Electric LDV T60 ute locked in for NZ, but will EV version of Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max rival get the green light for Australia?

Is LDV going to beat every other brand to the punch with Australia’s very first electric ute?

The Chinese brand is gearing up to launch the all-electric eT60 pick-up across the Tasman in New Zealand, where it will be the country’s first EV ute.

It recently went live on LDV’s NZ website and keen buyers can put down a $1000 deposit, with deliveries starting in quarter three. NZ pricing is yet to be announced.

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The LDV eT60 looks much the same as a T60 Max and is powered by a single rear-axle-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor, paired with an 88.5kWh battery, delivering 130kW/310Nm and a WLTP driving range of 325km range.

Given that it will be sold in New Zealand, another right-hand drive market, it makes sense that it would also be offered in Australia given the physical proximity and some similarities between the two markets.

However, the brand is distributed by separate companies in each country. In New Zealand, it is managed by Great Lake Motor Distributors, while in Australia, the SAIC-owned brand is imported and marketed by Ateco Automotive.

CarsGuide understands that Ateco is working on an EV plan for Australia, but details are scarce. It remains to be seen if the eT60 will make it Down Under first, or if it will be one of LDV's electric commercial vans that are already on sale in other markets, including New Zealand.

The eDeliver 9 – an all-electric version of the Deliver 9 – is available in NZ in cab chassis, and two van sizes, while the smaller eDeliver 3 van is also sold there.

Whatever happens, the Ford E-Transit electric van is expected to beat the eDeliver 9 to market, with the former landing mid-year.

If the eT60 eventually gets the green light for an Australian launch, it could still be one of the first mass-produced electric utes to launch here.

Rivian has announced plans to launch its R1T electric pick-up into “major Asian-Pacific markets” in the coming years, with Australia almost certainly on that list.

Tesla’s long-delayed Cybertruck might also eventually come to Australia, while there’s hope that the likes of GMSV and RAM Trucks will offer converted versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and RAM 1500 EVs eventually.

So far none of the big players in the one-tonne ute segment – aside from LDV – have announced fully electric versions of their popular utes. Ford is expected to launch a hybrid version of the new-generation Ranger eventually, but Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Isuzu and Mazda have all been quiet on future electric ute plans.

New Zealand has also just passed legislation for its Clean Car Standard, which will usher in rebates for purchases of zero and low emissions vehicles, while also penalising people who buy high-emissions vehicles like ute, trucks and some four-wheel drives.

In contrast, Australia does not have a federal incentives program for EVs, although some states and territories including New South Wales, the ACT and Victoria have launched schemes in the past year.