Richard Edwards
Published 7 May 2026
You just might be able to buy a Ford Bronco here in future. But it won’t be the big, 4×4 off-roader you’re picturing.
NZ Autocar understands the Ford Bronco New Energy is now in the local product plans, though Ford New Zealand is staying tight-lipped on when, or if, Kiwis will get a look in.
Asked directly whether the Chinese-built electrified Bronco was coming, Ford NZ communications manager Tom Clancy declined to confirm.
“The Bronco New Energy is an exciting addition to the global Ford line-up, adding a new energy drivetrain to one of the world’s most iconic nameplates,” Clancy says. “Ford New Zealand is always evaluating options to expand our line-up for customers, but we have no news to share about future products at this time.”
The non-denial follows reporting in Australia from CarExpert suggesting the Bronco New Energy is bound for that market in late 2026 or early 2027, with pricing tipped to start near AU$48,000 and top out close to AU$60,000. New Zealand allocation, where confirmed, typically follows shortly after Australian launches.
If it does come, the Bronco New Energy will be the second Chinese-built Ford to land here, behind the Transit City van confirmed to NZ Autocar by Ford NZ managing director Annaliese Atina last month. Some Australian rumours have suggested China could become a future source for Ranger product, while NZ Autocar has long suspected the Chinese-developed Ford Territory and Edge hybrid SUVs could also appeal to Australasian buyers. The Territory is already on sale in South Africa.
Importantly, this is not the rugged, ladder-frame Bronco that shares its bones with the Ranger and Everest. The Bronco New Energy is a unibody, China-built crossover developed by Ford’s joint venture with Jiangling Motors at the Nanchang plant. Production kicked off there in December 2025, with the SUV offered as either a full battery-electric or an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV).
The numbers are eye-catching. The pure-electric version uses a 105.4kWh BYD-supplied LFP battery for a claimed 650km of range on China’s CLTC cycle, paired with dual motors making a combined 332kW. The EREV pairs a 43.7kWh battery and dual motors with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol generator, delivering around 220km of pure electric range and a total range of roughly 1220km.
Reports from Australia suggest only the EREV is locked in for that market, which would likely be the case here too. Three trim levels are tipped, expected to be Big Bend, Outer Banks, and Badlands.
At 5025mm long, 1960mm wide, and 1825mm tall, the Bronco New Energy is actually larger than the four-door US Bronco, with 220mm of ground clearance and a 600mm wading depth. A flagship Basecamp variant adds a factory pop-up roof, modular tailgate with built-in induction cooktop, and 6kW vehicle-to-load capability.
If it lands here at competitive money with that kind of range, it could be one of the most significant Ford launches in years for a brand whose passenger lineup has been increasingly squeezed by pricing.
We’ll keep asking.
