JAC Motors launches T9 ute

Another Chinese manufacturer has entered the Australian passenger car market with aspirations to capitalise on the country’s insatiable passion for dual-cab utes.

Red ute drives in front of Harbour Bridge on smoggy day

JAC Motors has announced its T9 dual-cab ute will land in Aussie dealerships from April 2024, joining other Chinese (LDV and GWM) and Korean (SsangYong) rivals in offering more affordable alternatives to big sellers like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

New to Australia, JAC (pronounced Jack) is a Chinese manufacturer that began producing heavy commercial vehicles in 1964 and launched its first ute in 2015. After previously attempting to release commercial trucks here, the brand is unlikely to be on buyers’ radars, but this lack of notability looks set to change with the arrival of the sharply priced T9.

Front and rear view of a red JAC T9 dual-cab ute.

Distributed through LTS Auto, the JAC T9 comes in two part-time 4WD variants – the Oasis and Haven – priced at $42,662 and $45,630 respectively. Both feature the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel powertrain mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and producing 125kW and 410Nm. The T9 has a claimed fuel economy of 7.6L/100km and a 3500kg braked towing capacity.

“The T9 is the perfect new ute for the Aussie after something they can drive to work through the week, before loading up all their gear for an off-road adventure on the weekend. We’ve put this ute through its paces, making sure it can handle our harsh climate and rough conditions and the feedback has been fantastic,” says deputy managing director of JAC Motors Australia, Danny Lenartic.

Standard features on the base model include a 10.4-inch touchscreen, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, rain-sensing wipers, leather accented interior, leather steering wheel, power adjusted driver’s seat, 18-inch alloys, spray-on tub liner, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, wireless phone charger, rear air vents, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, sports bar, LED headlamps, auto headlights, and heated side mirrors.

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The Haven adds front parking sensors, roof rails, privacy glass, a 360-degree camera, power adjusted front passenger seat, heated front seats, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, optional brown interior, and a rear 220-volt accessory socket.

Safety features include seven airbags, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, emergency lane keeping, driver monitoring system, intelligent cruise assist, blind spot detection, rear collision warning and door open warning.

JAC T9 dual-cab ute side-angle view parked in forest terrain.
While the T9 isn’t currently ANCAP rated, JAC execs say it will be tested and are confident of a five-star rating. They also indicated more releases are to come, with a PHEV T9 arriving sometime next year and a subsequent electric vehicle (EV) variant of the ute.

“The diesel T9 is just the beginning of what we have in store, so Aussies should keep their eyes peeled for more news soon,” says Mr Lenartic.

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