Automakers around the world have been using China as a production base for years, but now we’re seeing a major shift.
The first Chinese-built model from a non-Chinese brand in Australia was the 2004 Volkswagen Polo Classic, but it took a while before such vehicles were common on our roads.
Then there was a rush of offers – Tesla switched to Chinese sourcing for our market, and BMW started exporting the iX3 from China, as did Chinese companies Volvo and Polestar with various models.
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Recently, Kia began sourcing the EV5 from China, while sister brand Hyundai secured the Elexio and Mazda and Nissan confirmed their own Chinese models.
And here we are: non-Chinese brands here are starting to sell models designed primarily for the Chinese market. Sometimes these vehicles even use platforms developed in China.
This comes after Australian-built vehicles overtook Thai-built vehicles in sales last year. This means that China is now the second largest source of new vehicle production in Australia after Japan.
Kia EV5 and Hyundai Elexio
The Kia EV5 and Hyundai Elexio are midsize SUVs that are offered here at a lower base price than Korean-built models like the EV6 and Ioniq 5.
The Elexio comes from the Beijing Hyundai joint venture, while the EV5 is produced by Jiangsu Yueda Kia Motors.
The two Hyundai Motor Company brands say the two competing electric SUVs use the company’s E-GMP proprietary EV platform. However, the EV5 has been confirmed for numerous global markets and will also be produced in Korea, while the Elexio has so far only been confirmed for Australia and China.
In short, the Hyundai is more focused on China as it was designed primarily for that market.
But securing right-hand drive production has proven a boon for Hyundai Australia, which can bring the Elexio – its first Chinese-built vehicle – into the gap between the Kona Electric and the Ioniq 5.
However, it remains to be seen whether it will be sold in EV5 quantities. The Kia was the fourth best-selling electric car in Australia last year, selling more than all other electric Kias combined.
In contrast to the EV5, which is offered here with a choice of two batteries and front- or all-wheel drive, the Elexio is scheduled to come onto the market in the first quarter of 2026 in a single Elite version with front-wheel drive and an 88 kWh battery.
MORE: Explore the Kia EV5 showroom
MORE: Hyundai Elexio 2026 price and specifications: Chinese electric vehicle tuned by Australians is available under the Ioniq 5
Mazda 6e and CX-6e
Japanese brands are turning to China more than ever, especially Mazda.
The brand, which has been a latecomer in the electric vehicle sector, has roped in its Chinese joint venture partner Changan (owner of Deepal) for two models.
And unlike other Japanese-branded models with Chinese underpinnings, such as the Toyota bZ3X, Mazda’s new electric vehicles will be exported widely, with Australia among those markets.
These new Mazdas are more than just rebadges, but they use Chinese platforms and powertrains.
They help fill a big gap in Mazda’s lineup, with the disappointing MX-30 small electric SUV no longer available in most markets (including ours) and the company’s new EV platform delayed until 2028.
Scheduled for mid-2026, the 6e liftback effectively replaces the combustion engine Mazda 6, which has now been discontinued in almost all global markets, while the CX-6e crossover SUV serves as an electric counterpart to the CX-5 and CX-60 combustion engine midsize SUVs.
Also arriving here this year, the CX-6e will enter arguably the most competitive segment of the Australian market, where it will also go head-to-head with its Deepal cousin, the S07.
Mazda hasn’t announced pricing for the CX-6e yet, and it remains to be seen what the premium will be over the Deepal S07.
In contrast, the 6e’s base price has been confirmed to be under $55,000. That makes it competitively priced with the Tesla Model 3 sedan, which starts at $54,900 before on-road launch.
MORE: Mazda 6e: Australian-made electric vehicle with Tesla-rival price confirmed for Australia
MORE: Mazda is planning another Chinese electric vehicle for Australia, this time to compete with the Tesla Model Y
Nissan Frontier Pro
The BYD Shark 6 enjoyed immediate sales success in Australia and obviously made other brands sit up and take notice.
It was the first plug-in hybrid ute in Australia, narrowly beating the Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, and despite being offered in a single variant with a single powertrain, it outsold some established ute suppliers in Australia last year… and that included Nissan’s own Navara.
The Japanese brand has therefore secured the Frontier Pro as the Chinese-built PHEV counterpart to its new Mitsubishi Triton-based Navara, confirming to dealers in December that it should be available here in 2027.
It will be Nissan’s first PHEV model worldwide and its first electrified SUV, but the Frontier Pro was developed by Nissan’s Chinese joint venture partner Dongfeng and is based on the Dongfeng Z9.
It will reportedly be the first of several models Nissan Australia will source from this partnership, and will enter a growing plug-in hybrid ute segment that will soon see contributions from Chery and JAC.
MORE: Nissan Australia is discontinuing its BYD Shark 6 fighter
