Rounding up new automotive brands in New Zealand has become a regular thing for us. We normally do it in something of a piecemeal fashion, but when we decided to think big and collate everything over the past two years a while back, it was because we’d counted 15 to include. Nice round number.
Here we are and at the time of writing we’ve now gathered together 17 brands, or perhaps 18 depending on how you want to include the last two. They keep coming.
JMC
Founded: 1947 as a truck repair shop, vehicle assembly from 1968 Launched in NZ: Late-2026 What does it sell? To be announced.
Armstrong’s Group (behind many new brands including Arcfox, BAIC, Dongfeng and Leapmotor, read on…) announced its plan to bring JMC into New Zealand back in May.
Jiangling Motors Corporation is known for its commercial vehicles. Armstrong’s founder and executive director Rick Armstrong has indicated utes, vans and buses are all on the radar: “We see the JMC product portfolio as highly targeted and focused. It will be complementary to our existing brands.”
JMC produced its first vehicle in 1968 and has long-term partnerships with international brands, including Ford and Bosch. As an aside, JMC is the Chinese partner company in Ford’s forthcoming Bronco Basecamp SUV (unconnected with the Armstrong’s JMC distribution, though).
Expect to see the first JMC vehicles here before the end of the year.
Arcfox
Founded: 2017 Launched in NZ: June 2026 What does it sell? T1 city hatch ($34,990).
Arcfox is the premium arm of BAIC: as Lexus is to Toyota, for example. It’s here in NZ alongside the parent brand, although the first model, called T1, is very much a budget offering.
The T1 is a pure-electric hatch with a 42.8kWh battery (310km range) and 70kW/176Nm front-mounted electric motor. It’s one of the cheapest BEVs on the market. Other more upmarket models are set to follow soon, says the company.
Forthing
Founded: 2001 Launched in NZ: April 2026 What does it sell? Taikon medium SUV ($39,990-$47,990).
Forthing was introduced into NZ by Ateco Automotive earlier this year. The brand is focused on just one model at the moment: the Taikon medium-SUV, either in pure-electric form (400km range) or as a super hybrid with up to 183km EV range, total 1150km on a full tank/charge.
Forthing is a division of Dongfeng, a brand that’s also represented here… but under a completely different company. Relationship status: complicated.
Denza
Founded: 2010 Launched in NZ: February 2026 What does it sell? B5 and B8 ($88,990-$117,990) large SUVs, D9 people mover ($104,990-$115,900).
Denza is BYD’s luxury brand, but has a standalone presence here. It was created in 2001 as a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, but it’s now owned exclusively by the former.
Denza was launched in NZ with the B5 and B8 luxury SUVs. They both share their essential underpinnings and dual-motor plug-in hybrid technology with the BYD Shark 6 ute.
They’re now joined by the D9 luxury people mover. Imminent is the mighty 850kW triple-motor Z9GT super-wagon.
BAIC
Founded: 1958 Launched in NZ: February 2026 What does it sell? X55 urban SUV ($34,990-$42,990) and B30 medium SUV ($39,990-$50,990).
Bejing Automotive Industry Corporation (BAIC) arrived in NZ early this year with a focus on ICE and HEV technology.
The X55 urban SUV was introduced as a petrol-only model, but it’s now also available as a full HEV in two different specifications.
However, it’s fair to say the hero BAIC model is the heritage-look B30 SUV. The B30 comes in 2WD or AWD, conventional combustion-engine or HEV.
GAC
Founded: 1997 as GAC Group, GAC Motor Company in 2008 for own-brand vehicles Launched in NZ: January 2026 What does it sell? Emzoom SUV ($29,990), Aion UT hatchback ($35,990-$39,990), Aion V medium SUV ($47,990-$49,990), M8 people mover ($81,990).
GAC has launched in NZ in three distinct powertrain categories.
There’s the Emzoom urban SUV, which is powered by a conventional combustion engine. Aion is GAC’s BEV brand and represented here with the UT small-hatch and V medium-SUV; the UT and V each come in two versions. And way up at the top of the range is the M8 PHEV people mover.
