Chinese brands are no longer the alternative choice in Australia, they are a quarter of the market. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) says five Chinese manufacturers, BYD, GWM, MG, Geely and Chery, combined for 26,610 sales in August 2026, or 26.4 per cent of all VFACTS sales. That month's total was 100,939 vehicles, up 0.4 per cent on a year earlier, and Toyota still led the brand table at 19.5 per cent. Five of the ten best selling models were Chinese: the BYD Sealion 7, Chery Tiggo 4, Geely EX5, GWM Haval Jolion and Zeekr 7X. Here is how the brands compare, what the warranties really say, and what to check before you buy. Prices and terms below were checked against each manufacturer on 2 October 2026.

How to read the prices in this guide

Every price here is the manufacturer's own advertised drive-away figure for a private buyer unless we say plus on-road costs. Drive-away includes registration, compulsory third party insurance, delivery and stamp duty, and it varies a little by state. Most current offers end on 31 October 2026 (BYD's run to December), so treat every number as a snapshot, not a permanent list price.

BYD: the volume leader with the widest range

BYD sits second on the August brand table, behind Toyota. The range spans from the BYD Atto 1 Essential at $19,990 drive-away (order by 15 December, deliver by 31 December) and the Dolphin Essential at $28,888, up to the BYD Sealion 7 and the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute. The BYD Atto 2 DM-i Essential plug-in hybrid is $25,990 drive-away on BYD's current offer. A $4,000 cashback also applies to the Seal 6, Sealion 5, 6, 7 and 8 and Shark 6 when ordered between 1 October and 21 December and delivered by year end.

Warranty is 6 years or 150,000km on the vehicle, with the battery covered for 8 years or 160,000km. That is shorter than the 7 year unlimited kilometre terms most rivals offer, which is worth weighing if you plan to keep the car for a decade. It is also a brand with a recall on the books: the Shark 6 spare wheel recall covers 32,009 utes. We covered it in our Shark 6 recall report, and a recall handled properly is normal for any big seller, but check the VIN on vehiclerecalls.gov.au before you buy used or demo stock.

Related: BYD Atto 1 is Australia's cheapest new car, and our BYD Shark 6 vs GWM Cannon Hi4-T comparison.

GWM: utes, SUVs and a 7 year warranty

GWM is third in August. The Haval Jolion Premium is $23,990 drive-away (VIC private, includes $3,000 savings) and the Premium HEV is $32,990. The GWM Haval H6 starts at $35,990 for the Lux and $40,990 for the Lux HEV. In utes, the GWM Cannon Premium Dual Cab is $39,990 and the new Cannon Hi4-T plug-in hybrid is $48,990 for the Lux. GWM's standing cover is 7 years with unlimited kilometres. The offers run to 31 October 2026.

GWM is also preparing the next Haval H7, confirmed for October under $50,000 drive-away, which we covered in our Haval H7 report. Our Cannon Hi4-T vs Shark 6 guide covers the plug-in ute fight.

MG: the cheapest ticket, with a warranty to read twice

MG is fourth. Its current offers (to 31 October) include the MG3 Vibe at $19,990 with a $1,000 cashback, the MG ZS Vibe at $22,990, the MG4 Urban Essence 43 at $29,990 and the MG HS Vibe at $32,990 with a $2,000 cashback. The HS Super Hybrid is $42,990 with a $6,000 cashback.

The standard passenger car warranty is 7 years with unlimited kilometres. MG advertises up to 10 years or 250,000km, but that extended cover is service-activated: you must service at an MG dealer within 30 days and 2,000km of each scheduled service. The high voltage battery on electrified models is covered for 7 years or 150,000km. Read the booklet before you count on the headline.

Geely: fastest growth, newest network

Geely landed in Australia with the EX5 in March 2025 and delivered its 20,000th vehicle 17 months later, with 80 showrooms nationally, as we reported in Geely hits 20,000 Australian sales. The lineup is the Geely EX5, the Geely EX2 small electric hatch and the Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid. Geely's warranty for private owners is 7 years with unlimited kilometres, with the traction battery covered for 8 years with unlimited kilometres, replaced or repaired if its state of health drops below 70 per cent. The caveat is the one that applies to any fast-growing brand: it is young, so its long-term service and parts record is still being written. Our Geely EX2 and Leapmotor B05 ANCAP report has the safety results.

The Zeekr 7X sits alongside it in the sales charts, and the Zeekr X is priced from $48,900 drive-away.

Chery: big range, cheap family entry

Chery lists 11 models. The Tiggo 4 is from $23,990 drive-away, the C5 from $28,990, the Tiggo 7 from $29,990 and the seven-seat Tiggo 8 from $38,990, with plug-in Super Hybrid versions of the Tiggo 7 and 8 also listed. Chery's warranty is 7 years with unlimited kilometres, with capped-price servicing and up to 7 years of roadside assistance. The Tiggo 4 made the August top ten list, and our earlier note on it is in Chery Tiggo 4 fourth best selling. The new Chery C5 Hybrid is covered in our C5 Hybrid report.

The risk to know about: importers and distributors

The real lesson for buyers is not about China, it is about who stands behind the car. Xpeng's G6 owners found out in 2026. The former distributor TrueEV made cashback, warranty and servicing promises it did not keep, and the factory-backed Xpeng ANZ has since said it will honour them, including a 7 year unlimited kilometre warranty on every G6 and 8 years or 160,000km on the battery. The full story is in Xpeng promises to honour TrueEV cashbacks and warranties, and the current Xpeng G6 vs Tesla comparison is here. When you shop any new brand, ask whether the importer is the factory or a third party distributor.

A short checklist before you sign

First, read the warranty terms, not the headline. Look for service requirements, kilometre caps and battery conditions. Second, check the ANCAP rating for the exact model and year on ancap.com.au, because some Chinese models are rated and some are not yet. Third, look up open recalls by VIN. Fourth, ask your nearest dealer how long parts take and where the closest service centre is. Fifth, understand that resale values for newer brands have less history behind them, and we do not have reliable data to give you a figure. Finally, remember that offers end: confirm the drive-away price in writing.

Which brand for which buyer

For the lowest price, the BYD Atto 1 and MG3 Vibe both sit at $19,990 drive-away, and our cheapest new cars guide ranks them alongside the Tiggo 4, Jolion and others. For a hybrid, see cheapest hybrid SUVs. For an electric car, start at cheapest EVs in Australia, and for the bigger question, EV vs petrol. For a family SUV, our best family SUVs and best small SUVs pick winners from several of these brands.

The Cartell verdict

The established names, BYD, GWM and MG, have the bigger networks, and Geely and Chery are the ones to watch as their dealer footprints settle. All five now back their cars with warranties at or near the 7 year standard, with MG's 10 year headline carrying conditions and BYD's vehicle cover at 6 years. The sensible approach is the same as for any brand: compare the exact variant, read the warranty, and buy from a distributor you trust. Check pricing again before you order, because this market moves monthly.