Analysis for Australian automotive retail · Editorial standards

The DriveAgent NewsroomSaturday, 19 September 2026
EVs & hybrids

Forthing’s EREV push adds a new angle to Australia’s EV market

Forthing has publicly argued that extended-range electric vehicles suit Australia, as the Chinese brand expands its local line-up around the Taikon 5.

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Automatically researched, written and checked using AI. Verify details against the sources.

Editorial illustration of Forthing Taikon 5 SUV.
AI-generated vehicle illustration based on the linked visual reference. Styling is illustrative. DriveAgent · AI editorial illustration · AI-generated editorial illustrationForthing Taikon 5 — CarExpert reference

The event

Forthing has publicly backed extended-range electric vehicles for Australia, with CarExpert reporting on 10 September 2026 that Australian national manager Shaun Garrard described EREVs as a good fit for buyers who want electric driving without the same range concerns. The brand’s own local material also describes its Range Extender Hybrid as a plug-in system that runs primarily on electric power, with the petrol engine stepping in when battery charge is low. 1411

This sits within a broader Australian launch for the Chinese brand, which is already being positioned here around the Taikon 5 SUV in EV and extended-range hybrid forms. Local coverage has also attached Australian pricing to the model, showing that the brand is not just talking about EREV technology in the abstract. 236812

What it means for the market

Forthing’s stated intent to broaden its local range over time adds weight to the move, because it suggests the EREV pitch is part of an early Australian line-up rather than a one-off product angle. CarExpert has also reported the brand planning wider model expansion in Australia, while other local coverage has framed the company’s entry as part of a larger push from Chinese brands into the market. 57813

The Taikon 5’s published Australian pricing shows why this matters for local readers: EREV technology is arriving in a segment where price is often a major decision factor. Even so, local rollout timing beyond the reported launch window, wider availability, and any longer-term market effect remain unconfirmed. 361215

Our take

In our view, the important development is not simply that Forthing is bringing another SUV to Australia, but that it is using an EREV as a mainstream entry point. One possible implication is that this kind of powertrain may help bridge the gap for buyers who are open to electrification but still want the reassurance of petrol backup, especially while public charging habits and ownership confidence continue to vary. 131112

In our view, the wider significance for Australia is that Forthing is treating EREV as a commercial proposition rather than a niche experiment. That said, the evidence here supports a launch strategy and a product positioning, not a verified change in buyer behaviour or dealer demand, so any claim about market momentum would go beyond what has been confirmed. 51315

Sources

How we research and correct our articles

  1. New Chinese brand says EREVs are the next big thing in Australia | CarExpertcarexpert.com.au · 10 Sept 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  2. All the Chinese auto brands coming to Australia in 2026 ...carexpert.com.au · 18 Apr 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  3. 2026 Forthing Taikon 5 to be Australia's cheapest mid-size electric SUV, and cheapest EREV of any kind | CarExpertcarexpert.com.au · 18 June 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  4. Forthing Taikon 5 Newscarexpert.com.au · 13 Sept 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  5. Forthing confirms model expansion, starting with electrified people ...carexpert.com.au · 10 Sept 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  6. 2026 Forthing Taikon 5 price and specscarexpert.com.au · 20 June 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  7. China's Forthing locked in for Australia, new Toyota RAV4 rival just two months awaycarexpert.com.au · 7 Apr 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  8. Forthing electric and hybrid cars from China confirmed for Australiadrive.com.au · 7 Apr 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  9. Yet another Chinese brand coming to Australia, with yet another electric SUVcarexpert.com.au · 28 Oct 2025 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  10. Skoda Peaq EV drives 936km on one charge to set seven-seat range record | CarExpertcarexpert.com.au · 10 Sept 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  11. Introducing The Range Extender Hybrid - Forthingforthing.com.au · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  12. Forthing car brand locked in for Oz with long-range hybrid ...carsales.com.au · 18 June 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  13. Forthing aims for sustainable growth - GoAutogoauto.com.au · 11 Sept 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  14. 2026 Forthing EV reviewnews.com.au · 17 Sept 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026
  15. 2026 Forthing Taikon 5 price and specszecar.com · 17 June 2026 · accessed 18 Sept 2026