China’s JAC will soon become the fourth auto brand to enter Australia’s fledgling plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute segment, and now it has quoted figures that confirm it will beat the top-selling BYD Shark 6 on paper.
The JAC Hunter, due on sale here mid-year, will offer combined fuel consumption of 1.6L/100km and a total combined driving range of 1005km, with both of these numbers based on the more lenient NEDC cycle.
That beats the top-selling Shark 6, which uses 2.0L/100km when its battery is between a 25 and 100 per cent state of charge, and has a total combined range of 800km.
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JAC previously confirmed the Hunter will come with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated with dual electric motors and a 32kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
This results in total system outputs of 385kW and 1000Nm, with “at least” 100km of electric range on an unspecified test cycle. The battery also features vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, allowing the Hunter to be used to power small electrical appliances.
The company says it will reveal more specifications soon, with deposits also opening soon.
“We’re launching the right ute at the right time, and it will be at the right price,” said JAC Motors Australia managing director Ahmed Mahmoud in a press release today, stopping short of confirming exactly what that price will be.
The Shark 6 is priced from $57,900 before on-road costs, while the two-variant GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV lineup is priced from $61,490 drive-away, and the four-member Ford Ranger PHEV family starts at $71,990 plus ORCs.
Chery will join Australia’s dual-cab PHEV fray in the fourth quarter of 2026 with an unnamed diesel-powered ute based on the KP31 concept, followed by a petrol PHEV powertrain in 2027.
“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.”
At an event in Sydney today, JAC showed off the Hunter in standard specification, as well as an example customised for brand ambassador and NRL star Josh Addo-Carr.
The Parramatta Eels player’s customised Hunter has a custom paint finish by Smith Concepts in Brookvale, along with Lenso tyres, a lift kit, hard tonneau cover, additional lighting and other JAC Genuine Accessories.
It’ll be displayed at the Melbourne motor show on April 10-12.
In February, JAC confirmed the Hunter had completed its testing regime at the Lang Lang Proving Ground (formerly the Holden Proving Ground) in Victoria, after Melbourne-based Segula Technologies Australia was tasked with proving its PHEV powertrain’s readiness for local conditions and customers.
This month, it confirmed it has engaged Multimatic and its technical director for vehicle dynamics, former Holden chassis engineer Michael Barber, to develop a localised ride and handling package for the Hunter, also at Lang Lang.
It’s unclear how substantial the changes will be to the Hunter, given it’s just months away from a local launch.
The Hunter will join its diesel-powered T9 dual-cab 4×4 ute counterpart in Australian showrooms.
The T9 debuted the JAC brand in Australia early last year. To the end of February, JAC has delivered 221 T9s this year, placing it just behind the KGM Musso (237) in the ute sales race, and further behind the MG U9 (416), LDV Terron 9 (271), and LDV T60 (604).