New Chinese car brands coming to Australia in 2027

At least 11 more Chinese car brands are confirmed or expected to launch in Australia within the next 18 months, led by Wey, iCaur, Hongqi and Rox Motor in early 2027.

Most are premium, off-road or electrified brands chasing profit rather than volume, following first-wave brands such as BYD – now Australia's second-biggest seller.

It seems like a new Chinese auto brand is being confirmed for the Australian market on an almost weekly basis these days. All employ aggressive export expansion strategies, some of them with plans to become top-five players in Australia.

At least 11 more Chinese car brands are confirmed or expected to launch in Australia within the next 18 months.

Most of the newcomers lead with large SUVs, wagons and people-movers using plug-in hybrid, range-extender or battery-electric power, and many are aimed at premium buyers rather than budget ones.

Last year, we brought you the Chinese brands that were entering the Australian market to join the importers of Chinese vehicles already here.

Most of the heavy hitters have now arrived and set up shop – and BYD is now the second-best-selling brand in the country, behind only Toyota.

The new brands yet to arrive are often subsidiaries owned by the larger mainstream firms in China and have a very different role to play in Australia.

If the first wave of Chinese brands aimed to build volume, the second is coming to build profit. And aspiration. With a few exceptions, these new brands promise luxury, prestige or high-grade off-road products.

Many questions remain around issues like pricing, warranty, servicing and other aftersales provisions, not to mention the impact on existing auto brands and their model ranges. And then there's the question of long-term viability for some of these Chinese start-ups: export or extinction?

But for now, here (roughly in order of arrival) are the new Chinese auto brands landing in Australia soon, and the models with which they may launch.

Wey (Early 2027)

Wey G9 (people-mover)
Wey V9X (large SUV)
Wey V8X (large SUV)

Remember when GWM said Wey was "not on the needed or wanted list" for Australia? Things change. GWM's premium brand is now locked in as the fifth member of the family, joining Haval, Tank, Cannon and Ora.

It's aimed squarely at BYD's Denza, and the brand was originally pitched as plug-in hybrid only.

First cab off the rank is the G9, a seven-seat luxury people-mover that's slightly longer than five metres. It has been approved for Australia with a 325kW all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid and, surprisingly, a 263kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol hybrid. That second option is rated to tow 1500kg braked. The PHEV's certification currently lists a towing capacity of zero.

People-movers are a niche in Australia though, so the real show starts when the SUVs arrive. The big V9X is a six-seat flagship SUV on GWM's new One platform, and the V8X is its five-seat battery-electric sibling. GWM has previously said Wey pricing will stay well south of $100,000.

iCaur (Early 2027)

iCaur V25 (mid-size SUV)
iCaur V27 (large SUV)
iCaur V23 (small SUV)

Apple objected to the name iCar, so Chery added a 'u' for export markets and carried on. iCaur is Chery's boxy-SUV brand, and the V25 has been confirmed as its launch model. It made its Australian public debut at Everything Electric Sydney in September.

It looks like it could climb Uluru, but the V25 is a monocoque SUV with independent suspension, not a ladder-frame bush basher. It's slightly longer and wider than a RAV4 and Chinese-market versions use a range-extender set-up: a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine acts as a generator for a 33.68kWh LFP battery, giving about 150km of electric range.

The AWD version is rated to tow 1800kg. It also has a side-hinged tailgate, round headlights and a 200kg static roof-load rating.

The bigger V27 is expected to follow. The cute, Jimny-sized V23 that first put iCaur on our radar is still earmarked for Australia, but only after an update. iCaur becomes the latest Chery brand here, and the company's answer to why it keeps adding brands was simply "Why not?".

Hongqi (Early 2027)

Hongqi E-HS9 (large SUV)

Ever wanted to drive the same brand as Xi Jinping? Hongqi, which means 'Red Flag', builds China's official state limousines and is owned by the state giant FAW.

It will be FAW's first passenger-car brand in Australia, and it's aiming at Volvo and Cadillac rather than the bargain bin.

The launch model is the Hongqi E-HS9, a large electric SUV about 17cm longer than a Volvo EX90. It has a 120kWh battery, up to 515km of range, nearly 500 horsepower and a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.5 seconds. It's big and imposing, which suits a state-car brand.

More electric and hybrid models are expected within about a year of launch. The bigger question is whether Aussie luxury buyers want a car from China's presidential motor pool on the driveway. The brand will have to work hard.

Rox Motor (Early 2027)

Rox Adamas (large SUV)

Just when you thought the queue couldn't get any longer, Rox Motor has shuffled into line. Formerly known as Polestones Automobile, the premium new-energy brand rebranded in 2024 and has since rolled out across the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.

