORE: VFACTS February 2025: Petrol, diesel and EV sales drop as PHEVs, hybrids surgeMORE: VFACTS January 2025: Slow start to slower year Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Look out, Lexus! Zeekr could offer Australia's most sumptuous people mover
Zeekr Australia wants to spice up the local people mover market by launching the ultra-luxurious 009 Grand Down Under, although its arrival is contingent on as-yet unconfirmed right-hand drive production. The standard 009 went on sale in Australia late last year, offered in either seven-seat or six-seat configurations, priced at $135,900 and $139,900 before on-road costs, respectively. Sales have gradually increased since launch – 66 have been sold this year to the end of June – although the Lexus LM (163 deliveries) and Mercedes-Benz V-Class (141) remain the preferred options in the premium people mover space. That hasn't stopped Zeekr's local team from enquiring about the Grand, which hit the Chinese market a few months ago at roughly double the price of the standard 009 variants. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We are exploring ways to launch it in Australia officially at the moment," Zeekr Australia marketing boss, Andrew Haurissa told local media in Sydney. "With the 009 present in the local market, that makes a compelling argument to have the Grand here." While the Grand would be welcomed to Australian showrooms, there's no guarantee it will be produced in right-hand drive at this stage. Zeekr is in the process of investigating the viability of a conversion for the Grand, which will be informed by the sales performance of other 009 variants across the globe. "The right-hand drive is here but only as a six- or seven-seater, we are investigating the possibility of the Grand, not only for Australia but for all right-hand drive market depending on customer needs and the business case," said Zeekr global product marketing director Tony Zhou. "The Grand version is a new variant that only launched in China a few months ago in left-hand drive. To convert from left- to right-hand drive takes time, including the product development, engineering and homologation. "We need a positive business case, which we are investigating now. The performance of the current versions will give us the confidence to deliver the Grand version, because the Grand is positioned much higher than current versions, which means the price will be much higher. "Just look at the price in China, it's around double the normal versions. Converting to right-hand drive the price will be much higher, how many customers will choose this one? And given the volume assumptions, what will be the business case?" Based on pricing in the Chinese market and the costs involved in readying a vehicle for sale in Australia, it would be reasonable to expect that the 009 Grand could retail for north of $250,000 locally, making it the most expensive people mover on sale. The 009 is one of two Zeekr models currently available in Australia, alongside the compact X electric SUV. Both will be joined by the larger 7X SUV later this year, with a further SUV offering to come in 2026. Mr Zhou says that the brand wants to avoid overcrowding its Australian showrooms at this early stage. "We need to consider the product lineup here, because we have two versions already, the X, and the 7X coming, we're going to have a new model next year, it's about whether the showrooms can contain so many variants," said Mr Zhou. Zeekr markets the 009 as a luxury people mover, but the Grand elevates that premium positioning to another level. For starters, the third row of seats has been deleted to maximise second row passenger legroom. Instead, the rear section houses a pair of airplane-style individual seats with 24-way electric adjustment, 12 zones of support, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. There's also a huge divider between the front and rear compartments, like the Lexus LM. The cabin is now trimmed in hand-polished stainless-steel elements and natural Himalayan marble, while entertainment is delivered through a 43-inch mini-LED screen and 31-speaker Yamaha sound system. VIP passengers can also enjoy full privacy courtesy of light curtain glass technology that offers adjustable window tinting, and ice-cold refreshments thanks to an 18-litre mini fridge. Like the base 009, the Grand features a dual-motor electric powertrain that can propel the people mover from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds in this application. Zeekr quotes 702km of driving range on the more optimistic CLTC testing cycle. MORE: Explore the Zeekr 009 showroom Content originally sourced from: Zeekr Australia wants to spice up the local people mover market by launching the ultra-luxurious 009 Grand Down Under, although its arrival is contingent on as-yet unconfirmed right-hand drive production. The standard 009 went on sale in Australia late last year, offered in either seven-seat or six-seat configurations, priced at $135,900 and $139,900 before on-road costs, respectively. Sales have gradually increased since launch – 66 have been sold this year to the end of June – although the Lexus LM (163 deliveries) and Mercedes-Benz V-Class (141) remain the preferred options in the premium people mover space. That hasn't stopped Zeekr's local team from enquiring about the Grand, which hit the Chinese market a few months ago at roughly double the price of the standard 009 variants. