Ford Bronco Basecamp Heads to Australia in Mid-2027 as PHEV SUV

Ford Australia has confirmed the 2027 Bronco Basecamp will arrive in the second half of 2027 as a plug-in hybrid SUV built in China with partner Jiangling Motors. The five-seater slots below the Everest and targets the Toyota RAV4 segment with 800-900km total range, a 49kWh battery, and lifestyle camping features including an optional pop-up roof and integrated storage. Pricing remains unconfirmed, but expressions of interest open now ahead of customer orders in early 2027.

What the Bronco Basecamp offers Australian buyers

The Bronco Basecamp combines dual electric motors with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that acts as a range extender, not a direct drive source. Ford has not yet released Australian power and torque figures, but Chinese specs suggest 310kW and 600Nm combined output. The vehicle is designed around outdoor travel with a convertible sleeping area, optional full-length inflatable mattress, electrically operated pop-up roof on higher grades, and a 7.5-litre integrated warm-cool storage console. A rear-mounted camp kitchen setup is also available.

Timeline and market positioning

Expressions of interest are open now, with customer order books launching in the first half of 2027. First deliveries are due in the third quarter of 2027. Ford confirmed the Basecamp will slot below the Everest when it arrives, positioning it as a RAV4 competitor in Australia’s mid-size SUV segment. The vehicle will also launch in New Zealand and Europe, with Australia being the first market outside China to receive it.

Australian tuning and development

Ford Australia is tuning the Bronco Basecamp’s chassis and safety systems at its You Yangs proving ground near Geelong, Victoria, to suit local conditions. Iain Jones, vehicle program director for Ford International Markets Group, told media the suspension has been retuned compared to the Chinese version, though the underlying vehicle remains fundamentally the same. Development work is also underway in the Middle East and Thailand to tailor the SUV for different climates and markets.

US pressure and Ford’s China strategy

The announcement comes days after US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote to Ford CEO Jim Farley expressing concern that Ford is intertwining its future with Chinese state-backed enterprises. Duffy urged Ford to cut ties with CATL, Geely, and BYD over national security concerns. Ford dismissed the letter as a wrongheaded attempt to capture headlines, noting it owns and controls the Michigan battery plant while rivals import Chinese cells. No penalties were specified if Ford ignores the warning.

Final Thoughts

The Bronco Basecamp gives Ford a competitive PHEV option in Australia’s booming Chinese-dominated EV market, but US political pressure over China ties adds uncertainty to Ford’s global strategy. Pricing and exact Australian specs will determine whether it can challenge the RAV4 and Chinese rivals like GWM Tank 500.

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