Its international marketing agency says Rox plans to enter Australia around the end of 2026 or early 2027, possibly with a launch event, and more than a dozen local trademark filings – including for the Adamas and Pole Stone names – back that up.

The likely launch model is the Rox Motor Adamas, a boxy SUV penned by Pininfarina's Shanghai studio. A 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine acts purely as a generator for single- or dual-motor set-ups making 150kW or 350kW, with the latter claiming 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds. Rox quotes 1226km of combined range, including 215km of electric-only driving.

Then there's the camping kit: a tailgate kitchen, inflatable mattress, household power outlets and, between the front seats, a centre console that converts into an emergency toilet. Nature calls, the Adamas answers.

It's priced from around $100,000 in the UAE, which would put it in premium territory here, although Australian pricing and specs are yet to be announced.

Avatr (First half 2027)

Avatr 07L (mid-size SUV)
Avatr 06T (sports wagon)
Avatr T09 (large PHEV SUV)

Avatr is backed by Changan, battery maker CATL and Huawei, and it now has an Australian launch plan.

The 07L electric SUV comes first. Pre-orders are due to open before the end of 2026 and deliveries start in the first half of 2027. It runs an 800-volt platform with CATL batteries and an 89.3kWh pack in entry form, and the top version has a 712kW triple-motor set-up.

Next is the 06T, a sleek electric wagon due in the second half of 2027. It's aimed at the Zeekr 7GT and BMW 3 Series Touring.

In 2028 comes the T09, a six-seat plug-in hybrid SUV more than 5.2 metres long. It targets the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS and Zeekr 9X.

Avatr wants to sit above Zeekr, with pricing tipped to start in the $70K range. It plans only about 10 dealerships, mostly in major cities.

Nevo (2027)

Nevo Q05 (small SUV)
Nevo Q06 (mid-size SUV)

If Avatr is Changan's luxury brand, Nevo is the everyday one. It's Changan's mainstream electrified brand and will compete with Geely, BYD and MG. Local badging hasn't been settled, so the cars might wear 'Changan Nevo' badges in Australia.

The Q05 is a Kona-sized electric SUV, about 4435mm long, and is the likely first model. A right-hand-drive version already sells in Thailand with a 120kW front motor and 51.9kWh battery. European versions claim up to 450km (WLTP). The mid-size Q06 could follow, offered in China as an EV or range-extender hybrid. Expect pricing in the $30K-$50K range. The expectation is that Nevo and the other Changan brands will share 40-50 dealers.

Jetour (Mid-2027)

Jetour T1 (mid-size SUV)
Jetour T2 (large off-road SUV)
Jetour G700 (large off-road PHEV SUV)
Jetour F700 (dual-cab ute)

Jetour was meant to arrive in 2025, but it's finally firming up, with local executives hired and dealers being appointed. It's another Chery brand, but it's run separately from the rest of the family here and doesn't want to be called 'just another Chinese brand'.

The first models are the boxy T1 and T2 plug-in hybrid SUVs. They share a wheelbase and a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, and the T2 is the cheaper Defender lookalike first previewed by the Jetour Traveller.

About six months later comes the G700, a PHEV off-roader with 230mm of ground clearance, a 35-degree approach angle and at least 900mm of wading depth.

The smaller G600 should follow around late 2027 or early 2028. The F700 dual-cab plug-in hybrid ute could arrive just before Christmas 2027 or slip into 2028 – and that’s the vehicle that could really put the brand on the map and give the BYD Shark 6 a poke in the ribs.

Exlantix (Mid-2027)

Exlantix ES GT (sports wagon)
Exlantix ET (large SUV)

If the name doesn't ring a bell, that's because it's Exeed everywhere else. Chery's premium brand is confirmed for a mid-2027 launch, but Mitsubishi has held the 'Exceed' trade mark here since 1991, so Exeed had to become Exlantix.

It will run independently of the existing Chery and Omoda Jaecoo operations, and chief executive Lilian Xiong – who previously worked at Zeekr and Lynk & Co – has named Zeekr as its key rival.

The ES GT shooting brake is the most intriguing model confirmed. It rides on a 3000mm wheelbase with 800-volt architecture, and the dual-motor EV is expected to make up to 353kW and 663Nm, with a sub-four-second 0-100km/h claim.

The ET SUV is about 4955mm long, makes 353kW in EV and range-extender forms and adds air suspension, real open-pore wood trim and heated, ventilated and massaging rear seats. Both are Chinese-market specs for now.

No prices have been listed but a promise of high-tech kit at "a fairly friendly price" bodes well. For context, the Zeekr 7X starts at $57,900 plus on-road costs. Three larger SUV concepts, the EX7, EX8 and EX9, are also under consideration, with two of them expected to make the cut.

Luxeed (Mid-2027)

Luxeed LLounge (people-mover) 

Luxeed Stormax (performance SUV) 

Not to be confused with Exeed (sorry, Exlantix), Luxeed is yet another premium Chery brand locked in for Australia. Luxeed International CEO Shawn Xu says the first model will land around "the middle of next year". In China, Luxeed is a cornerstone of Huawei's HIMA alliance, but export models will carry none of Huawei's hardware or software due to security concerns.

The LLounge people-mover leads the charge. It's the export version of China's V9, was developed in right-hand drive from the outset and rides on a 3250mm wheelbase with six or seven seats. In China it's a range-extender with a 53.4kWh battery and a claimed 1320km of combined range (CLTC), plus second-row seats that rotate 180 degrees and a 33-speaker sound system. The Zeekr 009, from $115,900 plus on-road costs, is the closest premium EV benchmark.

The Stormax follows. Sold in China as the RX, it's an 800-volt performance SUV with 460kW and 775Nm and a claimed 0-100km/h time under 3.9 seconds. Think Ferrari Purosangue… just without the Italian blood.

Xu says the brand will start slowly, with dealers in major cities first. Count Omoda and Jaecoo separately and that's nine Chery Group brands in Australia.

Freelander (Late 2027)

Freelander 8 (large SUV) 

Freelander is back, but not as a Land Rover. The name now belongs to a standalone brand from the Chery Jaguar Land Rover joint venture. It mixes JLR design and off-road know-how with Chery's electrified hardware and manufacturing scale.

The launch model is the Freelander 8, an upper-large SUV more than 5.1 metres long with five or six seats. It has air suspension and terrain management, and EV, plug-in hybrid and range-extender powertrains are planned. More than 10,000 pre-orders were placed in China within 48 hours. Six models are planned globally over the next five years.

Pricing and specs haven't been announced, but Freelander is clearly aiming at buyers who might otherwise test-drive a Discovery.

Wuling (TBC)

Wuling Eksion (mid-size electric SUV)

Wuling is part of SAIC-GM-Wuling, the joint venture between General Motors, MG parent SAIC Motor and Wuling, and its Eksion electric SUV has now been approved for Australia.

Don't expect to see it at your local GMSV dealer, though. GM Australia and New Zealand has confirmed it won't import or distribute Wuling, and no local distributor, pricing or timing has been announced.

Australian certification documents list a five-seat, front-wheel-drive Eksion with a 150kW motor, a 4745mm length and a 2810mm wheelbase, which puts it in Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and Geely EX5 territory. The right-hand-drive version built in Indonesia adds 310Nm, a 69.2kWh LFP battery and a claimed 530km of CLTC range, plus a 12.8-inch touchscreen, ventilated front seats and a panoramic sunroof.

Approval doesn't guarantee a showroom and another unknown brand will have its work cut out in an already crowded market. But the paperwork is done.

Nio (On hold)

Nio Firefly (small hatch)
Nio ES6/ES8 (mid-size/large SUVs)
Nio ET5 Touring (sports wagon)

Nio has been 'coming soon' since 2021, and that hasn't changed. The Firefly has passed Australian Design Rule certification and been spotted testing on local roads. But the Australian launch appears to be on hold for now, and no new date has been set.

The Firefly is a retro small hatch about the size of a BYD Dolphin. It has a 105kW rear motor, a 42kWh LFP battery and about 350km of WLTP range, plus a premium cabin with 14-speaker sound and V2L.

Further up the range, the ET5, ET5 Touring wagon and ET7 sedans, and the ES6, ES7, ES8 and EC7 SUVs, all line up against Tesla.

The interesting development is that Geely has bought 30 per cent of Nio's battery-swap business. Future Geely EVs could use Nio's three-minute battery swaps, which gives the network more vehicles to serve if it ever reaches Australia.

Onvo (TBC)

Onvo L60 (mid-size SUV)
Onvo L80 (large SUV)
Onvo L90 (large SUV)

Nio's more affordable electric SUV brand offers the L60, L80 and L90. The Nio L60 is aimed squarely at Tesla Model Y buyers, while the Kluger-sized, three-row Nio L90 would take on the Kia EV9. With Nio's own launch on hold, Onvo is waiting too.

Yangwang (TBC)

Yangwang U8 (large SUV)
Yangwang U9 (supercar)

BYD's top-end brand is still on the wish list, but not yet on the order book. Despite countless Yangwang cars being spotted in Australia, Denza Australia and New Zealand chief operating officer Mark Harland has said he wants the floating, 880kW U8 here, "but not on day one", and possibly wearing a Denza badge. 

With a China-equivalent price of about $250,000, it's a big ask before Denza has established itself. The U8 is longer than a 300 Series LandCruiser and right-hand-drive examples have tested in the NT and SA. It can also tank-turn on the spot and float on water.

The jumping U9 supercar remains a long shot, although Harland says a sports car of some kind will join the Denza range eventually.

Lynk & Co (2028 at the earliest)

Lynk & Co 08 (mid-size SUV)
Lynk & Co 900 (large SUV)

Geely-backed Lynk & Co is on the back burner. Parent company Zeekr chose to set up in Australia first, and judging by its sales numbers, that was a good call.

Skywell (TBC)

Skywell ET5/EVA 5 (mid-size SUV)

Local importer EV Automotive announced plans to sell the Skywell ET5 mid-size SUV as the EVA 5, priced below $50,000 drive away. It would offer 72kWh and 86kWh batteries and a 150kW motor, with 400-490km of range. Showroom arrival has repeatedly slipped and there's no firm date.

Xiaomi (2028 TBC)

Xiaomi SU7 (large sedan)
Xiaomi YU7 (large SUV)

Say it slowly… 'Shh-yow-mee'. Sure as eggs, the importer's local advertising agency will get it wrong (anyone remember 'Say Hi to Hyundai'?). At least it has time to practice. Plans for export markets will kick off around 2028, but this could slip… a lot. Because Xiaomi has been struggling to keep up with demand in China for the SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV.

Aito (Late 2027)

We understand Aito, the Huawei-backed brand built by Seres and best known in China for its M-series luxury SUVs, is looking to get a foothold in Australia. Details are thin for now. Watch this space.

GAC and Aion

GAC brought its electric sub-brand Aion with it. GAC has sold 3175 vehicles in 2026 so far, and its best seller is the Emzoom petrol SUV on 1169. The Aion UT hatch (956) and Aion V SUV (937) are close behind, and the M8 PHEV people-mover is also on sale.

The Ferrari-slaying Aion Hyper SSR and Cybertruck-esque Pickup 01 remain on the wishlist.

Denza

BYD's luxury arm has notched up 3339 sales to the end of September 2026. The off-road-focused B5 is its most popular model (1872), ahead of the B8 (1325) and the D9 people-mover. The Z9 GT shooting brake is still on the cards.

IM (presented by MG)

MG's upmarket electric offshoot has had a quiet start, with 897 sales across two models. The IM6 SUV (464) narrowly leads the IM5 sedan (433). Both share their modular platform with the MG4 and undercut the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

BYD

BYD's sales have more than doubled, up 102 per cent to 76,614 so far this year, making it Australia's second-biggest brand behind Toyota. The Sealion 7 is its top seller with 19,964 sales, ahead of the Shark 6 ute.

GWM

GWM is up 14.3% to 44,959 sales, and Wey is on the way. The Haval Jolion is the brand's best seller (17,051), well ahead of the H6 and Cannon.

Chery is up 58.2% to 38,022 sales this year. The Tiggo 4 Pro is doing most of the heavy lifting with 19,865 sales.

MG

MG is up 12.9% to 36,832, and the evergreen ZS is still its biggest seller at 13,627.

Omoda and Jaecoo

Chery's urban off-road and fashion-focused brands are up 620.9% to 15,456 sales combined. The Jaecoo J5 accounts for 11,193 of them.

Geely

Geely has grown more than sevenfold, up 639.2% to 23,632 sales. Its top seller, the EX5 electric SUV, accounts for 12,745 of those.

Zeekr

Zeekr had just 730 sales at this point last year and now has 12,120, making it the most popular premium Chinese challenger in Australia. Almost all of that comes from the 7X, with 10,800 sales.

Leapmotor

Leapmotor is up 158.4% to 1168 sales. The B10 SUV is its biggest seller with 751.

Xpeng

Xpeng has registered 1183 sales so far this year, and the G6 mid-size electric SUV accounts for nearly all of them (1096).

JAC

JAC is one of the few Chinese brands going backwards, down 49.9% to 629 sales. Every one of them is a T9 4x4 ute.

Foton

Foton has recorded 1165 sales in its first VFACTS year, mostly the Tunland V7/V9 4x4 dual-cab (1029).

Deepal

Deepal, Changan's brand formerly distributed by Inchcape, is up 269.6% to 924 sales. The S07 electric SUV is its top seller (610), ahead of the E07 ute-SUV crossover.

Lepas

Lepas, Chery's newest brand, has only just landed, so it hasn't registered any sales yet. The L6 EV mid-size SUV is the first model, with 440-450km of range from a 65kWh LFP battery. The L4 small SUV follows in December, and L8 and L9 large SUVs are due later in 2027.

Avatr, Nevo, Jetour, Exlantix and Luxeed are due during 2027, followed by Freelander and Aito late in the year. Wuling, Nio and others have no firm launch date.

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