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We are exploring ways to launch it in Australia officially at the moment," Zeekr Australia marketing boss, Andrew Haurissa told local media in Sydney. "With the 009 present in the local market, that makes a compelling argument to have the Grand here." While the Grand would be welcomed to Australian showrooms, there's no guarantee it will be produced in right-hand drive at this stage. Zeekr is in the process of investigating the viability of a conversion for the Grand, which will be informed by the sales performance of other 009 variants across the globe. "The right-hand drive is here but only as a six- or seven-seater, we are investigating the possibility of the Grand, not only for Australia but for all right-hand drive market depending on customer needs and the business case," said Zeekr global product marketing director Tony Zhou. "The Grand version is a new variant that only launched in China a few months ago in left-hand drive. To convert from left- to right-hand drive takes time, including the product development, engineering and homologation. "We need a positive business case, which we are investigating now. The performance of the current versions will give us the confidence to deliver the Grand version, because the Grand is positioned much higher than current versions, which means the price will be much higher. "Just look at the price in China, it's around double the normal versions. Converting to right-hand drive the price will be much higher, how many customers will choose this one? And given the volume assumptions, what will be the business case?" Based on pricing in the Chinese market and the costs involved in readying a vehicle for sale in Australia, it would be reasonable to expect that the 009 Grand could retail for north of $250,000 locally, making it the most expensive people mover on sale. The 009 is one of two Zeekr models currently available in Australia, alongside the compact X electric SUV. Both will be joined by the larger 7X SUV later this year, with a further SUV offering to come in 2026. Mr Zhou says that the brand wants to avoid overcrowding its Australian showrooms at this early stage. "We need to consider the product lineup here, because we have two versions already, the X, and the 7X coming, we're going to have a new model next year, it's about whether the showrooms can contain so many variants," said Mr Zhou. Zeekr markets the 009 as a luxury people mover, but the Grand elevates that premium positioning to another level. For starters, the third row of seats has been deleted to maximise second row passenger legroom. Instead, the rear section houses a pair of airplane-style individual seats with 24-way electric adjustment, 12 zones of support, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. There's also a huge divider between the front and rear compartments, like the Lexus LM. The cabin is now trimmed in hand-polished stainless-steel elements and natural Himalayan marble, while entertainment is delivered through a 43-inch mini-LED screen and 31-speaker Yamaha sound system. VIP passengers can also enjoy full privacy courtesy of light curtain glass technology that offers adjustable window tinting, and ice-cold refreshments thanks to an 18-litre mini fridge. Like the base 009, the Grand features a dual-motor electric powertrain that can propel the people mover from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds in this application. Zeekr quotes 702km of driving range on the more optimistic CLTC testing cycle. MORE: Explore the Zeekr 009 showroom Content originally sourced from: Zeekr Australia wants to spice up the local people mover market by launching the ultra-luxurious 009 Grand Down Under, although its arrival is contingent on as-yet unconfirmed right-hand drive production. The standard 009 went on sale in Australia late last year, offered in either seven-seat or six-seat configurations, priced at $135,900 and $139,900 before on-road costs, respectively. Sales have gradually increased since launch – 66 have been sold this year to the end of June – although the Lexus LM (163 deliveries) and Mercedes-Benz V-Class (141) remain the preferred options in the premium people mover space. That hasn't stopped Zeekr's local team from enquiring about the Grand, which hit the Chinese market a few months ago at roughly double the price of the standard 009 variants. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We are exploring ways to launch it in Australia officially at the moment," Zeekr Australia marketing boss, Andrew Haurissa told local media in Sydney. "With the 009 present in the local market, that makes a compelling argument to have the Grand here." While the Grand would be welcomed to Australian showrooms, there's no guarantee it will be produced in right-hand drive at this stage. Zeekr is in the process of investigating the viability of a conversion for the Grand, which will be informed by the sales performance of other 009 variants across the globe. "The right-hand drive is here but only as a six- or seven-seater, we are investigating the possibility of the Grand, not only for Australia but for all right-hand drive market depending on customer needs and the business case," said Zeekr global product marketing director Tony Zhou. "The Grand version is a new variant that only launched in China a few months ago in left-hand drive. To convert from left- to right-hand drive takes time, including the product development, engineering and homologation. "We need a positive business case, which we are investigating now. The performance of the current versions will give us the confidence to deliver the Grand version, because the Grand is positioned much higher than current versions, which means the price will be much higher. "Just look at the price in China, it's around double the normal versions. Converting to right-hand drive the price will be much higher, how many customers will choose this one? And given the volume assumptions, what will be the business case?" Based on pricing in the Chinese market and the costs involved in readying a vehicle for sale in Australia, it would be reasonable to expect that the 009 Grand could retail for north of $250,000 locally, making it the most expensive people mover on sale. The 009 is one of two Zeekr models currently available in Australia, alongside the compact X electric SUV. Both will be joined by the larger 7X SUV later this year, with a further