Forthing Taikon 5 Confirmed for Australia: Another Chinese SUV, But This One Has a Trick

Another Chinese car brand is heading to Australia, and this one comes with a powertrain option that could turn some heads. Forthing, a passenger car brand under the massive Dongfeng Motor Corporation, will launch in Australia in June 2026 with the Taikon 5 mid-size SUV.

What makes this one different from the flood of Chinese EVs already on sale here? The Taikon 5 will be offered with both a pure electric powertrain and a range-extender (REEV) version that combines an electric motor with a small petrol engine purely for charging the battery. That REEV setup claims over 1,150km of total range on a single tank and charge. Sound familiar? It is a similar concept to the BYD Seal 6, but in SUV form.

What We Know So Far

The Taikon 5 is sold as the Friday in China and sits in the same segment as the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail. Australian specifications have not been confirmed yet, but the New Zealand spec gives us a solid idea of what to expect.

EV Version (New Zealand spec)

• Single electric motor producing 150kW
• 64.4kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery
• Up to 400km range (WLTP)

Range Extender (REEV) Version (New Zealand spec)

• 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (generator only, does not drive the wheels)
• 120kW electric motor
• 31.94kWh LFP battery
• 183km electric-only range (WLTP)
• 1,150km total combined range (WLTP)

The REEV version is the interesting one here. Unlike a traditional hybrid where the petrol engine drives the wheels directly, a range extender uses the petrol engine solely as a generator to charge the battery while you drive. The wheels are always powered by the electric motor, so the driving experience is much closer to a pure EV than a conventional hybrid. You get the smoothness and instant torque of electric driving, with the range security of a petrol tank for longer trips.

Whether Australia gets both powertrains or additional options (China offers a larger battery EV and other hybrid variants) has not been confirmed. Pricing is also still under wraps, though it will need to be competitive to break into an increasingly crowded market.

Who Is Behind Forthing?

Forthing is not a startup. It sits under Dongfeng Motor Corporation, which is one of China's largest state-owned automotive groups. Dongfeng has decades of manufacturing experience and partnerships with major global brands.

Australian distribution will be handled by Ateco Group, which already manages LDV, Ram, Renault and Maserati locally. Leading the Forthing brand in Australia is Shaun Garrard, who previously worked at Tesla and WM Motor before moving to Ateco to focus on emerging brands.

Forthing has confirmed that more models will follow the Taikon 5 into Australia. Globally, the brand sells a range of people movers, sedans and SUVs, so expect the local lineup to expand over time.

The Bigger Picture

Another month, another Chinese brand entering Australia. That is the reality of the market right now. BYD, MG, GWM, Chery, GAC, Geely, Leapmotor, Jaecoo, Omoda and now Forthing. The competition is relentless and that is genuinely good for Australian buyers. More competition means lower prices, better specs and more choice.

The question, as always, is whether a new brand can build the dealer network, parts supply and customer trust needed to survive long term. Ateco's track record with LDV and Ram suggests they know how to do this, but the proof will be in the execution.

Compare It on CarSorted

We will add the Forthing Taikon 5 to our database as soon as Australian pricing and specifications are confirmed. Once it is in our system, you will be able to compare it spec-by-spec against the RAV4, X-Trail, Tucson, CX-5, and every other mid-size SUV on our platform.

Full pricing and Australian specs are expected closer to the June 2026 launch. We will update this article when they drop.

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