China’s JAC has chosen Australia as the location for the global debut of its latest new model, the Hunter PHEV (plug-in hybrid) dual-cab ute.
Hunter is the global name for the T9 ute, which started arriving in the hands of Australian customers late last year in turbo-diesel guise.
JAC has confirmed the Hunter PHEV will be released locally in early 2026 and be called the T9 Hunter.
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This new PHEV version of the dual-cab 4×4 ute will be a key rival to the likes of the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, and the upcoming Ford Ranger PHEV.
Dubbed the most powerful JAC ever, the Hunter PHEV is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and dual electric motors producing total system outputs of 385kW of power and no less than 1000Nm of torque.
It has a 32kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, and this allows the PHEV ute to travel “at least” 100km on electric power alone. The ute also has vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging capability so it can power electrical appliances.
JAC claims the Hunter PHEV possesses the “hard-working payload and towing capabilities Australians expect of a dual-cab ute”. The T9 turbo-diesel currently has a braked towing capacity of 3200kg and a payload of 1045kg.
Inside, the Hunter PHEV looks very similar to the T9 turbo-diesel, though a key difference is there’s a rotary gear selector instead of a traditional gear shifter.
The debut of the new PHEV ute from JAC follows the reveal of the T9 EV late last year. Both of these utes will be shown to the Australian public for the first time in Melbourne tomorrow (April 5), alongside the turbo-diesel T9 and the sleek DE-FINE concept car.
Australian pricing and specifications for the JAC Hunter PHEV will be announced closer to its launch date in early 2026.
For now, potential customers can register their interest on the company’s website or at one of its dealers.
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