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JAC believes it can emulate the success of the BYD Shark 6 with its T9 Hunter PHEV, despite the end of plug-in tax breaks.
The FBT exemption applied to customers acquiring a PHEV under the luxury car tax (LCT) on a novated lease, and meant a monthly payment on a plug-in could be less than petrol-powered alternatives despite the full retail price being higher.
This saw a surge in plug-in hybrid sales in the scheme’s final month in March, with sales skyrocketing 380 per cent compared to the same month last year.
Leading the pack was the BYD Shark 6, positioned at a competitive $57,990 before on-road cost, as the first plug-in hybrid ute available in Australia.
But JAC Australia Managing Director Ahmed Mahmoud believes it will not need the incentive to shift units of the T9 Hunter PHEV, which is due to arrive in local showrooms early next year.
“The novated market without that [FBT] exemption is still quite significant in Australia, so it’s definitely one of those areas that we’re watching,” Mahmoud said.
“As you know, it has to be under a one-tonne payload, so that’s something we’re definitely talking about.
“I think as a combined unit, we’ve got the right package [with T9 Hunter PHEV].”
Standing the JAC apart from the BYD is a much more potent powertrain, which combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors for a combined 385kW/1000Nm output.
This compares to the Shark 6’s 321kW/650Nm punch.
The Hunter will also sport a 31.2kWh battery pack, with the brand targeting and all-electric range of around 100km – nearly double that afforded to the Ford Ranger PHEV that is landing around the middle of the year.
Crucially for a mid-size ute, the JAC believes the T9 Hunter PHEV can be certified with a full 3500kg braked towing capacity, exceeding the Shark 6’s 2500kg rating and matching the Ranger PHEV.
However, the FBT exemption isn’t the only reason for the BYD Shark 6’s popularity, as its $57,990 starting price also puts it about $14,000 downstream of the Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid and on par with closed-loop hybrid large SUVs.
Mahmoud is acutely aware the incoming T9 Hunter PHEV’s asking price will have an impact on its success, promising to deliver value in line with the existing diesel-powered T9 ute, but stop of confirming sales expectations.
“Think about what we’ve launched with the T9 diesel, you’ve got the value, you’ve got the trust and reliability, and that focus on aftersales,” Mahmoud said.
“With that, coupled with a fantastic car, I think we’ll do ok.
“I want to make sure JAC stands for value, what that means in terms of pricing, we’ve not confirmed yet, but that’s in our DNA, to make sure we’ve got valuable motoring for our Australian customers.”
For reference, the T9 diesel line-up starts at $42,662 before on-road costs, giving JAC a window of around $15,000 for the higher-tech Hunter PHEV if it wants to compete against the Shark 6 on price.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
