China's growing influence in the global electric vehicle market is set to extend to Australia, as state-owned automaker Dongfeng prepares to introduce its Forthing brand to the country's competitive new-car segment.

The company, which operates joint ventures with Honda and Nissan, currently exports vehicles from China to markets including Europe, South America, and the Middle East.

According to Australian Government approval documents, Dongfeng plans to launch its Forthing brand locally, though two alternative marque names - Genially and Joyear - are also mentioned.

Earlier in 2025, Dongfeng registered the Forthing trademark in Australia, while the other two names have not been registered, indicating that the brand will likely be marketed under the Forthing name in the region.

Two vehicles have been approved for sale so far: the Friday EV - also listed as the T5 EV, SX5GEV, T5EVO EV, Taikon 5, and LZ6460XPE1EV - and the Friday REEV, also referred to as the T5 REEV.

The electric SUV uses a single motor generating 150 kW of power.

While the approval documents do not provide details on battery capacity or driving range, information from Forthing's Austrian (not Australian) website indicates that the Friday EV has a WLTP range of 371km from an 85.9kWh ternary lithium battery. The model produces 340 Nm of torque and has a claimed WLTP energy consumption of 18.2kWh per 100km.

In other markets, the Friday EV is also offered with a 64.4kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, providing a WLTP range of 440km, an energy consumption of 15.5kWh per 100km, and support for 80 kW DC fast charging.

The Friday REEV, an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), combines a 72 kW 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 55 kW electric motor. Information from Forthing's UAE website shows that the REEV uses a 31.94kWh LFP battery and offers up to 200km of NEDC electric range.

It measures 4600mm in length, 1860mm in width, and 1680mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2715mm. It is similar in size to the Toyota RAV4 and 15mm shorter than the Geely EX5, with a wheelbase 35mm shorter.

The vehicle has a tare mass of 1920kg in EV form and 1810kg as an EREV. It provides 180mm of ground clearance and a braked towing capacity of 1500kg for the EV variant, while the EREV version is not rated. The SUV is fitted with 19-inch wheels.

Dongfeng executives stated to Australian media in September that the Forthing brand is expected to debut in Australia either late this year or early in 2026.

A local introduction is anticipated at the Sydney International EV Motor Show this week, supported by an initial network of five to ten dealerships.

It remains unclear who will handle the brand's distribution in Australia. Some Chinese manufacturers operate under a factory distribution model, such as BYD, MG, GWM, and Chery, while others, including Foton, use third-party distributors.

Forthing is expected to position the Friday EV against other Chinese electric SUVs of similar size, including the Geely EX5, priced from AUD 40,990 (US$ 27,000) before on-road costs, and the Leapmotor C10, priced from AUD 44,990 drive-away.

In Austria, Forthing also sells a petrol-powered version of the T5, equipped with a Mitsubishi-sourced 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 130 kW and 285 Nm.

A hybrid version is available in markets such as Poland, combining a 125 kW/260 Nm variant of this engine with a 75 kW/105 Nm electric motor.

None of the Friday models has received a safety rating from Euro NCAP, and it is understood that they were not developed to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP or ANCAP rating.

Forthing's product line-up also includes the U Tour people mover, available with the same petrol or hybrid powertrain in selected markets, and the larger Forthing 9 people mover, which is longer than the Kia Carnival and offered with either hybrid or plug-in hybrid power, depending on the market.

Dongfeng also sells vehicles under several other brands, including its namesake Dongfeng marque, Voyah (which produces EVs and PHEVs for China and Europe), and the off-road-oriented M-Hero and Mengshi brands.

The company also operates the Nammi sub-brand, which produces the 06 crossover - examples of which have been seen in Australia earlier this year.

Dongfeng has filed to trademark the Nammi name locally. The Nammi 06 is another electric SUV, measuring about 4.3 metres in length, similar to the Kia EV3. The sub-brand also produces the Nammi Box, an electric hatchback that received a three-star Euro NCAP rating.

The launch of the Forthing brand further reduces the number of Chinese automakers yet to announce an Australian entry.

Major groups still absent include BAIC and FAW. However, BAIC's Stelato nameplate was trademarked in Australia this year, while FAW Group also registered its trademark in 2025.

If Forthing enters Australia in 2025, it will join several other Chinese manufacturers that have established or reintroduced their brands in the country this year.

Foton and Geely have recently relaunched, while GAC and BYD's premium Denza brand are expected to enter the market before the end of the year.

In 2026, Chery's new Lepas brand is anticipated to follow, while Nio has received approval to sell its Firefly electric hatchback in Australia, although its launch date has not yet been confirmed.