Radical GAC ute confirmed for Australia in 2027

Chinese auto giant GAC has confirmed it will launch a dual cab ute in Australia in 2027, designed to balance rugged workhorse ability with everyday lifestyle appeal. The ladder-frame ute is expected to be a petrol-electric rig and will headline GAC’s next phase in Australia, joining a new electric SUV rivalling the Tesla Model Y and a plug-in hybrid SUV similar in size to the Ford Everest.

GAC has previously confirmed a ute is coming to Australia, but had not locked in timing or powertrain details.

Until now.

At the GAC Aion UT compact EV launch this week, the CEO of GAC International Australia, Kevin Shu fleshed out the detail and made clear the intention was to deliver a rival to the top-selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

Shu confirmed the production ute will look ‘similar’ to the radically styled GAC Pickup 01 concept that debuted at the 2025 Shanghai auto show in China.

“As you see, the Shanghai model shows that [is] the concept car for us. In the future, this concept car can be realised for the stylish, capacity, powerful,” he said.

“I think we'll have a future advantage to win the competition with Ranger, HiLux, and so on like this.”

Shu told carsales a “pick-up” would be one of three new models GAC launches in Australia in 2027 alongside an electric rival for the Tesla Model Y SUV and a plug-in hybrid SUV he described as the same size as the Ford Everest.

The latter could possibly be the S7 SUV, an example of which was displayed at GAC’s 2025 Aussie brand launch last November.

Shu said the new ute would be designed to deliver both workhorse and lifestyle capabilities.

“For the pick-up, I think we have to look into the balance between commercial and passenger usage,” he said.

To do that Shu confirmed the ute will have a ladder frame chassis, as per almost all current dual cab utes, such as the Mitsubishi Triton.

He also confirmed the powertrain choice for the ute was currently under investigation but should include a battery and a plug.

“We are starting to research which engine can be available,” he said.

“Of course, for the REEV (range extender electric vehicle) and the plug-in hybrid, I think this is the future solution.

“We have to focus on the new energy, between plug-in or REEV.”

With the NVES CO2 reduction regulations now in place, the adoption of plugged hybrid powertrain is logical. As is using petrol over diesel, given the penalties that diesel engines are attracting under the new CO2 taxes.

There are already three PHEV utes on-sale in Australia with at least two more coming in 2026.

GAC rival Chery will introduce a “world-first” plug-in hybrid diesel ute in Australia before the end of 2026. But Shu indicated GAC’s powertrain would be petrol-electric.

Shu’s comparison of the mysterious new plug-in SUV with the top-selling Ford Everest suggested it would have a ladder frame and potentially be based on the new GAC ute.

However, the GAC Australia CEO clarified that’s not the case.

Shu said the big family SUV would use a passenger car-like monocoque chassis and would be a five-seater when Everest can be had with three rows. That further strengthens the chances it is the S7.

GAC’s Australian model roll-out started with the Aion V EV, Emzoom petrol SUV and M8 PHEV people-mover GAC in late 2025 and has now expanded to include the Aion UT.

Next on the agenda are the three models scheduled for 2027 including the ute, with more than 10 new models promised to arrive within five years of launch.

GAC has set itself the goal of up to 60,000 sales and a lace in the Australian top 10 within three to five years, and is expected to leverage its joint-venture with Honda and Toyota to convince buyers it is a safe bet.

* Lead images generated with AI assistance

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