Dongfeng
Founded: 1969 Launched in NZ: December 2025 What does it sell? Box city hatchback ($31,990), Vigo compact SUV ($39,990) and 007 sedan ($52,990-$57,990).
The Kiwi range draws from different domestic market sub-brands, but they’re all sold under the parent “Dongfeng” brand here. They’re also all BEVs.
The Box got off to a rocky start with a less-than-ideal safety specification, but it now comes in an updated form with an increased airbag count (formerly two, now six).
The Vigo compact-SUV boasts distinctive styling and puts most of its effort into versatile and clever cabin features.
The flagship of the lineup is the 007, a fastback/sedan. It comes in two models, the RWD long range and the Performance AWD, which is very rapid: 100km/h in 3.9 seconds.
Xpeng
Founded: 2014 Launched in NZ: December 2025 What does it sell? G6 medium SUV ($59,990-$72,990), X9 people mover ($104,990-$124,990).
Xpeng was founded by a group of former GAC executives in 2014 as a technology-led carmaker.
The hero model is the G6, a medium SUV that comes in standard or long range, RWD or AWD. The long range Performance models boast 358kW and can hit 100km/h in 4.13 seconds.
An addition for 2026 is the X9 luxury people mover, which comes in FWD or AWD.
Geely
Founded: 1986 (automotive since 1997) Launched in NZ: April 2025 What does it sell? EX2 city hatch ($32,990-$37,990), EX5 ($49,990-$56,990) and Starray EM-i ($45,990-$56,990) medium SUVs, Riddara ute ($69,990).
Geely recently broadened its range for NZ with the new EX2 city BEV, which joins upgraded EX5 BEV and Starray EM-i super hybrid PHEV models.
The top versions of EX5 and Starray EM-i have gained more electric range. The former steps up from 60kWh to 68kWh for an extra 20km: total 450km. The latter moves from an 18.9kWh battery to 29.8kWh, giving 53km more EV driving: 136km.
There’s also a new Starray EM-i flagship model with AWD, featuring dual motors and more sophisticated rear suspension.
The larger Monjaro SUV has been confirmed for 2027.
A sister model (not technically a “Geely”, save a tiny badge on the back) is the $69,990 Riddara RD6 Pro, a dual-cab ute with pure-electric power a making an impressive 360kW. It also delivers on some key ute stats: it can tow 3000kg and offers a payload of 1030kg.
NZ Geely importer Giltrap Group has division called NordEast that brings the six different Geely brands together under one umbrella, including Zeekr, Farizon, Volvo, Polestar and Lotus.
Zeekr
Founded: 2021 Launched in NZ: September 2025 What does it sell? X compact SUV ($59,990-$69,990), 7X medium SUV ($69,990-$94990) and 009 luxury people mover ($157,990-$162,990).
Zeekr is Geely’s luxury electrified brand. The 7X has emerged as its hero vehicle in NZ: it’s a medium-SUV aimed at the premium market, but it also has a smaller sibling, simply named X. Just updated for 2026, the X shares quite a lot of its technology with the Volvo EX30.
The most niche, but also most outrageous current Zeekr offering for NZ is the 009 luxury people-mover, which offers a lounge-like rear compartment.
Zeek will expand dramatically for 2027. There are a brace of large PHEV-powered SUVs, the 8X and 9X, plus a sleek station wagon version of the 7X called 7GT.
Farizon
Founded: 2016 Launched in NZ: August 2025 What does it sell? V7E ($55,990) and SV ($72,990-$82,990) vans.
Farizon is a Geely subsidiary formed to develop pure-electric commercial vehicles. The core model for NZ is the V7E, which enters the traditional medium-van market at price-parity to diesel models.
Farizon is also continuing with its original SV (“SuperVan”), which comes in three different body sizes.
IM
Founded: 2020 Launched in NZ: August 2025 What does it sell? IMG medium SUV ($66,990-$89,990).
