MG U9 EV: Electric ute one step closer to Australia

The MG U9 could be getting an electric sibling in Australia – and it could beat its LDV cousin to market.

Australian LDV distributor Ateco Automotive confirmed in November 2024 it would introduce the eTerron 9 early in 2025, though this timeframe continued to shift even though vehicles were spied testing locally. There’s now no current launch timing available.

Now, MG – another SAIC Motor-owned brand, albeit one which handles its own distribution – has had the twin of this vehicle approved for Australian roads, but has yet to confirm launch timing.

"While we cannot confirm specific upcoming models or launch timings, we are pleased with the strong response to the MG U9 thus far," said a MG Motor Australia spokesperson.

"MG Motor is committed to supporting lower transport emissions and providing consumers with a variety of vehicle options, while still giving Australian drivers the choice."

We’ve also contacted LDV for an update on the eTerron 9 for Australia.

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Per the approval filing, the U9 EV features a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, with the motors producing 200kW and 125kW of power respectively for a total system power output of 325kW.

Braked towing capacity is listed at 3500kg, with a payload of 685kg, while the U9 EV is listed as offering a choice of 18-, 19-, or 20-inch wheels.

While battery capacity isn’t listed in these documents, the eTerron 9 – which has the same outputs and braked towing capacity – has a 102kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, good for 430km of WLTP range.

The U9 EV was yet another MG model leaked by Euro NCAP, with a listing – complete with an exterior photo – appearing on the safety authority’s website last year, like the new plug-in hybrid version of the QS large SUV.

The five-star Euro NCAP rating was based on testing of the Maxus (LDV) eTerron 9, with the MG set to wear the P9 EV nameplate in Europe. It has yet to go on sale there, however.

Exterior photos in both the Australian certification filing and the Euro NCAP results show the electric MG’s front-end to be similar to its LDV twin, but not identical.

There’s a full-width light bar connecting the C-shaped daytime running lights within the headlight clusters, with the bar sitting above a closed-off grille area.

Unlike the LDV, however, below this area there are what appear to be diamond-patterned openings on either side of the sensor array.

There’s a different front bumper overall, with what appear to be yellow vertical accents at either end.

Down back, the two utes are virtually identical, both featuring vertical tail-light clusters connected by a full-width light bar across the tailgate. It’s also at the rear where the two electric utes most closely resemble their diesel-powered counterparts.

It’s unclear how much the MG and LDV will differ elsewhere. The diesel-powered versions differ in their rear suspension setups and minor interior details like their gear shifters, with the MG also uniquely offering a Smart Hatch that allows the barrier between the tub and the cabin to be dropped to free up space for longer items.

It’s also unclear where the U9 EV would be priced at. The diesel-powered U9 range is currently priced from $52,990 to $60,990 drive-away.

LDV was the first to Australia with an electric ute, launching the single-motor rear-wheel drive, body-on-frame eT60 here in 2023.

But this segment has proved a real ghost town, with the eT60 selling in small numbers and the next electric ute not arriving until 2025 in the shape of the unibody KGM Musso EV, which is offered with either single-motor front-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains.

In contrast, the US saw a boom of electric utes, though initial hype over this segment has cooled – sales of the Tesla Cybertruck slumped by almost half in 2025 and the Ford F-150 Lightning is being replaced with an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV).

Plug-in hybrid utes are growing in popularity at a much sharper rate in Australia than EV ones, with the BYD Shark 6 launched last year as the first such ute in Australia and being quickly followed by the Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, with rivals from Chery, JAC and Nissan to follow.

So popular is the Shark 6 in particular that last year it became Australia’s best-selling PHEV, and even outsold ute stalwarts like the Mazda BT-50.

MORE: Explore the MG U9 showroom