China speed” is the term for how Chinese automakers quickly develop and roll out new models and technology, but there should be another word to describe how fast they can enter and take market share in an export market.
This list of nine brands bound for Australia is almost certain to be out-of-date within a few months.
Although China’s brands such as GWM and MG are now well-established in the history of Down Under, over the last five years alone we’ve launched BYD, Denza, Deepal (Failing), Farizon; GAC, Geely, JAC Leapmotor, IM Motors, Omoda Jaecoo,Xpeng and Zeekr. And Chery and Foton returned to us after 5 years with their launch?
childcareman.xyz can save you thousands on a new car. Click
here
to get a great deal.
Jetour T2
iCar V23
In Australia, and even whole auto groups such as FAW that have yet to plant their flag on local soil, there are Chinese brands that still exist (believe it or not).
So, for the time now there are nine brands that have announced they’re launching an Australian launch. Let’s check that tally in a few months… or even weeks!
212
Off-roader brand 212 has been spied testing its only model, the Jeep Wrangler-rivalling T01, in the Northern Territory, though a local launch is some way off as it doesn’t currently produce any vehicles in right-hand drive.
212 T01
A company spokesperson confirmed to childcareman.xyz in February 2026 that RHD will come with its next-generation model.
Qingdao-based BAW, formerly a subsidiary of the BAIC Group but now privately owned, is part of its group’s members and last year announced it would launch in Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
The term resembles the Jeep Wrangler and similar to live axles front and rear, as well as turbocharged 2 were used in . In the 1960s, a newer BAW/Beijing Jeep (BJ212) was introduced as an inspiration for its design-inspired T01 that is inspired by this old four-cylinder petrol engine known as 0-litre four year engines.
The off-roader, which entered production in 2024, is also offered in China with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four.
Whether powertrains 212’ will be offering the next generation cars is unclear, but you can expect them to keep the same rugged, boxy design language and off-road capability.
MORE:
Chinese military-style off-roaders spied testing in Australia
Dreame
The odd thing about Dreame is that it’s a technology company which has not launched – yet to produce – but still announced plans to launch in the Australian market. Initially, it will begin customer delivery early in 2027 with customers being delivered by its .
The concept cars were first exhibited in March by it, which was labeled Nebula-badged the Next 01 four-door hypercar and an 01X SUV. This platform is based on the quad electric motors, which are used for an estimated combined power output of 1399kW and a mammoth 23,000Nm of torque; they claim 0-100km/h times as fast as 1? Paraphrasing 8 seconds.
Production versions are claimed to start rolling off the production line in 2027, featuring solid-state batteries.
The Star Motor brand also plans to launch a range of electric SUVs, Dreame says both these and Nebula vehicles are planned for Australia.
According to its statement, it is now working on ‘tuneing’ its first models for local roads and conditions as well as maintaining compliance with local regulations, safety and quality standards.
MORE:
1400kW EV hypercar maker Dreame coming to Australia in 2027
Firefly
In addition, Nio’s Firefly brand has submitted certification documents to the Australian Government for its only vehicle so far – an electric hatchback – and has been conducting local testing and validation.
Firefly
Nevertheless, while it has previously confirmed that it was in active discussions with local distributors “to ensure a compliant, mature and sustainable market entry” it is yet to announce who will import and sell its cars here – or whether it’ll cut out the middle man as Chery and MG have had by selling their own vehicles in Australia.
The Firefly is slightly larger than a Toyota Yaris, and shapes as a smaller, potentially more premium alternative to the likes of the BYD Dolphin, MG 4 and GWM Ora.
It’s unclear if Nio’s namesake brand or the recently launched Onvo marque will also make their way Down Under.
MORE:
Get ready for another new Chinese brand in Australia, but this one is a little different
Forthing
The LDV, Ram, Renault and (separately) Maserati brands are distributed by AtEco Automotive which looks like a budget brand to deal with. It confirmed it has the Australian distribution rights for Forthing, owned by Dongfeng subsidiary DonggfENG Liuzhou Motor, just weeks ago.
Forthing Taikon 5
That also gives it a second Chinese brand, this one with crossover SUVs – complementing LDV, which specialise in van and body-on-frame SUV (and utes) and other vehicles.
Ateco has previously handled Foton, Great Wall and SsangYong, and also was responsible for Kia in its early days Down Under. From June, it will sell the mid-size Forthing Taikon 5, available as either an EV or an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV). It’ll take on rivals like the Leapmotor C10.
According to Forthing, “a variety of good future models” and a ‘completion model for the new-energy vehicles’; an Chinese word meaning plug-in hybrids (PHEV), EREVs and EEV.
While it’s unclear whether other Forthing cars may follow, the brand offers a variety of people movers, sedans and SUVs in other markets.
MORE:
China’s Forthing locked in for Australia, new Toyota RAV4 rival just two months away
Freelander
Chery is removing the Freelander nameplate of its partner Jaguar Land Rover, with the two automakers joining forces to create a new SUV brand that will be launched here in 2027.
Freelander Concept 97
This is the new brand’s vehicles, which was viewed last month with the Concept 97 (an SUV that has several design cues from old Land Rover Freelander), Chery will produce cars for the Chinese market and global markets at the CherY/JLR plant in Changshu, China.
The company says it’s reviving ‘the road for Chinese cars to go global’ and wants the Freelander brand around in the long run.
