23 hours ago
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Another new Chinese car brand is about to launch in Australia with a competitor to popular Geely and BYD SUVs.
Electric Cars
Electric and range-extender hybrid cars from Chinese brand Forthing are due in Australian showrooms in June 2026, starting with a family SUV similar in size to a Toyota RAV4.
Forthing is a marque run by Dongfeng, one of China's largest automotive manufacturers, and will join the likes of Chery, GWM and BYD in selling cars in Australia, focused on part- or fully-electric vehicles.
It will be imported and marketed in Australia by Ateco, the local distributor of LDV, Renault, Maserati and Ram, as well as brands in New Zealand, including BYD.
Prices are yet to be announced for the maiden Forthing SUV, but its rivals from other, more established Chinese brands are priced between about $40,000 and $50,000 drive-away.
First to launch is the Forthing Taikon 5, a mid-size SUV sold overseas as the Forthing Friday, and similar in size to a RAV4, Mazda CX-5 or Geely EX5.
It will be available as a battery-electric vehicle (BEV), or a range-extender hybrid, where a small petrol engine and a larger battery pack are used to drive an electric motor.
The petrol engine is not believed to be capable of driving the wheels directly, but rather is used to charge the battery pack – which can be recharged externally, akin to a BYD or GWM plug-in hybrid – when it runs low.
Forthing claims 170km of electric-only driving range in the Taikon 5 Range Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV), which extends to 1050km when the engine chips in.
The figures are based on European WLTP lab testing, which are more stringent than the NEDC tests used by rivals to quote hybrid driving range claims of up to 1200km.
In New Zealand – where the brand is also being distributed by Ateco – the REEV uses a 155kW 1.5-litre petrol engine to feed a 120kW/240Nm electric motor and 31.9kWh battery pack.
Meanwhile, the electric variant uses a 150kW/240Nm electric motor and 64.4kWh battery for a claimed WLTP driving range of about 400km, according to NZ reports.
A "range" of models is planned to follow the Taikon 5 in Australia, said Shaun Garrard, Forthing Australia National Manager, in a media statement.
"We see huge potential in the Forthing brand in this highly competitive market, with its comprehensive line-up of new-energy [hybrid and electric] vehicles," Garrard said.
"Forthing has a range of compelling future models that have been confirmed for Australia, and we will have more information to share closer to showroom arrivals.
"Despite the recent influx of new brands, Forthing has the credentials and commitment to earn its place in this market.
"A lot of new automotive brands are making bold promises. With Forthing’s strong product portfolio – and the Ateco Group’s experience in introducing new brands to this market – we are well positioned for long-term success."
More details, including pricing and specifications, are due closer to Forthing's local launch in June 2026.
Electric Cars Guide
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
