Xpeng Motors Australia expects to have 66 retail locations across every state and territory by the end of 2026. The mid-size L03 SUV, priced from $41,900 before on-road costs, is due in showrooms before year's end. The company says it has processed more than 1400 customer enquiries and resolved 250 cases linked to promotional offers from its former distributor, TrueEV. Customers who bought through TrueEV and were promised offers can contact Xpeng ANZ, which says it is backing its vehicles with seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranties.
BYD's premium brand Denza says the Z9 GT electric wagon will not reach Australia until the first half of 2027. A spokesperson said the company is juggling priorities and does not want to launch simply to meet a date. Denza had earlier planned a launch in the third quarter of 2026. The Z9 GT has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 2.7 seconds and a 1036km electric range under the CLTC cycle. Pricing for the Australian market has yet to be announced.
Tesla hopes subscriptions for its Full Self-Driving software can deliver higher margins than car sales. Chief executive Elon Musk has revealed the company is exploring a merger with SpaceX that could speed up its autonomous driving push. Car sales still generate most of Tesla's revenue, and analysts say software could transform its financial model. Regulatory approval for fully autonomous driving remains a hurdle in several markets, and Chinese rivals are also pursuing autonomous technology. Some analysts warn that combining the businesses could put strong operations at risk.
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UK ministers are considering giving carmakers incentives to fit electric cars with vehicle to grid technology, which lets cars sell stored power back to the grid at peak times. The plans are part of a review of the zero-emission vehicle mandate. Campaign groups warn the credits could let carmakers sell more petrol models and raise emissions. Industry figures say the benefits should go to drivers, not manufacturers, as the technology is not yet widely used. The grid operator forecasts such cars could supply up to 41 gigawatts by 2050.
Chery and its iCaur brand are working to improve towing and load-carrying capacity for two models planned for Australia. An iCaur product manager said the V27 SUV's towing capacity of about 1.6 tonnes is not enough and will be improved, though no revised figure or timing has been announced. Chery's Stockman ute is also being developed towards a one-tonne payload, currently a preliminary 765kg. The Stockman remains scheduled to arrive in Australia in February 2027.
A future Coalition government would scrap funding for renewable energy projects, electric vehicle subsidies and social housing to pay for income tax cuts, according to leader Angus Taylor. He said the savings would add $31 billion to the federal budget bottom line, more than covering the plan to index income tax brackets to inflation. Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson said banning non-citizens from welfare and NDIS payments would add another $2 billion. Treasurer Jim Chalmers accused the opposition of not explaining how it would fund $110 billion in unfunded commitments.
Mazda has returned the 6 name on a fully electric rear-wheel drive liftback, the 6e, built in China by Changan Mazda. The reviewer found it pleasant to drive, well equipped and efficient, recording 14.5kWh per 100km over 516km. The GT model starts at $49,990 before on-road costs, undercutting the Tesla Model 3 Premium RWD at $54,900. The reviewer said the ride lacks the crispness expected from Mazda, but considered the 6e a strong rival to the Model 3.
Electric vehicle sales in Australia surged in August, with EVs capturing 24.9 per cent of the market, driven by brands like Tesla and BYD. The Kia Stonic Hybrid, priced under $30,000, competes with Chinese models, offering a mild hybrid system, improved fuel efficiency, and a seven-year warranty. The vehicle features a refreshed design, advanced safety tech, and a spacious interior. While Chinese EVs dominate sales, concerns about reliability and resale value persist, contrasting with Kia's established reputation. The Stonic Hybrid aims to balance affordability, performance, and practicality for Australian buyers.
The ACT leads the country in new electric vehicle registrations, but it scored just 2 out of 10 for freight vehicles in the EV Council's 2026 report. The council described freight trucks as the single biggest unclaimed opportunity in transport electrification. Fiona Wright said 44 per cent of new cars registered in Canberra were battery electric. An ACT Government spokesperson said work is underway to identify locations for fast charging hubs that could support freight vehicles, and pointed to a free advisory service and a rebate of up to $3300 for charging infrastructure.
