New-car discounts back after two years, as Chinese utes start a price war

New-car discounts are back after an absence of two years during the global pandemic, when customer demand was high and vehicles were in short supply.

Two Chinese ute brands have kicked off a price war with identical drive-away deals.

The LDV T60 ute is available with an automatic transmission for the price of a manual. At $38,990 drive-away for ABN holders, it amounts to a saving of $2000. Metallic paint adds $500.

The deal applies to remaining stock of 2022 model-year variants of the LDV T60 pick-up (pictured above and below), as well as the 2023 model-year version, which gains a sports bar.

The price of $38,990 drive-away positions the LDV T60 Max Pro as the equal cheapest double-cab four-wheel-drive automatic pick-up currently on sale in Australia – priced head-on with the arch rival GWM Cannon Ute.

The cheapest model in the GWM Cannon Ute range limbos to $35,990 drive-away but that is for a 4x2 variant. 

And the starting prices for the SsangYong Musso ELX ($36,790 drive-away) and Mahindra Pik-Up S10+ ($35,500 drive-away) are for manual variants .

The base-model 4x4 GWM Cannon Ute with automatic transmission as standard is $38,990 drive-away – the same price as the 2022 LDV T60 in run-out. Metallic paint adds $595.

As with the current LDV T60 Max Pro offer, the GWM Cannon Ute base model’s $38,990 drive-away price applies only to ABN holders, such as small businesses.

There are some notable differences, however. While both the LDV T60 and GWM Cannon Ute have five-star safety scores, the Great Wall Motors pick-up has more advanced safety technology and a newer rating under more stringent criteria.

The GWM Cannon Ute comes with a full suite of advanced safety technology – including a centre airbag between the front seats – whereas the LDV T60 is the only vehicle in its segment without crash avoidance aids such as autonomous emergency braking, among other driver-assistance systems.

The most basic GWM Cannon Ute still comes with many of the same features as the dearer variants – including bi-LED headlights, tyre pressure monitors, and sensor key with push-button start – but it has a rubber steering wheel rather than a leather-wrapped rim, lacks the 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and also misses out on privacy glass and front parking sensors, among a few other features.

Meanwhile, dearer models in the GWM Cannon Ute range also have special offers, which started late last year but have continued into 2023.

The GWM Cannon-L is available for $42,490 drive-away for ABN holders. Private buyers get an extra $1000 off this price to make it $41,490 drive-away.

Private buyers also get a better deal than ABN holders or fleets further up the range.

The GWM Cannon-X is listed at $45,490 drive-away – but private buyers can take $1000 off that sticker and pay $44,490 drive-away (plus metallic paint).

The same deal applies to the limited-edition GWM Cannon Vanta: it’s listed at $46,490 drive-away – but private buyers can take $1000 off that price and pay $45,490 drive-away (plus metallic paint).

Not to be outdone at the pricier end of the Chinese ute market, dearer versions of the LDV T60 also have a special offer this month. 

The long-wheelbase “mega-tub” version of the LDV T60 Luxe is currently listed at $44,990 drive-away for ABN holders and $47,463 drive-away for private buyers. Orders are being taken now ahead of deliveries in the coming months.

The battle between the two Chinese utes in Australia has intensified since the GWM Cannon Ute arrived two years ago.

Out of the gates, in its first full year on sale the GWM Cannon Ute (6742 sales) narrowly outsold the LDV T60 (6705) in 2021. 

Last year the GWM Cannon Ute increased the sales gap over the LDV T60 – as both brands struggled with stock shortages.

Great Wall Motors reported 7500 pick-ups as sold last year versus the LDV tally of 6000 examples, according to official industry data supplied by manufacturers.