Another Chinese car brand has been confirmed for Australia Forthing The launch is expected to take place in June 2026, led by a Toyota RAV4 and a Mazda CX-5 SUV.
Forthing is owned by Dongfeng, one of China’s Big Four automakers, which also has joint ventures with Nissan and Honda.
The brand offers gasoline, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric (EV) vehicles worldwide and was founded in 2001.
Forthing’s Australian launch will be handled by Sydney-based Ateco Group, which distributes LDV, Renault, Ram Trucks and Maserati locally and Fiat, Jeep and BYD in New Zealand.
With Daily Sparkz you can save thousands on a new car. Click Here to get a great deal.
“We see great potential in the Forthing brand in this highly competitive market with its comprehensive range of new energy vehicles,” Forthing national manager Shaun Garrard said in a statement.
“Forthing has a number of compelling future models confirmed for Australia and we will be able to release further information as showrooms become available.”
Ahead of its Australian launch, Ateco also confirmed that Forthing will debut in New Zealand in April, as Dongfeng expands into right-hand drive markets.
In Australia, Forthing is expected to prioritize a nationwide dealer rollout, with showrooms planned in every capital city – an area where some new entrants have struggled.
Leading the launch on both sides of the Tasman is the Taikon 5 SUV (not called Friday here), a mid-size model comparable in size to the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. It has been in production since 2020.
Overseas, the Taikon 5 measures around 4600mm long, 1860mm wide and 1680mm high, with a wheelbase of 2715mm – between the RAV4’s 2690mm and the new-generation Mazda CX-5’s 2815mm.
It is also similar in size to the Leapmotor C10, which launched in Australia as an electric vehicle in 2024, with an extended range variant (EREV) in 2025.
Ateco has confirmed that the Taikon 5 will be offered in Australia and New Zealand with a choice of EREV (REEV in Forthing parlance) and EV powertrains.
The REEV combines a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 31.94 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and is said to achieve an all-electric range of 138 km (WLTP).
The EV version is offered with a 150 kW single-motor front powertrain and a 64.4 kWh LFP battery. The claimed range on the milder CLTC cycle is 530 km.
While the EV features a torsion beam rear suspension, the REEV upgrades to a multi-link suspension.
Standard equipment confirmed for New Zealand includes a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
In China, the electric vehicle costs 151,900 yen (approximately $31,900), higher than the price of the Geely EX5, which starts at 109,800 yen (approximately $23,000). In Australia, the EX5 starts at $41,990 (excluding on-road costs), while the Leapmotor C10 EV starts at $45,888.
For comparison, the Leapmotor C10 REEV costs $43,888 (before on-road costs) in Australia. It’s unclear whether Forthing will undercut the rival Chinese brand.
Australian pricing and specifications will be announced closer to the brand’s launch in June 2026.
MORE: Chinese brands make up a quarter of Australia’s car market, but the accounting firm says the boom won’t last
