NEW brand on the block, JAC Motors, has opened its first dealership ahead of a busy month that begins rolling out more than 50 national dealers to support its T9 ute.

JAC Motors Ringwood in Melbourne became the first franchisee, followed the next day by Peninsula JAC Motors in Frankston. Both openings were officiated by JAC Group chairman Xiang Xingchu.

JAC’s website already lists 48 dealers, covering all states and with 18 allocated for Queensland.

JAC Motors Australia deputy managing director Danny Lenartic said there had been an “incredible” level of interest and anticipation over the past month.

“The demand for new ute options that deliver on both form and function is clearly there and the JAC T9 Ute is ready to meet this.

“The team at JAC Motors Ringwood see this as well, with the ute already turning heads. Aussies should stay on the lookout as there is sure to be a JAC T9 Ute in a dealership near them very soon.”

JAC Motors Ringwood dealer principal and a director of Vision E Mobility Group, Lee Matenga, said buyers were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the T9 Ute.

“We hear from customers daily that they want new options for their daily driver or weekender, that won’t break the bank,” he said.

“The JAC T9 is the perfect option for them, and we can’t wait to host our first test drives before the end of the financial year.”

At a function held in Sydney earlier this year, JAC Group deputy general manager Zhang Peng, said JAC’s core business product, the Ute, was chosen as its first model for Australia.

The first Ute is a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel with 4WD and an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

Mr Zhang said the ute was undergoing safety testing by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program in accordance with the latest and most stringent five-star rating standards.

In response to Australia’s National Electric Vehicle Strategy, he said JAC will also launch 4WD T9 electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in the future. 

“Beyond utes, we are keeping a keen eye on opportunities in the Australian passenger car market and are actively preparing for them,” he told China’s Xinhua publication.

He said according to the company’s Australian market research and its survey on JAC utes, the company was “confident” about selling 3800 to 4000 units in 2024.

JAC Group is a major automotive enterprise group in China and is one of China’s Top 500 Enterprises. It has established six overseas subsidiaries and 19 overseas plants, and cumulatively exported to 132 countries and regions around the world. 

JAC utes have already been introduced into more than 100 countries and regions around the world, with a total sales volume of more than 40,000 units in overseas markets in 2023, and a cumulative sales volume approaching 300,000 units globally.

JAC is distributed by LTS Auto which is the newest importer and distributor of automotive brands in Australia. 

LTS Auto, which combines experience in the automotive industry across distribution, promotion and compliance, is part of Lotus Group, a diversified business enterprise spanning hospitality, property and construction and automotive importation and distribution.