MG Motor Australia eyes hybrid U9 ute as BYD surges in sales

MG Motor Australia said it is evaluating a hybrid version of its dual‑cab U9 ute to expand its lineup and compete with rivals such as BYD’s Shark 6, Ford Ranger Hybrid and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. The company’s marketing lead, Dimitri Andreatidis, noted that while the hybrid option is not yet confirmed, “hybrid plays a key role in the category – our competitors are doing very well and they deserve this success.”

In June 2026 MG finished ninth in the Australian new‑vehicle market with 5,001 sales, a 28.4 % year‑on‑year increase, and highlighted the ZS SUV as its top seller with 1,827 deliveries. BYD, however, recorded a dramatic rise to 18,881 deliveries, closing the gap with market leader Toyota. MG emphasized that it is not focused on sales numbers but on customers and dealers, adding that the U9 diesel model sold 122 units in June and that a Black Edition has been launched. An all‑electric U9 is slated for release later in the year, alongside other EVs such as the Toyota HiLux BEV.