MG’s first electric ute celebrated its world premiere at the Melbourne Motor Show.
The MG U9 EV is a slightly revised version of the LDV/Maxus eTerron 9, which is already available in other markets, but whose local launch date is still unconfirmed.
While MG unveiled the U9 EV in Melbourne, no details – including launch timing – have been confirmed for the model.
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It will be the third electric car to be offered in Australia, following the LDV eT60 and the KGM Musso EV.
The U9 Black Edition, which is based on the diesel-powered U9, also celebrated its debut in Melbourne.
As the name suggests, it has a darker aesthetic than the chrome-laden U9 utes already on offer in Australia. This also includes a dark radiator grille.
The launch date and pricing for the Black Edition have yet to be confirmed. The regular U9 range currently retails between $52,990 and $60,990.
The U9 EV is likely to command a significant premium over these diesel variants.
It is expected to use a 102 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a WLTP range of 430 km, like its LDV twin offered abroad.
According to a March regulatory approval application, the U9 EV features dual-motor all-wheel drive, with the motors each producing 200 kW of power and 125 kW of torque, for a total system output of 325 kW.
The braked towing capacity is stated at 3500 kg, with a payload of 685 kg, while the U9 EV is equipped with a choice of 18-, 19- or 20-inch wheels.
The U9 EV forgoes the diesel-powered ute’s eye-catching, complicated grille and instead features a largely enclosed front end, save for a few small air intakes.
There’s a full-width light bar connecting the C-shaped daytime running lights within the headlight clusters, and a different front bumper overall.
At the back, the taillight clusters are virtually identical, but the EV has a light bar running the entire width of the tailgate.
LDV was the first car brand in Australia with an electric car, launching the single-engine, rear-wheel-drive body-on-frame eT60 here in 2023.
But this segment has proven to be a real ghost town, with the eT60 selling in small numbers and the eTerron 9 confirmed for a local launch that hasn’t happened yet.
The next electric car to be launched in Australia in 2025 was the self-supporting KGM Musso EV, offered with either single-motor front-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive.
In contrast, the US has seen a boom in (large) electric pickups, although the initial hype surrounding this segment has waned – sales of the Tesla Cybertruck fell by almost half in 2025 and the Ford F-150 Lightning is being replaced by a range-extended electric vehicle (EREV).
Plug-in hybrid vehicles are much more popular in Australia than electric cars. The BYD Shark 6 was launched last year as the first such vehicle in Australia, quickly followed by the Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, followed by rivals from Chery, JAC and Nissan.
The Shark 6 in particular is so popular that it became Australia’s best-selling PHEV last year, even outselling smaller models such as the Mazda BT-50.
MORE: Explore the MG U9 showroom
