LDV Australia has confirmed the eTerron 9 will be its next electric ute to arrive in local showrooms, succeeding the much-maligned eT60.
The Chinese auto brand has set up a page for the eTerron 9 on its Australian website, saying the electric ute is ‘arriving early 2025’ – aligning with previous reports that suggested it’ll be here in the first quarter (January to March).
It’s also appeared in Australian Government approval documents, suggesting it’s well and truly on the way.
Sold as the Maxus eTerron 9 in Europe, it’ll be LDV’s second electric ute to be sold here following the eT60, which was a minimally changed version of the turbo-diesel dual-cab, but wore a price tag that was twice as high, starting from $92,990 before on-road costs.
100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
While LDV has only managed to sell approximately 100 eT60s – mainly to fleets and businesses targeting zero tailpipe emissions – the eTerron 9 appears to be a more serious attempt at getting private buyers onboard.
Both single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor four-wheel drive layouts have been approved for sale in Australia, developing 200kW and 325kW respectively, which is significantly more than the 130kW rear-drive-only eT60.
Maxus claims the dual-motor eTerron 9 can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds.
The electric motor is fed by a 102kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which can provide up to 430km of claimed driving range based on the WLTP test cycle.
By comparison, the eT60 is fed by a 88.5kWh lithium-ion battery, achieving 330km of driving range in lab tests.
The eTerron 9’s battery can be charged at up to 115kW, and the electric ute also features vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. That allows owners to power external appliances and tools, with several 2.2kW sockets throughout the vehicle, plus an external 6.6kW connection.
Maxus says the eTerron 9’s “semi-monocoque body” and “submarine-grade ultra-high-strength” steel construction ensure it meets Euro NCAP’s safety certification standards for a five-star rating, however, it’s yet to be tested by ANCAP’s sister authority.
The eTerron 9 features multi-link rear suspension. Standard air suspension allows you to lower the loading area by 60mm in Easy Load mode.
There are six changeable driving modes, including a custom mode that allows drivers to pick their preferred air suspension height, plus steering, energy recuperation, stability control and powertrain settings.
While payload capacity has dropped from the eT60’s 1000kg to 650-750kg, the eTerron 9 can tow up to 3500kg braked, well up from its predecessor’s 1000kg limit.
The eTerron 9 measures 5500mm long, 1997mm wide and 1860mm tall, riding on a 3300mm wheelbase. It has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 3500kg.
The ute features a number of handy additions for extra practicality, such as a 236L ‘frunk’ and an electric ‘tailgate’ which splits the cabin from the tub. The latter creates a loading area up to 2.4m long, allowing owners to haul longer items.
Both the bonnet and tailgate feature power assistance.
It’s understood two variants could be offered in Australia, fitted with 18- and 20-inch wheels, respectively.
Inside, the eTerron 9 features leather seat trim, with the eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat featuring ventilation and massage, and both front seats are foldable to create an “almost flat sleeping area” that’s 170cm long.
The government approval documents also showed a turbo-diesel version of the ute, called the Terron 9, has been green-lit for Australia, powered by a 165kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine.
MORE: Everything LDV
MORE: LDV’s next electric ute for Australia? Maxus eTerron 9 revealed
MORE: Is this LDV’s next electric ute for Australia?
MORE: Next-generation LDV electric ute locked in for Australia
