Business
22 November, 2025
Chinese auto invasion due to demand from customers
THE face of the motor industry is quickly changing in Cairns with Chinese brands starting to dominate showrooms and forecourts across the city.
At Cairns Cars, GAC Motors have joined XPeng and Omoda Jaecoo in their line-up.
Westco Motors have started selling Deepal and Foton from premises on Mulgrave Rd while Ireland’s have the rapidly-growing BYD portfolio.
At Trinity Auto Group, Geely has recently taken over the former Jaguar Land Rover show- room in McLeod St, boosting their other Chinese makes –Chery and JAC Motors.
Cairns Cars also have added Korean brand KGM Ssangyong to complement their other popular Korean moniker – GWM.
Cairns Cars Group dealer-principal Alan Ren said GAC Motors had entered Australia for the first time and selected Cairns as one of its national launch locations, highlighting the region’s growing importance in the automotive market.
“GAC Motor is widely recognised for its engineering excellence, design innovation and commitment to quality,” he said.
“In China, GAC is the official joint venture partner of Toyota, producing Toyota vehicles for the Chinese domestic market – a partnership that underscores GAC’s world-class manufacturing standards and reliability.
“By bringing GAC to Australia, Cairns Cars is giving local drivers access to a new generation of premium, yet affordable vehicles that combine cutting-edge technology, refined design and proven global quality.”
Mr Ren said the new arrivals marked a milestone year for his firm, which had introduced four brands in the past 12 months – Omoda Jaecoo, XPeng, GAC Motors and KGM SsangYong – underscoring continued investment, growth and expanded choice for local drivers.
Mr Ren said the Asian brands had resulted in Renault, Skoda and Volvo leaving his business.
He said the European makes were selling in single digits each month, failing to draw adequate customers.
Mr Ren said XPeng and GAC would be sold from the former Volvo showroom on Mulgrave Rd, while KGM Ssanyong occupies forecourt space next to the new Omoda Jaecoo and Honda showroom, also on Mulgrave Rd.
He said Omoda Jaecoo was already doing well as was KGM.
“We’ve had to do this to survive. The industry is changing very quickly,” Mr Ren said.
He said the quality, pricing and driving behaviour of the Chinese brands were very good and “consumers are seeing it”.
“Four of the top 10 brands in Australia are now Chinese – GWM, MG, BYD and Chery,” Mr Ren said.
GAC sells the small Aion V SUV, M8 PHEV people mover and the EMZOOM SUV.
KGM Ssangyong’s range includes the Actyon SUV coupe and the Musso dual cab ute .
XPeng offers an electric vehicle range, including the G6 SUV with an X9 people mover and the G9 SUV to come.
To celebrate, Cairns Cars is hosting a $10 million stock clearance, a three-day group-wide stock sale clearance event from 20-22 November, coinciding with the first GAC Motors vehicles arriving in Cairns.