IM is essentially MG’s luxury/technology brand, founded as a joint venture between MG parent SAIC, e-commerce company Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech.
The sole model for NZ so far is the IM6, an SUV in three different specifications.
Chery
Founded: 1997 Launched in NZ: 2011-14, relaunched July 2025 What does it sell? Tiggo 4 compact SUV ($24,490-$34,990), Tiggo 7 medium SUV ($34,990-$43,990), Tiggo 8 large SUV ($39,990-$48,990) and Tiggo 9 large/luxury ($66,990) SUV.
Chery is a familiar name to many Kiwis because it was in the Kiwi market 15 years ago – albeit in the bad old days of Chinese cars, when quality and technology were of a pretty low standard.
How times have changed. Chery relaunched in a roundabout way with its Omoda/Jaecoo subsidiaries in 2024, but the parent brand joined the party last year. It sells a vast range of SUVs with petrol, hybrid and plug-in super hybrid technology: Tiggo 4, Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 9.
Also on the way is the Stockman diesel-PHEV ute; the company is currently asking to customers to register their interest.
Smart
Founded: 1994 as Micro Compact Car (joint venture between Mercedes-Benz/SMH), then 2019 (joint venture between Mercedes-Benz/Geely) Launched in NZ: February 2005, relaunched April 2025 What does it sell? #1 and #3 compact SUVs ($59,990-$79,990), and #5 medium SUV ($79,990-$99,990).
Smart became famous back in the day making the minuscule City-Coupe (later called Fortwo) and Roadster models, as well as the larger and more conventional Forfour. It also had a brief run in NZ from 2005 as part of the local Mercedes-Benz distributorship, which didn’t last.
But it’s back. Globally, Mercedes-Benz now partners with Geely to produce larger (but still compact) pure-electric cars, the related #1 and #3 compact-SUVs and the newest model, the larger #5 SUV.
Leapmotor
Founded: 2015, then 2023 as Leapmotor International (joint venture with Stellantis) Launched in NZ: January 2025 What does it sell? C10 medium/large SUV ($47,990-$62,990), B10 compact/medium SUV ($37,990-$47,990), B05 hatchback ($43,990-$47,990) and B03X compact SUV ($37,990-$42,990).
Leapmotor was established in 2015. In 2023, the company signed a joint-venture deal with Stellantis (Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram) to form Leapmotor International for export markets.
Since the start of last year, the model range for NZ has expanded downwards, from the C10 medium/large SUV to the B10 compact-SUV, the B05 hatchback and from next month, the cute B03X city-SUV.
BEV power is Leapmotor’s core technology, but the C10 and B10 are also offered with range-extender Ultra Hybrid powertrains.
Jac utes
Founded: 1964 Launched in NZ: January 2025 What does it sell? T9 ute ($44,990-$59,990).
Jac trucks of many sizes and weights have been on NZ roads for a long time, although current importer NZ Automotive (NZAL) formally launched new-gen dealerships last year.
We’re focused on the T9 ute here, though. The mainstream diesel range came first, but the brand is also about to add a PHEV version, with 360kW and an EV range of 100km (NEDC).
Omoda/Jaecoo
Founded: 2023 Launched in NZ: April 2024 What does it sell? Omoda C5 and E5 compact SUVs ($28,990-$44,990), Jaecoo J5 compact SUV ($39,990-$42,990) and J7 small/medium SUV ($37,900-$49,990).
These are two separate brands, but they go together as a double act. Parent company Chery formed them both with a view to export markets: Omoda is supposed to be the more urban and chic offering, Jaecoo the one with a bit more SUV style.
Omoda is here with the petrol C5 compact-SUV, a BEV version of the same called E5 and the large, techy super hybrid Omoda 9.
Jaecoo’s “Temu Range Rover” J5 hybrid or BEV joined the larger J7 petrol/hybrid this year. Also on the way is the full-size J8 seven-seater, pricing yet to be announced.