LDV confirms price for NZ’s first fully electric ute

Following a surprise debut earlier this year, LDV has announced opening pricing for its fully electric eT60 pick-up; the first EV ute confirmed for the New Zealand market.

The eT60 will be priced from $79,990, including GST and on-road costs.

This means the model will be eligible for the government’s $8625 Clean Car Discount rebate, effectively dropping its price to $71,365.

Just one model will be offered locally for the time being. It pairs an 88kWh battery to a 130kW/310Nm electric motor and rear-wheel drive. Range is rated at 325km on the WLTP cycle, with towing capacity rated at 1500kg.

LDV New Zealand says that production of the model will commence in August, with New Zealand among the first markets to receive stock. It’s unknown when the vehicles will start to appear locally, but late 2022 or early 2023 appears likely.

Standard kit includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen, 17-inch alloy wheels, and an integrated 220V mains power outlet.

The addition of the eT60 gives LDV arguably the most comprehensive plug-in line-up in the commercial segment, with the pioneering pick-up joining the fully electric eDeliver 3 and eDeliver 9.

LDV New Zealand general manager Andrew Bayliss says the level of interest the eT60 attracted at launch was unprecedented.

“Within minutes of journalists filing their copy at the media event in March and the online ordering system going live on our website, orders started rolling in,” says Bayliss.

“In all my years in the industry, I have never experienced this level of interest when launching a new vehicle.”

Bayliss says that consumer interest in the ute spans “private buyers, business owners, tradespeople, government departments and local bodies all eager to reduce their carbon footprint and drive an electric ute”.

“Now that we can offer a zero-emission vehicle that can meet the demands of the majority of buyers who have previously been buying diesel and petrol vehicles, we know that we have a winner on our hands with the eT60,” he adds.