A successful battle with the bush was used to help prepare JAC J9 because it’s coming to Australia.
The off-road trip with six Chinese pickup trucks, to Mount Disappointment north of Melbourne in the Victorian highlands, was one of the final hurdles on the brand’s three-year road to local showrooms.
The development plan also includes tuning everything from the J9’s suspension to the driver assistance systems, along with the development of local accessories.
JAC Motors Deputy Managing Director, Danny Lenartic, said: “JAC initiated a tailored R&D process for the Australian market three years ago, underscoring its commitment to thorough preparation and understanding of requirements and preferences. local preference”. Car expert.
“Mount Disappointment was chosen to explore how the JAC T9 could be used by a weekend adventurer looking to escape Melbourne’s bustling city life.
“Each test location is carefully selected to simulate real-world situations and challenges.”
One of the J9 test cars has now covered more than 20,000km in a variety of conditions, with other work including six additional J9s in top-level Oasis specification.
“This effort includes a thorough examination of durability testing, ensuring that changes made to the vehicle suit local preferences and withstand the rigors of Australian conditions . Balancing innovation with timelines and resources is our biggest challenge,” said Mr. Lenartic.
The team working on the vehicles includes engineers from JAC in China, technical staff from local importer LTS Auto, and contractors.
“Both sides are continuing to cooperate. (We) will continue to commit resources to focus on improving products to operate under Australian conditions and standards,” Mr. Lenartic said.
“We are constantly collecting data. A recent experience at Mt Disappointment… underlines our dedication to ensuring vehicles are well equipped for diverse terrain.
“It’s all a work in progress. It also extends to a number of heavy-duty accessories that are also being developed and manufactured locally.”
The pilot program began in the last quarter of last year and has accelerated since then.
According to Mr. Lenartic, JAC has paid special attention to driver assistance systems – a common cause of complaints in other Chinese brands.
“From day one, JAC has been committed to meeting Australian road safety standards. By focusing on the precise calibration of these systems, we not only apply cutting-edge technology but also prioritize the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians,” he said.
Despite the extensive J9 testing program, JAC has had no updates on other models for Australia, including SUVs and passenger cars from the company’s expanding lineup in its home country of China. .
“Our focus is on the T9 ute,” Mr Lenartic said.
But he dropped an important hint with news of the next step in JAC’s local development program that involves more than just J9.
“Going forward, similar programs will continue,” he said, “underscoring our commitment and the importance we place on providing durable and competitive vehicles for growing demand.” consumer growth”.
“Future models are expected to appear later this year.”
THAN: JAC: Chinese rival sets ambitious sales target in Australia
THAN: Newcomer JAC plans to ride the growing Chinese wave in Australia
