China’s Hottest SUV Arrival Wants A Piece Of Australia’s Premium Market

• Jaecoo makes its stylish Australian debut with actor Daniel MacPherson as brand ambassador.
• Backed by the Chery Group, Jaecoo positions itself as a premium challenger to Australia’s SUV market.
• The brand announced the J7 and the J8, to arrive in Australia later this year.

SUV maker Jaecoo makes stylish Australian debut with actor Daniel MacPherson as brand ambassador.

Premium Chinese SUV brand Jaecoo has officially launched Down Under with an exclusive event at Sydney’s Centennial Park, unveiling its J7 mid-size SUV and announcing the larger J8 model, which will go on sale in June.

The launch event, hosted in partnership with the Nine Network, was attended by Nine celebrities and featured the announcement of actor, athlete and IWC spokesperson, Daniel MacPherson, as the inaugural “Mr Jaecoo Australia”.

“I’ve always been drawn to performance – whether it’s on set, on the racecourse, or in the car,” said MacPherson at the event. “The Jaecoo J7 is one of the most exciting vehicles I’ve driven. It’s stylish, capable, and packed with innovation, yet surprisingly it comes without the luxury price tag.”

MacPherson, a longtime friend of DMARGE and ambassador for luxury Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen, brings his sophisticated taste and adventurous lifestyle to the Jaecoo partnership.

It’s also a strong indication of Jaecoo’s premium aspirations. Part of the Chery group of automotive brands, Jaecoo is getting vocal about its intent to position itself alongside established premium names in the Australian market.

The brand’s leadership team was out in force at the event. Lewis Liu, CEO of Jaecoo Australia, highlighted the brand’s commitment to sustainable mobility through the J7 Super Hybrid model. Roy Munoz, Chief Commercial Officer, articulated the brand’s ethos as embodying “elegance, fearlessness and future focus.”

However, perhaps the show’s star alongside MacPherson was Steve Eum, Global Vice President of Design for Chery. With nearly 35 years of automotive design experience across brands including Ford, General Motors, and Hyundai, Eum oversees Jaecoo’s Shanghai and European design studios and has spearheaded the creation of the brand’s distinctive aesthetic.

“The Jaecoo J7 is one of the most exciting vehicles I’ve driven.”

Dan Macpherson, inaugural Mr. Jaecoo Australia

Eum’s design philosophy for the brand focuses on refined simplicity and authenticity, “paying homage to classic SUV proportions while incorporating modern elements”.

The J7 has already attracted plenty of attention from Aussie customers.

The four-wheeled star was the newly announced J8 SUV, which will strengthen Jaecoo’s local lineup when it arrives in June. Pricing starts from $49,990 driveaway.

The J8 builds on the brand’s affordable premium aspirations with quality finishes and features, including high levels of infotainment and connectivity and the choice of a refined turbo-petrol AWD powertrain.

The announcement of Jaecoo’s eight-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty highlighted the new marque’s consumer focus. The “Triple 8 Promise” is offered across the Jaecoo range and includes eight years of capped-price servicing and roadside assistance.

The brand also announced an environmental initiative with Greenfleet to establish the Jaecoo Forest. This will see 7000 native trees planted within the Strzelecki Nature Link in Victoria’s South Gippsland region.