JAC T9 EV a possibility says Aussie MD

INCREASED EV interest in the Australian market could open the door for retail and fleet sales of the JAC T9 EV that was previously only confirmed for mine service, according to JAC Motors Australia managing director Ahmed Mahmoud.

Speaking with GoAuto at a recent preview drive day for the Hunter Plug-In Hybrid on the New South Wales Central Coast, Mr Mahmoud explained that JAC’s current focus is mine spec vehicles when it comes to BEVs in Australia.

“So, we did ship the show car over to a company called Warrikal in WA that does servicing and the like and operations work for the mines,” he explained.

“We have another vehicle that’s been produced which is a mine spec full EV which is also coming into the country for evaluation and trials in Australian mines.

“Our priority at the moment is to produce and import and get the ADRs and whatever else that needs to happen in homologation for a mine spec BEV car.

“From a retail or private customer or even fleet customer non-mine point of view, we haven’t decided if and when this vehicle will be here.”

When Mr Mahmoud was first asked by GoAuto in 2025 about the likelihood of an Australian T9 EV launch outside of the mining space, he explained that after a trial period its Australian business case would be assessed.

Since that conversation at last year’s Melbourne Motor Show, Australian motorists have suffered at the fuel bowser in the wake of conflict in the Middle East, spiking consumer interest in electrified vehicles.

JAC are making their first foray into the electrified space in Australia with the Hunter PHEV – slated for arrival in local showrooms in the middle of this year – but increased EV could open the door for the T9 EV as well.

“Things are moving very, very fast, particularly over the last couple of months with the interest in electrification and what have you,” added Mr Mahmoud.

“But our first, I guess, toe in the water into this marketplace, and (our first) big toe in the water with the pricing and the specs is the (Hunter) plug-in hybrid, and then we’ll see where the BEV fits in after that.”

When asked if there would be space for the T9 EV in JAC’s local line-up, Mr Mahmoud explained that it isn’t a matter of space, but rather the potential market for such a model and whether it could meet the towing, payload, and off-road requirements for that market.

“It’s not so much about space, it's more about is there a market for it,” he clarified.

“JAC has no compromise. You don’t have an electrified vehicle and compromise on towing or payload or off-road ability.

“We want to make sure that whatever vehicle that we bring into the country, whether it’s full EV or plug-in hybrid or diesel, that it still meets or exceeds what JAC stands for.”

Mr Mahmoud believes that consumer behaviour towards electrified vehicles has “changed forever” in the wake of the recent fuel price spikes and that JAC needs to remain agile as a result.

“Three months ago, nobody was talking about electrification or electric vehicles, because fuel prices were fine,” he continued.

“But now the market has shifted. I think consumer behaviour has changed forever.

“While I think there will be a settling of fuel prices and interest in electrified vehicles, I think consumer behaviour has changed.

“We have just got to stay agile and connected to the market and consumer behaviour, not only so our pricing and marketing can capitalise on opportunities, but when we go and work with our friends in JAC China on new models, we have actual facts to be able to share with them in terms of why we need this or why we don’t need that.”

The mine-spec JAC T9 EV shares its underpinnings with the diesel-powered T9 currently on sale in Australia.

However, instead of a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, power comes from dual electric motors with a combined output of 220kW/516Nm. This is good for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 8.5 seconds, according to JAC.

Its 88kW LFP battery allows for a WLTP driving range of 330km, and supports AC and DC charging, with 15-80 per cent recharge times able to be completed in 40 minutes. It also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality.

The JAC T9 EV is rated for a 900kg payload, and its tub can accommodate a full-size Australian pallet between the wheelarches.

Should the JAC T9 EV be made available to retail and fleet customers in Australia, it would share the battery electric ute space with the Toyota HiLux BEV, KGM Musso EV and LDV eT60.