QUALITY right up there with the Japanese. A thousand per cent better than previous Chinese-built products. No need for rock-bottom pricing. These were the claims made about the LDV T60 by Ateco Automotive executive chairman Neville Crichton in a GoAuto interview this time last year.

They now become expectations for a diesel-engined, four-wheel drive, manual or auto dual-cab ute T60 line-up that extends from $29,000 for ABN holders, to $37,000 and in each case driveaway. Launching that configuration of vehicle for 2018 would be akin to LDV having launched, in 1998, a rear-wheel-drive large sedan to rival the Holden Commodore, which tallied 94,000 sales that year.

LDV has nailed the configuration Australians want right from the start. This year our market has been on track to snap up 200,000 units of offroad-capable dual-cab for the first time ever.

Now all the T60 has to do is prove that being among the cheapest does not mean sacrificing ability. And in the long run, LDV must positively leverage itself into the worksite equivalent of ‘watercooler chat’ and improve the reputation of Chinese quality. A tough haul certainly lies ahead.