2024 Tembo Tusker electric ute incoming
Australia and New Zealand will be the global launch pads for a new EV workhorseMove over LDV eT60 and lookout BYD Shark: Another battery-electric pick-up is about to be released in Australia and, unsurprisingly, it doesn’t come from one of the big industry players or any of the established auto brands from China.
The 2024 Tembo Tusker is a Chinese-built, Dutch-backed electric ute that’s now being offered in single-cab and dual-cab pick-up forms, each with the option of a 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain and two battery types.
Pricing starts from $74,000 plus GST and on-road costs for the base Tusker S (single-cab) and $75,000 for the Tusker D (dual-cab), which should see the base version comfortably undercut the pioneering LDV eT60 while matching the rear-drive electric dual-cab on range.
With the local ADR homologation process still taking place, there aren’t many specification details to report as yet, but the key metrics have been announced for what’s being billed as “the first electric ute that works for Australia”.
Entry-level variants of the Tembo Tusker will come with a 65kWh lithium-ion battery pack that’s claimed to deliver up to 330km on a single charge, while the bigger 77kWh battery is said to offer a maximum range of up to 400km.
The batteries power a 120kW/330Nm electric motor in the Tucker S and a marginally more potent (130kW/330Nm) motor in the Tusker D, the former of which has a nominated top speed of just 120km/h despite offering “electric car acceleration”.
A range-extender version capable of up to 1000km with a full fuel load will apparently also become available.
Both body styles boast payloads of 1000kg and can tow up to 3000kg (braked) or 750kg unbraked.
Headline equipment across the range includes DC fast-charging capability, independent front suspension, regenerative braking, active driver aids and a tub liner, while the Tusker D adds keyless entry, push-button start and a digital instrument cluster.
No doubt there’ll be plenty more announcements made and information released over the coming months, but it’s clear from the outset that Tembo – owned by VivoPower – values the Australian and New Zealand markets, given they will be the first in the world to receive the Tusker ahead of the company’s expansion into Asia, Europe, Canada, Africa and the UAE.
Tembo says it has already contracted a minimum 200 units to the Aussie and Kiwi mining sectors, all of which will be on-site by February 2026.
Customers will be able to either purchase the vehicles outright for the prices listed above with the support of a guaranteed future value plan, finance them at $295 a week or opt for an all-inclusive subscription package for $499 per week.
“The Tembo Tusker represents the best value electric ute in Australia, with a starting price from $74,000,” said VivoPower chief commercial officer Chris Mallios.
“We’ve achieved this through our years of experience building electric 4x4 vehicles for demanding users, and our capital light production strategy that partners with global best of breed manufacturers and suppliers.
“We are confident that the Tusker’s performance and affordability will lead the charge in electrifying the $16 billion per annum Australian ute market.”
Tembo has been active in the zero-emission fleet vehicle industry for more than half a decade now, primarily as the producer and supplier of battery-electric conversion kits for mining vehicles, particularly the Toyota Hilux.
Local trials of the e-LV kits started back in 2018 and have culminated in VivoPower signing a five-year deal with Toyota to develop an EV conversion kit for the LandCruiser 70 Series.
However, the project has been delayed more than once and is now not due to be completed until 2030.
Tembo will continue offering conversion kits to fleet operators alongside the Tusker, which is understood to be a rebadged and locally homologated version of the Dayun Electric Pickup sold in China.
Stand by for more details.
Related: BYD Shark ute won’t cost $80,000
Related: Electric Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series pushed back to 2030
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