While Freelander vehicles are likely to be based on Chery platforms and powertrains, far the fledgling brand has yet to confirm any technical details of its future models. The production version of the Concept 97 is coming out in June, so we will be hearing more.
MORE:
Another Chinese brand is coming to Australia, and it’s another one from Chery
iCaur
Chery founded in 2023 as a “Export-EV brand with an extremely Apple-like name, followed by the EREVs after which there is also iCar for sale of bluff, boxy SUVs under the CherY Fulwin sub-brand in China”.
iCaur V27
Chery has reportedly filed to trademark the name iCaur locally, although this has been opposed by the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair. This brand will remain here, it is not yet known what this brand would be called.
The lineup opens with the electric V23, which is shorter than the Mazda CX-3, and tops out with the Toyota LandCruiser-sized V27 EREV. Some markets also get the small 03 electric SUV, which is offered in other markets as a Jaecoo.
Despite the fact that Chery and Omoda Jaecoo are now in Lepas this year, Freelander and iCaur next year it is at risk of its brands cannibalising each other – and hinders its efforts to get the Cherry brand into the top five and by 2027, O Moda jaeco in the Top 10.
In Western markets, brand hierarchy is very vertical this one’s entry-level, this volume, the one ‘this one–highly premium, these one has luxury’.’ Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris told childcareman.xyz in November 2025 that it was protecting the parent company’S export strategy.
“My observation of what we see in Chinese brands… is it’s much more horizontal.”
MORE:
Chery’s boxy SUV brand is coming to Australia, but we’re still unsure how to pronounce it
Jetour
Another new Chinese brand is coming to Australia, and it’s another one from Chery.
Jetour G700
Unlike Chery, Omoda Jaecoo, Lepas, iCaur and Freelander, the term Jetour is being treated as “different” here; it will likely have another back office (and different distribution) in addition to his own name. Its brand-name is SUVs, though, like those brands, it’s a specialty of .
While Jetour has not yet announced when it’ll launch here, it has invited media to pre-launch events in June and says it is ‘the preparation phase for Australia’.
Founded in 2018 and hey, it’s one of Chery’S oldest brands that has been around the world. What is fast in China? Jetour has more than 100 markets, and sold 622,590 cars worldwide in 2025.
In 2024, right-hand drive production began for a number of key models; the Dashing compact SUV, the T-Series (T1 and T2) mid-size SUV as well as the seven-seat X70 Plus is now on sale in South Africa.
The lineup of Jetour’s are split between a more modern-day model, such as the Dashing and boxier models, tougher cars like the T-Series (and petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains).
Though not yet available in right-hand drive, Jetour’s flagship is the plug-in hybrid G700 which is a three-row, ladder-frame SUV – unlike the rest of the lineup, which consists of unibody SUVs – that’s larger than the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and almost identical in size to the Denza B8. A related ute has also been shown off in concept form.
MORE:
Yet another Chinese car brand confirmed for Australia
JMC
JMC is returning to Australia, after an earlier, unsuccessful run from 2015 to 2018.
JMC Vigus
Upon the Vigus nameplate, it’ll once again provide an ute; documents of government approval were published late last year that it will be with a 3. 4-cylinder 3-litre turbo-diesel – an engine that is not currently available in any other markets was used with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The JMC has filed to provide the Vigus here, not one of its new Dadao family of utes launched in 2023 with more modern interiors and active safety/drive assist technology missing from the Chinese-market Vigu.
The platform co-developed with Ford is used by Dadao vehicles – badged Grand Avenue in export markets and which parent company Jiangling Motors has close ties with. These will follow the Vigus, which seems to be aimed at the lowest end of Australia’s ute market, it’ is unclear whether these are going to go for this.
Earlier this year, Danny Lenartic – formerly of JAC – was appointed CEO of JMC Motor Australia.
MORE:
Chinese brand set to have another crack at Australian market with new ute
Lepas
Lepas is another Chinese brand from, you guessed it, Chery. It’s set for launch here towards the end of 2026.
Lepas L6
As with the brand of Omoda Jaecoo, it’s another Chery line that has been developed for export markets like Australia and Europe, offering a range of small to medium SUVs with different electrification (all the way up to fully electric powertrains).
Lepas’ point of differentiation from the Chery and Omoda Jaecoo brands is that there are bold colours inside and out, although it remains to be seen how long this strategy will last in Australia where monochromatic finishes and black interiors dominate.
The brand may also sell designer clothes and accessories in its showrooms as part of its focus on fashion.
The small L6 and mid-size L8 SUVs are likely to launch late this year, with the smaller L4 SUV expected to follow in 2027.
MORE:
2027 Lepas L6 previewed: Another electric and hybrid SUV from Chery
MORE:
Chery-owned Lepas to differentiate itself with the help of fashion brands
Note that all of these are brands only which officially announced plans for the Australian market as of April 2026.
Some of the namesake examples would include Geely’s Ridarra, makers behind The RDR6 electric and plug-in hybrid unibody ute, and Changan’S luxury brand Avatr, which has filed to trademark its name locally.
In New Zealand, BAIC and Dongfeng recently launched their namesake brands under the nameaker brand. It already represents BAIC’s Foton division, which is distributed with Subaru, Peugeot and Deepal by Inchcape; Dongfeng-developed cars will be here under the Forthing and (likely) Nissan brands.
Thanks for reading All the Chinese auto brands coming to Australia in 2026 and beyond
