It continues to be the year of new auto brands to change the face of future repairs and ‘Made in China’ is the new label workshops will have to be ready for.
Jaecoo will be the latest Chinese auto brand to launch in Australia with plans for a launch early next year.
Jaecoo’s first model will be the J7, a mid-sized SUV which boasts seven drive modes seating for 5 adults and currently uses a traditional ICE power transmission.
Lewis Lu, Chief Executive Officer says the new J7 embodies the brand’s theme “From Classic, Beyond Classic” and is the ideal model to introduce the innovative new marque to the country.
“As Australia’s first taste of Jaecoo, the new J7 has an important role to play,” Lu says.
“Boasting high levels of sophistication and performance – not to mention a modern yet classic design aesthetic – the J7 will appeal to customers who love the great outdoors but are not prepared to compromise on either comfort or standard specification.”
Chinese Wave
The plan flows similar launches from numerous Chinese and EV brands hoping to capitalise on changing consumers tastes and the advent of the new vehicle efficiency standard in 2025
The legislation was flagged as a gateway to increase the options for consumers for low emission vehicles and save them money.
Multiple new EV models are on offer in 2024 and new brands, particularly from China , hitting Australian shores including Zeekr, smart and Xpeng, JAC Motors, and Leapmotor.
Leaping Ahead
Leapmotor Australia has also announced a dedicated dealer network to serve customers across major cities in Australia including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.
Customers will be able to visit any Leapmotor dealership and test drive its electric vehicle, the C10, a mid-size SUV, from mid-November that is its first vehicle in Australia.
These will join already-established Chinese brands, such as Chery, LDV, GWM, Haval, and BYD that are aggressively expanding in the Australian market once dominated by Toyota, Holden and Ford.
China is now the third largest country of origin for cars in Australia, after Japan and Thailand.
While trade wars with high tariffs are affecting Chinese imports into the EU and the US, there are no such problems in Australia.
The Jaecoo J7 will be available in 2WD and AWD variants and is powered by an efficient turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine producing generous peak outputs of 137 kW and 275Nm torque and mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard.
Repair ready
Motoring bodies like the MTAA have regularly signalled the NVES as heralding a major change to the car parc, one the repair industry needed government support to be ready for, with their predictions of up to 160 mew models of EV by 2029.
The AAAA has also been vocal in advocating for the aftermarket and calling for a range of measures and financial supports from government to ensure workshops are ready to safely depower and work on EVs and new brands.