- The MG U9 EV has been listed on an ADR compliance database in Australia, leading to speculation of it going on sale in NZ.
- The all-electric version of the U9 is mechanically identical to the LDV eTerron 9 that is still to go on sale on either side of the Tasman.
- There is currently no official word on the possibility of the U9 EV coming to New Zealand.
While the all-electric version of the MG U9 ute has cleared a significant regulatory hurdle by appearing on Australia's ROVER (Road Vehicle Regulator) compliance database, potential buyers in New Zealand - and Australia - should perhaps temper their expectations regarding an immediate or seamless rollout.
Appearing on the ROVER database means that a vehicle has met all necessary safety, environmental, and anti-theft requirements under the Australian Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018, has received Australian Design Rules approval, and is officially allowed to be sold, provided, or registered in Australia.
While this is a vital step in gaining approval for sale in Australia, it doesn't necessarily mean it is a done deal. Likewise, while NZTA Waka Kotahi uses the ROVER database to verify the ADR status of new vehicles, it all means little more than it can go on sale here, rather than it will.
Despite the paperwork appearing in Australia, MG New Zealand remains non-committal, stating only that the vehicle is "under consideration" and that the company has nothing to announce "at the moment". This vague stance is mirrored in the lack of a confirmed launch date or pricing for the Australian market, suggesting that "imminent" may be an optimistic interpretation of standard regulatory filings by Australian media.
Key to MG's reservations around selling the all-electric U9 here will be similar to those surrounding the electric version of the mechanically identical LDV Terron 9 that was teased for this part of the world but has constantly been delayed.
While no battery or motor specs have been revealed for the MG U9, the eTerron 9 uses a massive 102.2kWh battery and a pair of electric motors producing a combined total of 325kW AND 700Nm.
This would seem to line up with the U9's compliance documents that reveal a hefty tare weight of 2815kg for the electric U9, making it nearly 400kg heavier than its diesel counterpart. This massive bulk has a direct impact on its utility: the payload is rated at just 685kg thanks to the U9 EV's 3500kg GVM, which may underwhelm commercial users accustomed to the one-tonne payload capacity of traditional diesel utes.
However the documents show a full 3500kg braked towing capacity for the electric U9, which will go a long way to make up for the lack of payload, but will also push the U9 into the regulatory murkiness of needing a Class 2 license to make full use of the towing capacity, given the U9 EV's hefty base weight.
This is something that BYD New Zealand is currently wrestling with thanks to the imminent introduction of the more powerful 2.0-litre version of the plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 ute that is capable of hauling a 3500kg load on a braked trailer as well.
BYD says it will be warning customers that if they are intending to tow over the two and a half tonnes of the standard 1.5-litre Shark, they will require a Class 2 driver's licence with the 2.0-litre version.
However, the higher-powered Shark does have a theoretical GVM of 3700kg, which would move it out of the light vehicle classification. BYD New Zealand sought an exemption from NZTA to classify a 3700kg GVM Shark as a light vehicle, which would exempt it from Certificate of Fitness (COF) requirements, speed limiting, and special tow bar regulations, but this was declined, with NZTA saying it was planning on relaxing the weight limits in a few years time.
With the LDV version still very much in a state of limbo, it remains to be seen if MG can actually navigate the challenges that have hampered its sister brand. Until MG provides concrete figures on pricing, battery performance, and a firm release calendar, the U9 EV remains something of a paper tiger on a government database rather than a confirmed addition to local showrooms.
