Forthing Confirms June Australian Launch With Taikon 5 EV and Range‑Extender

Ateco plans to lean on a long‑range REEV pitch that claims up to 1,050 km on WLTP tests to win buyers wary of charging gaps.

Overview

Coverage published Tuesday confirms Forthing, a Dongfeng brand, will enter Australia in June with the Taikon 5 mid‑size SUV distributed by Ateco.
Buyers will get a choice of a battery‑electric model or a range‑extended electric vehicle that uses a small petrol engine to charge the battery while an electric motor drives the wheels.
Ateco claims the REEV can travel about 170 km on electricity alone and up to 1,050 km when the fuel tank is full under WLTP testing, while New Zealand launch data points to roughly 400 km WLTP for the BEV.
GoAuto reports preliminary specs that include a 1.5‑litre engine, a 55 kW motor and a 32 kWh LFP battery for the REEV, and a 150 kW single‑motor setup with a larger battery for the BEV.
Both variants gained Australian Design Rule approval in October last year, with local pricing, charging times and an ANCAP safety rating still to come as Forthing joins a fast‑growing field of Chinese brands in the $40,000–$50,000 SUV bracket.