LDV confirms T60 ute for October

LDV has announced that its entrant into the Aussie ute market, the T60, will be launched in October.

The Chinese manufacturer is already in our market with its budget-priced G10 van and V80 people-mover, and if the pricing of those vehicles is anything to go by the new ute could well be the most affordable on the market.

The cheapest new utes currently available in Australia are the Indian-built Tata Xenon pick-up and Mahindra Pik-Up cab-chassis -- both $19,990 drive-away in 4x2 single-cab diesel form.

Chinese-made dual-cabs like the JMC Vigus and Great Wall Steed also undercut the popular Japanese-branded, Thai-built utes by starting at $21,990 and $24,990 respectively.

LDV's new T60 ute was first seen at last year’s Guangzhou International Motor Show in China, and LDV says it will quickly become the company’s biggest seller Down Under.

“Since its launch in Australia LDV has focused on its van and people mover ranges with the V80 and then with the G10 van,” said LDV Australia general manager Dinesh Chinnappa.

“Sales of this type of vehicle are primarily in metro areas, so that is where we have concentrated our dealers and our business. But the T60 will have a much broader appeal across the whole country.

“The ute market is much bigger than the van market and it is booming. In preparation for the arrival of the T60 we are opening new dealers in country areas and enlarging our urban representation. There is little doubt that from day one, the T60 will be LDV’s best-selling model in Australia.”

Mr Chinnappa said the LDV T60 model line-up at launch will include a range of dual-cab 4x4 turbo-diesels with both manual and automatic transmissions, as well as 2WD and 4WD cab/chassis with manual transmissions. There will be two equipment levels to ensure coverage of the market from commercial vehicles to recreational and family transport.

At 5.3 metres long and 1.9 metres wide and with a 110kW 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine, the LDV T60 will sit in the middle of the ute market sector in terms of size and performance, but at this stage pricing has not been finalised.

“It is too early to provide specific price points for the new LDV T60 range,” said Chinnappa. “But we are determined that it will build upon the value-for-money proposition of the LDV van range.

“The T60 will provide Australian ute buyers with a highly-competitive new choice, whether they are looking for a working ute or a recreational family vehicle.

"The T60 will become the top-selling model in our range and significantly increase our sales volumes in Australia,” he concluded.