2024 Jac T9 ute arrives in Australia

A cut-price new workhorse will give tradies looking for an affordable new ride another value-packed option to consider.

New Chinese car brand Jac Motors is going to deliver relief for Aussie tradies on the hunt for an affordable ute.

Jac is preparing to launch the T9 ute in April. It promises to be rugged, capable, luxurious and sharply priced.

The T9 will launch with a two-tier range priced from $42,662 (before on-road costs) for the base Oasis grade and $45,630 for the fully-loaded Haven model.

Chinese brand Jac has launched its first vehicle in Australia.

This puts it above cut-price dual-cabs such as the GWM Cannon and SsangYong Musso but significantly undercuts mainstream utes such as the Mitsubishi Triton and Toyota HiLux.

Jac Australian deputy managing director Danny Lenartic says the company wants to steal market share off everyone and regional Australia is very important to them.

“The competition will be won in the regions,” he says. “Regional areas are dominated by utes and penetration of ute procurement in those areas is profound and it is a very strong focus for us.”

The company has fleshed out an impressive network of more than 50 dealerships along the Australian east coast. The company will expand in western parts of the eastern states in the coming year.

Jac is imported by newcomer LTS Auto. It is headed up by Michael Jiang, a property developer and restaurateur.

The T9 undercuts popular dual-cab utes.

Mr Jiang says the fact utes account for about 20 per cent of sales in Australia shows just how important these vehicles are to our market.

Jac also confirmed that a plug-in hybrid version will arrive in Australia next year. That model will skirt around the Federal Government’s proposed emissions laws and line up against other newcomers such as BYD’s plug-in ute.

An all-electric version of the T9 is also under development by the company and it plans on launching its first electric vehicle in China in the coming months.

Initially the T9 will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine that makes 125kW and 410Nm matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels.

It has four-wheel drive and other off-road necessary hardware.

It lacks the raw numbers of popular rivals such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux but it has low fuel use of 7.6L/100km.

The T9 has a one-tonne payload and a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.

It’s got all the right hardware for those wanting to go off the beaten track. It has high and low gearing, part time four-wheel drive, a locking rear differential and a wading depth of 800mm.

It’s packed with active safety tech including auto emergency braking, lane-keep assist and blind-spot warning among others.

The T9 is packed with safety tech.

It will also have a driver monitoring system that will alert the driver if they take their eyes off the road. After the new Mitsubishi Triton, the T9 is only the second ute to have this vehicle fitted to it.

Inside there are plush fit-outs with faux-leather upholstery, a 10.4-inch infotainment screen and a seven-inch digital driver display. It also has goodies such as a wireless device charger, 64-colour ambient lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels and heated front seats on top-spec Haven versions.

The cabin is upmarket for the price.

It looks tough with sharp LED headlights, a big black grill and black cladding surrounds and a sports bar complementing its broad-shouldered proportions.

The vehicle is in the process of being crash tested and Mr Lenartic says the company is confident it will achieve five stars.

Jac sweetens the deal further with a seven-year/unlimited km warranty, seven years roadside assitance and a capped price servicing program.

Originally published as 2024 Jac T9 ute arrives in Australia