LDV’s next-generation e-Terron 9 electric UTE hits Australia for testing

While BYD, Ford and to an extent Toyota are bringing electrification to their ute range in Australia – the biggest selling vehicle category in Australia – LDV is doubling down with the next generation of their fully-electric ute now in Australia for validation testing before it’s available to Aussie buyers next year.

It’s called the LDV Terron 9, and it will come as either an EV or Diesel Ute and will be sold in Australia alongside the existing LDV T60 ute range.

The new Terron 9 should hit Aussie showrooms in mid-2025 but we’re a long way away from seeing full specs with the car still running in cammo form as they test things like sign recognition, lane-keeping assistance and other electronic aids.

Aussie’s will have seen and will continue to see the car on our main highways and backroads across the Eastern States, as well as around the Metro areas.

Dinesh Chinnappa, LDV Australia GM. says “The purpose of this validation test is to ensure the new-generation LDV Terron ute series is ready for Australian driving conditions,”

“The arrival of these vehicles for final validation testing shows the factory recognises the importance of the Australian market.”

“We want to make sure when a ute buyer walks into an LDV showroom, we have a vehicle that offers value across a range of price points,” said Mr Chinnappa.

“We are not going to leave our traditional ute buyers behind. Rather, the LDV Terron ute series will broaden our offering across the ute segment.”

“An Electric Ute will never work in Australia”

I can hear the haters now, trust me – I’ve heard it all, I hear it every day. But the thing is, we’re not getting rid of the current Utes, these are new options and it turns out – according to LDV, there is a demand for them

“Certain segments of the ute market are not only ready for an electric ute, they’ve been pleading for one. Particularly fleets and mining companies who want a factory-built, turn-key solution straight off the showroom floor, rather than a diesel vehicle that has been converted to electric power,” said Mr Chinnappa.

And yes, the haters will say that LDV’s current electric ute was anything but a success – they’ve sold basically 100 of them, but Chinnappa acknowledges this is a different beast, saying “This is a completely different vehicle, inside and out,”

“We are proud that the LDV eT60 was the first electric ute in Australian showrooms, but we are also proud to demonstrate just how far electric ute technology has progressed with this all-new model.”