China plates
Australian drivers have become accustomed to the sight of new Chinese nameplates and vehicles on our roads, with the likes of BYD, Chery, GWM, LDV and MG now well established here.
Last year, MG and GWM both made the list of our 10 best-selling new car brands, ranking seventh and 10th respectively, while the MG ZS small SUV was the country’s ninth best-selling vehicle.
China is already the third-most-popular country of origin for new vehicle imports behind Japan and Thailand, with several new Chinese brands including Smart and JAC launched in 2024, and a suite of others waiting in the wings for their expected 2025 debut. Included in the list of new Chinese brands expected to make landfall in Australia this year are Deepal, Denza, Foton, GAC Aion, Geely, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Skywell, XPeng and Zeekr. While many of the offerings from these new nameplates will be EVs, the likes of Foton and JAC (which launched its T9 in December 2024) are targeting Australia’s booming dual-cab ute segment.
For more, visit the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.