The new factory-built LDV Deliver 9 campervan lands in Australia, undercutting costlier rivals by tens of thousands of dollars
After establishing a foothold in Western markets with everything from SUVs to pickup trucks, Chinese brands are now eyeing more niche territory, turning their attention to the growing appetite for ready-made campervans.
In Australia, campervans have grown in popularity over the past decade as an increasing number of people choose to explore the great outdoors on their own terms, their own timetable.
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Among those responding to the trend is China’s LDV, which has just launched the Deliver 9 campervan in the country, a factory-built package tailored for life on the road, offered at around half the price of the similarly-sized VW Crafter Kampervan.
Built on the long-wheelbase, high-roof version of the LDV Deliver 9 van, the camper stretches 5,940 mm (233.9 inches) long and 2,925 mm (115.2 inches) tall. It cuts a noticeable profile thanks to gray-and-red exterior graphics, a retractable awning, and a rooftop air-conditioning unit that doesn’t shy away from announcing itself.
What’s Inside?
Open the large sliding door, complete with electric side steps and a sliding fly-screen cover, and you come across what is essentially a micro-apartment on wheels.
The kitchen includes a sink, fridge, freezer, microwave, and an induction cooktop. A small door next to it leads to a compact bathroom with an indoor shower, and for warm-weather rinses, there’s also an external shower unit.
Two swiveling front seats, a stowable table, and a rear bench form the dining area at the front part of the cabin. At the back, we find a double bed that can be assembled and disassembled in a minute so it doesn’t block the second entrance from the rear doors.
The lack of a second bed means that the camper van can sleep two, unless someone is small enough to nap on the front bench.
What Powers It?
To keep the interior systems running, SAIC-owned LDV has equipped the camper with a 2.56 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 190-watt solar panel. Water storage is handled by two 100-liter (26.4-gallon) tanks for fresh and grey water, plus a 16-liter (4.2-gallon) tank for waste.
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Under the hood lies a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, which delivers 145 hp (108 kW / 147 PS) and 375 Nm (277 lb-ft) of torque. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic, while the fuel tank has a capacity of 80 lt (21 gallons).
Finally, it has a towing capacity of 2,800 kg (6,173 lbs), which will come in handy for those who have boats or bikes to haul.
What Does the Campervan Cost?
Which brings us to price, arguably the most compelling aspect of the Deliver 9 campervan. LDV has priced it from AU$89,990 (the equivalent of US$58,700 at current exchange rates) drive-away. That, according to the company, significantly undercuts “similarly-sized camper vans by thousands of dollars.”
For context, the VW Crafter Kampervan starts at AU$157,990 (US$102,700) before on-road costs. Once those are factored in, it’s more than double the drive-away price of LDV’s offering.
Dinesh Chinnappa, General Manager of LDV Australia, said interest in campervans has grown steadily as more Australians choose to “explore the great outdoors on their own terms, their own timetable – and in their own vehicle.”
He described the Deliver 9 as a ready-made solution, “decked out with everything you need for a getaway – ready to go, straight off the showroom floor,” and added that LDV sees it as a way to help “expand an emerging market segment.”
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Thanos Pappas, a product design engineer by trade, has been wading through automotive journalism for… Read full bio

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