SUV offering to come in 2026. Mr Zhou says that the brand wants to avoid overcrowding its Australian showrooms at this early stage. "We need to consider the product lineup here, because we have two versions already, the X, and the 7X coming, we're going to have a new model next year, it's about whether the showrooms can contain so many variants," said Mr Zhou. Zeekr markets the 009 as a luxury people mover, but the Grand elevates that premium positioning to another level. For starters, the third row of seats has been deleted to maximise second row passenger legroom. Instead, the rear section houses a pair of airplane-style individual seats with 24-way electric adjustment, 12 zones of support, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. There's also a huge divider between the front and rear compartments, like the Lexus LM. The cabin is now trimmed in hand-polished stainless-steel elements and natural Himalayan marble, while entertainment is delivered through a 43-inch mini-LED screen and 31-speaker Yamaha sound system. VIP passengers can also enjoy full privacy courtesy of light curtain glass technology that offers adjustable window tinting, and ice-cold refreshments thanks to an 18-litre mini fridge. Like the base 009, the Grand features a dual-motor electric powertrain that can propel the people mover from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds in this application. Zeekr quotes 702km of driving range on the more optimistic CLTC testing cycle. MORE: Explore the Zeekr 009 showroom Content originally sourced from: Zeekr Australia wants to spice up the local people mover market by launching the ultra-luxurious 009 Grand Down Under, although its arrival is contingent on as-yet unconfirmed right-hand drive production. The standard 009 went on sale in Australia late last year, offered in either seven-seat or six-seat configurations, priced at $135,900 and $139,900 before on-road costs, respectively. Sales have gradually increased since launch – 66 have been sold this year to the end of June – although the Lexus LM (163 deliveries) and Mercedes-Benz V-Class (141) remain the preferred options in the premium people mover space. That hasn't stopped Zeekr's local team from enquiring about the Grand, which hit the Chinese market a few months ago at roughly double the price of the standard 009 variants. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We are exploring ways to launch it in Australia officially at the moment," Zeekr Australia marketing boss, Andrew Haurissa told local media in Sydney. "With the 009 present in the local market, that makes a compelling argument to have the Grand here." While the Grand would be welcomed to Australian showrooms, there's no guarantee it will be produced in right-hand drive at this stage. Zeekr is in the process of investigating the viability of a conversion for the Grand, which will be informed by the sales performance of other 009 variants across the globe. "The right-hand drive is here but only as a six- or seven-seater, we are investigating the possibility of the Grand, not only for Australia but for all right-hand drive market depending on customer needs and the business case," said Zeekr global product marketing director Tony Zhou. "The Grand version is a new variant that only launched in China a few months ago in left-hand drive. To convert from left- to right-hand drive takes time, including the product development, engineering and homologation. "We need a positive business case, which we are investigating now. The performance of the current versions will give us the confidence to deliver the Grand version, because the Grand is positioned much higher than current versions, which means the price will be much higher. "Just look at the price in China, it's around double the normal versions. Converting to right-hand drive the price will be much higher, how many customers will choose this one? And given the volume assumptions, what will be the business case?" Based on pricing in the Chinese market and the costs involved in readying a vehicle for sale in Australia, it would be reasonable to expect that the 009 Grand could retail for north of $250,000 locally, making it the most expensive people mover on sale. The 009 is one of two Zeekr models currently available in Australia, alongside the compact X electric SUV. Both will be joined by the larger 7X SUV later this year, with a further SUV offering to come in 2026. Mr Zhou says that the brand wants to avoid overcrowding its Australian showrooms at this early stage. "We need to consider the product lineup here, because we have two versions already, the X, and the 7X coming, we're going to have a new model next year, it's about whether the showrooms can contain so many variants," said Mr Zhou. Zeekr markets the 009 as a luxury people mover, but the Grand elevates that premium positioning to another level. For starters, the third row of seats has been deleted to maximise second row passenger legroom. Instead, the rear section houses a pair of airplane-style individual seats with 24-way electric adjustment, 12 zones of support, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. There's also a huge divider between the front and rear compartments, like the Lexus LM. The cabin is now trimmed in hand-polished stainless-steel elements and natural Himalayan marble, while entertainment is delivered through a 43-inch mini-LED screen and 31-speaker Yamaha sound system. VIP passengers can also enjoy full privacy courtesy of light curtain glass technology that offers adjustable window tinting, and ice-cold refreshments thanks to an 18-litre mini fridge. Like the base 009, the Grand features a dual-motor electric powertrain that can propel the people mover from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds in this application. Zeekr quotes 702km of driving range on the more optimistic CLTC testing cycle. MORE: Explore the Zeekr 009 showroom Content originally sourced from:
