Even Jaecoo didn't expect the J5 to sell this well
Chinese brand expected the J5 to be popular but says its newest SUV has exceeded expectationsThe News
The 2026 Jaecoo J5 EV was the best-selling electric small SUV in Australia in May, a result not even its creators saw coming.
The Key Details
- Jaecoo says it is "taken aback" by the J5 EV’s success
- J5 placed 7th on Australia's sales charts in May
- No further EV variants planned for now
- "Temu Range Rover" comparisons proving a positive in the UK
The Finer Details
Jaecoo Australia head of PR and communications Tim Krieger said the company underestimated the J5's success, with the small SUV comfortably exceeding internal expectations.
"We're all sort of taken aback, I guess, by the success of that car and how well it's going. We knew it would be successful, just not this successful."
The company believes timing has been just as important as the product itself.
The brand's chief commercial officer, Roy Muñoz, said rising fuel prices and cost-of-living pressures made the J5 EV's $36,990 drive-away launch price particularly compelling, before the arrival of the $25,990 drive-away petrol variant broadened its appeal even further.
"We could have been too early. We could have been too late," he said.
"Anyone that was on the fence for EV... $36,990, easy decision. I'm going to save money.
"J5 didn't tick every single box. But you couldn't beat it for value for money."
The strategy appears to be paying off overseas, too.
Muñoz said Jaecoo has become the UK's fastest-growing automotive brand, with comparisons to Range Rover – including the online nickname "Temu Range Rover" – proving to be a positive rather than a negative.
On the nickname itself, he said: "It actually garnered a lot of attention, and they ended up getting more interest, more inquiries about the brand and sold more cars."
Despite the J5's success, Krieger said there are no immediate plans for more electric Jaecoo models in Australia.
"There's no other EV products on the immediate horizon for us, for full electric anyway."
The Road Ahead
Despite the J5's strong start, Jaecoo says it won't rush to add more EVs, with future right-hand-drive models needing to stack up across markets including the UK and South Africa.
Instead, the brand is focused on expanding the existing lineup with varying powertrains, with the newly announced J5 Hybrid slotting in just $2000 below the J5 EV to offer buyers petrol, hybrid and electric options.
Related: 2026 Jaecoo J5 Hybrid outmuscles EV sibling
Related: Jaecoo J5 EV 2026 Review
Related: 2026 Jaecoo J5 petrol fires up in Oz
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