Tesla has scrapped plans to produce the Cybertruck electric pickup for Australia and New Zealand. In a letter sent to customers, the company said it would refund local deposit holders and offer a free one-year Full Self Driving subscription to buyers who order a Model 3 or Model Y. The Cybertruck has been removed from Tesla's Australian website. Tesla Australia took $150 deposits from interested buyers in 2019, but reservations closed in 2022. Sales of the vehicle in the United States have fallen since deliveries began in late 2023.
Chery International president Zhang Guibing estimates that around 90 per cent of Chinese automakers are losing money. Speaking to Australian media, he warned that rising development costs will force more companies out of business. Consultancy AlixPartners says only three of 30 Chinese makers focused on new-energy vehicles were profitable in 2025. Chery Automobile still reported a net profit of 9.02 billion yuan for the first half of 2026, down 9 per cent. Its research and development spending rose 28.3 per cent over the same period.
Greater Dandenong City Council is switching its fleet to lower-emission vehicles. Mayor Sophie Tan said 76 per cent of the council's passenger cars have already been replaced with hybrid and electric models. The council has committed to replacing all cars with low-emission alternatives by 2030. Five trucks and four electric vans have been introduced, and options for larger vehicles are being investigated as they come up for replacement. Tan said the council aims to cut its overall carbon footprint to zero.
BMW has released its new 2027 X5 range, which includes an all-electric iX5 alongside mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. The iX5 offers a 144 kWh battery, with a claimed 450-mile range on the EPA test cycle, and can charge from 10 to 50 percent in a little over nine minutes at a demonstration station. The reviewer judges the electric model the best of the range. The petrol X5 40 xDrive starts at $72,100 plus a $1,450 delivery charge, while the iX5 60 xDrive starts at $79,800 plus delivery and arrives in the first quarter of 2027.
General Motors says it is still focused on electrification and autonomy despite a slowdown in US EV interest. At its GM Forward event, the company said its hands-off, eyes-off Super Cruise system will expand to nearly every vehicle, including pickup trucks and crossovers. Sterling Anderson, the company's head of product, said trust with customers is central to its plans. GM also said its new infotainment system will record dash cam video that is end-to-end encrypted, so the company cannot read it. Its new lithium manganese-rich battery chemistry is expected to cut battery costs by about 30 percent.
Changan will take over distribution of its Deepal brand in Australia from Inchcape, which will keep only the Subaru and Foton brands. The transition period runs from October 21, 2026 to March 31, 2027. Inchcape says the decision was mutually agreed and forms part of its standard portfolio management. Deepal sales, servicing and warranty programs will continue, with existing orders honoured. Changan plans to launch the Nevo and Avatr brands in Australia during 2027.
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Chery plans to bring its luxury brand Luxeed to Australia in the April to June quarter of 2027, led by the LLounge people mover. Omoda & Jaecoo International chief executive Shawn Xu confirmed the plans at the brand's global launch in China. The Stormax electric SUV will follow, though its local arrival date has not been announced. Luxeed will be separate from Huawei in Australia, and its pricing has not been revealed. The brand joins other Chery Group brands preparing to enter the market.
Tesla's net income for the latest quarter fell 44 per cent from a year earlier, to $US787 million. The electric vehicle maker's revenue was roughly flat at $US28 billion, slightly below analyst forecasts. Excluding certain items, earnings per share beat expectations. Free cash flow of $US1.5 billion surprised analysts, who had expected cash burn. Elon Musk said special committees at Tesla and SpaceX were discussing a possible combination, though many hurdles remain. Capital spending doubled to $US4.7 billion.
Tesla's net profit fell 43 per cent year on year to $787 million in the third quarter of 2026. Revenue was almost unchanged at $28 billion. Automotive revenue dropped 3 per cent to $20.6 billion, while solar and battery revenue fell 16 per cent to $2.9 billion. Services and other revenue rose by a third to $4.6 billion. Operating expenses climbed 39 per cent to $4.8 billion, lowering the operating margin to 2.6 per cent from 5.8 per cent a year earlier.
