Even as the market notes a 3.3 percent downturn in sales for the month of March, new Chinese brands are being announced for Australia.
Forthing is the latest brand greenlit for Aussie introduction in June this year, with the Taikon 5 medium SUV – known as ‘Friday’ in China – set to spearhead the brand in both plug-in hybrid and fully electric guise.
Pricing and specifications of the Taikon 5, along with details of the subsequent models greenlit for Australia, remain under wraps for now.
An electric range of 170km (WLTP) has been confirmed for the plug-in version, branded as a ‘range extender EV’, with a total claimed range of 1050km. In New Zealand, the plug-in version pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 120kW/240Nm electric motor drawing power from a 31.9kWh battery.
The fully electric version makes use of a 64.4kWh battery and 150kW/240Nm electric motor; range is said to be in excess of 400km.
In Australia its list of key rivals include the Geely Starray EM-i, BYD Sealion 6 and mainstream competitors such as the facelifted Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, along with fully electric competitors such as the MG S5 and BYD Sealion 7.
Ram and Renault distributor holding the reigns locally
Established in 2001, Forthing is owned by the Dongfeng Motor Group and will be distributed via a third party in the Ateco Group, which currently operates brands such as Ram and Renault in Australia. Ateco will also oversee Forthing in New Zealand.
Sporting previous experience working with brands directly in China, Shaun Garrard has been confirmed as the national manager of Forthing in Australia.
“Forthing has a range of compelling future models that have been confirmed for Australia, and we will have more information to share closer to showroom arrivals,” he said in a statement.
