Car News

BYD is exporting its budget electric car formula globally. The brand has its sights on affordable EV markets in Europe and other markets, with technology from its Racco kei car forming the basis, according to a report in Nikkei Asia. The Racco launched in July 2026 as BYD’s first attempt to break into Japan's very popular kei car segment, and its already got strong early demand. Kei cars are common in Japan, representing an affordable and practical electric car option for compact roads with limited parking room. BYD is looking to adapt the Racco's efficient ‘X-Pack’ battery unit to tackle Europe’s new M1E mini-car segment in the next few years. The Chinese carmaker will avoid pricey development costs by adopting the Racco's technology for the new European segment.The X-Pack is made up of key electrical parts integrated into a single battery unit fitted under the car’s floor to make the unit more compact. The up to 36kWh Blade battery boasts a quoted driving range of 320km, making the Racco the first kei car with a driving range exceeding 300km. It also features 100kW fast charging, with an estimated 10 to 80 per cent charge time of roughly 20 minutes. This efficient and practical set-up makes it perfect for buyers seeking a cheap electric car for urban driving.The European Union’s ‘M1E’ electric car classification requires cars to be less than 4.2m long (compared to 3.4m with Japanese kei cars). Carmakers who build models under M1E could be eligible for subsidies, with the EU eager to combat imported competition with locally built cheap EVs.Chinese carmakers have been plagued in Europe by tariffs on imported vehicles, as the EU seeks to address alleged foreign government subsidies pricing out local brands. BYD is planning to open a manufacturing plant in Hungary before the end of the year, so building its new mini-car there could make sense.The BYD Racco was effectively ruled out for Australia by the brand’s executives, because it was solely built for the Japanese market. Kei cars usually don’t comply with Australian Design Rules (ADRs).The Racco would require extensive reengineering to achieve adequate side-impact crash protection and rectify other safety concerns.The Honda Super-One is sold in Australia, spawning out of the N-One kei car to become substantially longer, wider and taller than its sibling.It also incurs a noticeable price hike on its smaller Japanese-only inspiration, demonstrating the prohibitive nature of conversion for budget-focused manufacturers.  It is expected cars built under the M1E classification will be valid under ADRs here because Europe and Australia derive design rules from similar principles. This could open the door for a European-built BYD mini-car to hit Aussie showrooms in the future. It would need to be built in right-hand drive and satisfy the business case to be a sufficiently cheap competitor Down Under.

Hyundai now fully owns one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robot makers - Boston Dynamics - but don’t expect to be able to buy a Hyundai robot friend soon.In June United States robotics company Boston Dynamics became 100 per cent owned by Hyundai Motor Group after it bought SoftBank’s remaining 9.65 per cent share.Boston Dynamics has long been developing advanced robotics and you’d absolutely know its work.There’s Spot the robot guard dog, which can eerily open doors with its disturbing ‘mouth hand’ and runaround autonomously armed with sensors that can detect and identify intruders.But it’s Atlas, the humanoid robot, which is the company’s flagship. Atlas is 1.9m tall, weighs 90kg and is a fully-electric AI-powered robot that can lift enormously heavy objects, run and even dance.There’s nothing worse than a dancing robot. I don’t know about you, but a robot that can instantly do something humans spend their life trying to master is worrying. But I digress.  The Softbank buyout now means Hyundai can do whatever it wants with the Boston Dynamics company, including mass production and commercialisation of the robots. And that’s exactly what Hyundai plans to do, but don’t expect your next Hyundai Santa Fe to come with its own robot, not unless one has escaped the factory where the cars are made.See, Hyundai’s plan is to replace its human workforce in its car production factories with robots. Yes, robots are already used in areas like spray painting and transporting parts around plants, but in Hyundai’s case it will be large scale and in roles currently performed by humans.In the US, where Hyundai and sister company Kia build several models, 25,000 humanoid robots will be deployed starting in 2028.This will be just the start.Hyundai hopes to mass produce up to 30,000 robots per year and will see deployment to all its factories.When Hyundai first bought a controlling 80 per cent stake in Boston Dynamics in 2021 I interviewed executives at Hyundai’s HQ in Korea asking them why the car company needed a robot company. The answer was a typically general response.“Hyundai Motor Group strategically aims to transform itself from a conventional automobile manufacturer to a Smart Mobility Solution Provider,” we were told by Hyundai’s HQ.“To propel this transformation, the Group has invested substantially in the development of future technologies, including robots, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence (AI), Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and smart factories. The Group considers robotics as one of the most important pillars to transform into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider.”What Hyundai didn’t tell me was that the best thing about humanoid robots is that it means you don’t have to change your current factory design which is set up for humans.Hyundai says the robots will first start in the US at its Georgia factory in 2028, and then Kia’s Georgia plant in 2029.Hyundai says its robot roll-out will take place in phases with the first being centred on logistics and parts sequencing, before moving onto a second phase which will be more complex jobs such as assembly.The plan doesn’t begin and end with the US. Hyundai wants to deploy robots to all its factories and as you can imagine this hasn’t gone down well with workers who fear they will lose their jobs.The powerful Korean Metal Workers Union has 180,000 members and last week voted to strike over the threat of a robot workforce."We are concerned about job security because of robots," a union member told the Financial Times. "News reports and videos showing robots becoming more dexterous make workers nervous about the future."The union has demanded that no robot will be allowed on the factory floor without its approval and a tentative agreement between Hyundai Motor Group and the union had been drawn up with the details currently being finalised.Hyundai has argued robots were necessary, citing Korea's aging workforce and shrinking labour market. The unions argue something quite different, and say wages and other working agreements aren't being met.n a statement in January this year Hyundai said it would be “partnering humans with co-working robots”.  “Robots designed to assist and collaborate with people starting from manufacturing environments, performing hazardous and dangerous, as well as repetitive tasks,” the statement reads.I think we’ll look back on statements like this in a decade to come and wonder if we really believed it at the time, because of course robots will take over almost all duties in a factory completely. We’ve seen AI replace hundreds of thousands of people in the tech industry and I think we’d be naive to think AI robotics won’t move into physically demanding roles once performed by humans.The loss of knowledge and skills possessed by humans is bad but more importantly people need jobs in order to feed their families and, you know, actually live.But who am I kidding, Henry Ford probably would have replaced his human workforce overnight if there were humanoid robots in 1913.Besides, so much of a vehicle’s production is already done through automation from welding to spray painting. It’s only in the final assembly process that humans are involved to a much greater degree due to the small spaces and dexterity needed to install wiring and to put the interior together.But this will likely be taken over in a decade or so by robots who can carry out these duties just as well.Quality control at car plants is currently 100 per cent done by humans, but again... this could change, too.And just to be fair, the rise of humanoid robots in car manufacturing isn’t just a Hyundai thing, it’s an entire auto industry thing. It is also just a tiny part of global robotics and AI phenomenon that will affect all areas of business and our lives.I find it all worrying, especially as a parent of kids who are thinking about jobs and careers. Perhaps human-made will have a resurgence and we'll value anything created by people even more?

