Australia’s newest auto brand GAC has confirmed plans to launch a hybrid-powered dual-cab ute to take on the BYD Shark 6, as well as Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, in 2027.
Speaking to CarExpert at the brand’s official Australian brand launch in Sydney this week, GAC International president Wei Haigang said the automaker – China’s fourth largest – plans to bring a ute to local showrooms within 18 months.
“To be honest, we are a little bit late in developing our pickups,” Mr Wei said. “But in the Shanghai auto show this April [2025], we showed the concept pickup with the hybrid powertrain.”
Badged as the Pickup 01, the Shanghai concept featured a ‘sci-fi’ exterior design akin to the Tesla Cybertruck and the recent Hyundai Crater concept. It was based on a new platform dubbed GAC Adaptive Intelligent Architecture (GAIA), which is yet to be used for any showroom model from GAC.
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It featured a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain – like the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha and Ford Ranger PHEV already in Australian showrooms – although specific details of the setup have not been revealed.
“Currently, we’re starting the possibilities and feasibility about launching the pickups with the New Energy [electrified powertrain] into the Australia market, which can meet the demands [of customers],” said Mr Wei.
“We hope that we can make that model ready by 2027 to launch into the Australian market,” he confirmed.
GAC’s first hybrid model in Australian showrooms is the M8 people mover – the first PHEV people mover from any brand in Australia – which combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a single electric motor.
The local arm of GAC is also considering the S7 large hybrid SUV, which is offered in China in single- and dual-electric motor versions teamed with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
But a dual-cab ute would play an even more significant role in GAC’s goal of becoming a top 10 auto brand in Australia by 2030 – a target that would require it to sell around 43,000 vehicles annually, based on the sales performance of 10th-placed GWM last year.
Australia’s two most popular auto brands both have a dual-cab ute as their best-seller so far in 2025 – the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger – showing how critical utes continue to be to this market’s biggest automaker.
In Ford’s case, the Ranger contributes around two-thirds of the US automaker’s total sales volume in Australia.
According to Toyota Australia, the local market has reached ‘peak ute’ and the company has indicated the popular RAV4 mid-size SUV will be its most popular model long-term, having outsold the HiLux for the first time in 2024.
In addition to the M8 people mover, GAC arrives in Australia this month with the petrol-powered Emzoom small SUV and the Aion V mid-size electric SUV.
MORE: Explore the GAC showroom
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