JAC Motors is showcasing its T9 Hunter plug-in hybrid ute as this year’s Fieldays as the brand signals more electrified commercial vehicle options in New Zealand.
Displayed in pre-production prototype form, the T9 Hunter PHEV pairs a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with dual electric motors and is targeting a peak torque output of 1000Nm. That figure would place it ahead of other recent PHEV ute arrivals, including the BYD Shark 6.
JAC New Zealand general manager Andrew Craw says the prototype is here for evaluation, with no firm plans for a local launch until it has undergone extensive testing on New Zealand roads.
“The T9 Hunter PHEV shows what JAC can deliver in the world of electric and hybrid workhorses,” Craw says. “But first we want to hear what Kiwis think and get the PHEV out and about on and off NZ roads for rigorous testing.”
The hybrid system is expected to offer more than 100km of range in EV mode before switching to hybrid operation, aimed at balancing performance with efficiency in both urban and rural settings.
While the orange-painted prototype will be a drawcard at JAC’s Fieldays site, the company is also displaying its top-spec T9 diesel ute and a range of light-duty electric and diesel trucks. Craw says the brand’s growing vehicle line-up reflects its ambition to compete in multiple commercial segments.
That ambition includes an expanding retail footprint, with three new dealerships recently opening in Napier, Hamilton, and Auckland’s North Shore. These join existing locations in Botany, New Plymouth, and Christchurch. JAC’s light-duty truck range is also supported by Southpac Trucks nationwide.
“Fieldays is a big moment for us – not just with the T9 PHEV, but with new sites opening too,” Craw says. “Unlike the carbon footprint of this ute, our footprint’s getting bigger in all the right places.”
The T9 Hunter PHEV remains in the evaluation phase, and customer feedback from Fieldays will play a role in shaping the vehicle’s future in the New Zealand market. The event runs at Mystery Creek from June 11-14.
