Australia's week was about what is coming rather than what sold: a ute with almost 2,000 pre-orders and no price, the cheapest electric SUV on the market priced at A$26,990, and three premium models given Australian dates. The one setback was a cybersecurity demonstration on BYD's Shark pickup and a three-star ANCAP result.
Pricing and demand before launch
- Leapmotor set Australian prices for the B03X: A$26,990 before on-road costs for the Style, or A$29,990 drive-away on a limited offer, against A$31,990 for the BYD Atto 2 Dynamic. Showroom arrival is November, and the report calls it Australia's lowest-priced electric SUV.
- Chery's Stockman plug-in hybrid ute has drawn about 10,000 expressions of interest and nearly 2,000 pre-orders before any price is announced. Chery's local chief operating officer describes the response as more nerve-racking than celebratory. The technical details include a 2.5-litre turbodiesel, a 34 kWh battery, up to 96 km of electric range and first deliveries from February 1, 2027.
- GWM's October offers run to up to A$5,000 off or 0.88 per cent finance, but not both.
What is coming
- Avatr confirmed its 06T wagon for the second half of 2027, after the 07L SUV in the first half.
- Zeekr plans the 007 GT shooting brake for Q4 2026; Australian pricing is not announced.
- Jetour updated the G700 plug-in hybrid off-roader it plans to bring to Australia, adding Huawei driver-assistance technology.
Security and safety
Researchers from Fortify Labs used the Shark's infotainment system to access vehicle functions and data, including live location and cabin microphone. BYD says a software fix is in development. Separately, the BYD Sealion 5 plug-in hybrid earned three stars from ANCAP: crash protection was strong enough for four, but driver-assistance scores held it back.
What it means
- Price is moving down at the entry level at the same time as premium lines are being scheduled, so the Chinese range in Australia is widening at both ends.
- The Stockman's response is a test of demand for a diesel plug-in hybrid ute before anyone has seen a price.
- Security and ANCAP results are now part of the coverage of each launch, not a side issue.