New car brands launching in 2026 and beyond – Merimbula News Weekly
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2025 was the year of the new car brand in Australia, though things don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
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A number of new car brands have already confirmed they’re entering the Australian market in 2026 and it’s likely a number more will lock themselves in throughout the year.
The following is a rundown of all the new brands that are confirmed for an Australian launch in 2026, along with a number of honourable mentions that are likely to be confirmed soon.
BYD’s luxury brand Denza is locked in for an Australian launch in January 2026. It will initially offer the B5 and B8 plug-in hybrid SUVs, which are both badged as Fangchengbao vehicles in China.
The carmaker has also previously floated the idea of offering the Yangwang U8 flagship plug-in hybrid SUV badged as a Denza for Australia, though this isn’t locked in yet.
Read more: ‘Better’ Denza B5 takes aim at Toyota Prado
Earlier in 2025 Forthing, which is one of Chinese giant Dongfeng’s many brands, confirmed it will enter the Australian market during 2026.
The brand’s first vehicle in Australia is understood to be the Friday, which is an electric and range-extender (REEV) SUV. It’s already made in right-hand drive.
Read more: Heard of this Chinese brand? Dongfeng’s Forthing brand confirmed for Australia this year with an electric family SUV that will battle the 2026 Geely EX5, BYD Atto 3 and Leapmotor C10
Yet another Chery brand will arrive in Australia soon to complement the Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda brands. Lepas is locked in for a launch during 2026.
Its first model in Australia will be the L8 five-seat SUV, which is based on the same platform as the Chery Tiggo 8, Jaecoo J7 and Omoda 7, among others. Full details haven’t been confirmed yet, though petrol and plug-in hybrid power are likely.
Read more: Another Chinese brand confirmed for Oz
GWM’s luxury sub-brand Wey is locked in for an Australian launch during 2026 following the Chinese carmaker’s local division shutting it down for a number of years now.
Wey vehicles that are potentially being floated for a local launch are the 80/G9 plug-in hybrid people mover, as well as the 07/Lanshan large plug-in hybrid SUV.
Read more: GWM says no to Lexus-rivalling luxury sub-brand in Australia… at least for now
Avatr, which is a premium brand under the Chinese carmaker giant Changan, now offers cars in right-hand drive and they could potentially be on their way to Australia, though nothing is locked in yet.
The company revealed the right-hand drive Avatr 11 electric crossover SUV which offers up to 680km of range according to NEDC testing.
Read more: Is another Chinese brand ready to launch in Australia? Deepal’s premium marque reveals right-hand-drive 2026 Avatr 11 as a new rival to XPeng G6, Zeekr 7X and IM6
The Chinese carmaker giant’s namesake brand is yet another Chinese brand that could soon be launching in Australia.
It recently confirmed it’s launching the Changan E06 small electric SUV in the UK in 2027, which is notably also a right-hand drive market.
Read more: Budget Chinese EV coming to Australia?
China’s JMC could soon be poised to return to Australian shores following its departure in 2019.
The company recently had its new Vigus dual-cab ute approved for local sale as part of a Federal Department of Infrastructure filing. No official launch date has been announced yet.
Read more: Forgotten ute to make shock Oz return
Nio is another Chinese carmaker that’s poised to potentially launch in Australia during 2026, though no official confirmation has been announced yet.
The tiny Nio Firefly electric hatch has been approved for local sale as part of a Federal Department of Infrastructure filing. Spied prototypes have been out on Australian roads, as spotted by CarsGuide.
Read more: Cheap BYD slayer headed to Oz
This Chinese carmaker is proving to be extremely popular in its domestic market and is already looking to expand into export markets.
At this stage Xiaomi is yet to confirm whether it will produce its cars in right-hand drive, so it’s unclear whether an Australian launch is on the cards.
Read more: China’s hottest carmaker is going global: Xiaomi is planning to break out of China and sell it cars in Europe, which bodes well for the 2026 Xiaomi SU7 and YU7 to come to Australia eventually to battle the Tesla Model Y, Zeekr 7X and BYD Sealion 7
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