{"id":588344,"date":"2026-04-06T03:56:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T03:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/588344\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T03:56:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T03:56:16","slug":"another-chinese-brand-edges-closer-to-australian-launch-following-new-zealand-debut-of-hybrid-electric-suv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/588344\/","title":{"rendered":"Another Chinese brand edges closer to Australian launch following New Zealand debut of hybrid, electric SUV"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yet another new Chinese brand is set to enter the New Zealand market next month, with Forthing confirming it will launch over the ditch in April with a mid-size SUV range \u2013 and an Australian launch is on the cards.<\/p>\n

Headlining the brand’s Kiwi debut is the Forthing Taikon, a coupe-style SUV that will be offered with both plug-in hybrid and full electric powertrains, positioned as a value-focused alternative in an increasingly crowded segment. <\/p>\n

The Taikon will be available in two trim levels \u2013 Luxury and Exclusive \u2013 across both powertrains, with pricing and full specifications still to be announced.<\/p>\n

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The EV version uses a 150kW electric motor and a 64.4kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, claimed to deliver between 350km and 400km of driving range on the WLTP cycle.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Super Hybrid pairs a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a 31.94kWh LFP battery, and can run in EV-only mode for up to 183km on the WLTP cycle. <\/p>\n

Forthing claims a total driving range of up to 1150km, assuming regular charging.<\/p>\n

The mid-size SUV is roughly the size of the Toyota RAV4<\/a>, measuring 4600mm long, 1860mm wide and 1680mm tall on a 2715mm wheelbase. The Taikon Hybrid features multi-link independent rear suspension, while the EV sticks with a less sophisticated torsion beam rear.<\/p>\n

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Standard equipment across the New Zealand lineup includes a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, plus a suite of active safety and driver assist technology including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.<\/p>\n

Forthing, which is part of Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor Co, a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor Group, says the move marks the beginning of its push into right-hand drive markets.<\/p>\n

Forthing NZ general sales manager Todd Groves says the brand is targeting buyers seeking value without sacrificing features.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur role is to bring New Zealanders competitive new choices that make sense for their lifestyle,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Forthing Taikon, with its compelling blend of design and outstanding value, does exactly that\u2026 delivering premium design, pioneering technology, and exceptional value to create serious excitement in the market.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Based in Liuzhou in China\u2019s Guangxi province, the automaker traces its roots back to 1954 and is now shifting its focus toward new energy vehicles as part of a broader global expansion strategy. <\/p>\n

Forthing says the Taikon range will be backed by a nationwide dealer network in New Zealand, though details of locations and aftersales support are yet to be confirmed.<\/p>\n

The company has yet to reveal pricing for New Zealand, but has signalled it will position the Taikon as a competitively positioned offering aimed at undercutting established rivals.<\/p>\n

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Full specifications, pricing, and dealership details are expected closer to the April 17 on-sale date, when the first vehicles will also be available for immediate delivery.<\/p>\n

Forthing’s confirmation of a New Zealand launch comes shortly after the Dongfeng brand debuted across the ditch.<\/p>\n

It also comes after Forthing received type approval in Australia<\/a> last October for the Taikon, which is expected to wear the Friday nameplate. Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor Co filed to trademark the Friday name last November.<\/p>\n

Both electric and extended-range electric versions of the Taikon\/Friday appear in Australian Government type approval documents.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still unclear who will be responsible for distributing the brand in Australia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Yet another new Chinese brand is set to enter the New Zealand market next month, with Forthing confirming…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":588345,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[64,63,99],"class_list":{"0":"post-588344","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-business"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=588344"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588344\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/588345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=588344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=588344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=588344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}