Nissan’s decades old rivalry with the Toyota LandCruiser has been reignited and has hit DEFCON 1.The new Y63 Nissan Patrol will arrive in Australia at the start of 2027 after a two-and-a-half-year wait since its reveal.Now the Japanese brand has confirmed prices and confirmed its beefed-up six-tier Patrol range.Customers can now put down a deposit for a specific grade with their local dealer. Nissan hasn’t set a deposit amount as it will be up to the specific dealer, but expect something in the range of $500-$1000.The big news? Nissan’s Patrol is cheaper, more powerful and better equipped than the equivalent Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.The Ti grade kicks things off at $98,990 (before on-road costs), which is $2450 more expensive than the base Y62 Patrol grade. It is also $350 cheaper than the base LandCruiser GX. Full pricing table below.The Patrol continues to undercut the equivalent LandCruiser throughout its line-up, with the new-to-Australia off-road-focused Pro-4X grade severely cheaper than the LandCruiser GR Sport.The only other carry-over grade from the Y62 range is the Ti-L, which is about $14,000 more expensive than before but is complemented by the cheaper new Ti+ grade.It’s old news now, but the outgoing Patrol’s V8 petrol engine is no more. In its place is a twin-turbo 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine that makes 317kW and 700Nm. This is matched to a nine-speed auto, and a full time 4WD set-up that has low and high gears.The Patrol has an electronic locking rear differential and eight different drive modes.All grades also have some hi-tech off-roading features such as an invisible bonnet view, which gives drivers an idea of what is beneath them as they cross rough terrain.Nissan also promotes a scavenger oil pump, which helps keep lubrication on steep or off-camber climbs.Nissan has confirmed towing capacity is 3700kg, and trailer blind spot warning is fitted standard across the range. Higher grades build on the towing prowess with trailer docking support and electric brake controller.Payload, fuel use and details won’t be known until closer to the vehicle’s launch date.The addition of the Pro-4X grade also puts into doubt the potential for a locally tuned Warrior version.The Pro-4X is the brand’s new off-road hero with adaptive air suspension and auto damper control that reads the road ahead and adjusts suspension accordingly.It has all-terrain tyres, unique front bumper, trailer docking support and electric trailer brake controller.There is no locally tuned Patrol Warrior grade for now, with the brand stating it is actively investigating a Warrior, but it wouldn’t commit to the rugged 4WD.One of Nissan’s biggest selling points over the LandCruiser is its service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km, compared to six months or 10,000km. Nissan charges $499 per visit for the first five scheduled workshop appointments, which costs about $2000 less than the LandCruiser over the first five years.Nissan also backs its cars with a 10 year/300,000km conditional warranty, which requires owners to service their vehicle at a Nissan dealership or it reverts to a five year/unlimited km guarantee.All grades come with dual 12.3-inch displays, one for the multimedia the other for the driver’s instruments, Google built-in, which includes Google Maps, and Gemini AI assistant that can control certain car functions.The base Ti grade has:18-inch alloy wheels 360-degree cameraThree-zone climate controlSynthetic leather seats and leather Synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheelStepping up to the Ti+ gets you:Panoramic sunroofPrivacy glassPower tailgateRoof railsRain-sensing wipersDigital rear-view mirrorTi-L buyers can expect all that and more, including:14.3-inch dual screens12-speaker Klipsch stereoHead-up displayIntelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper) suspension, which continuously adjusts suspension to driving and road conditions20-inch alloy wheelsRotating view 360-degree cameraTi-L+ grade adds:Leather and synthetic leather seat upholsteryHeated and ventilated front seatsMassage driver’s seatHeated steering wheelCentre console cool boxBiometric Cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filterMulti-colour ambient interior illuminationPro-4X builds on the Ti-L grade with:Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper)20-inch black-painted alloy wheelsAll-terrain tyresPRO-4X unique off-road front bumper fasciaCentre console cool boxHeated and ventilated front row seatsHeated steering wheelTrailer docking supportElectric trailer brake controllerBiometric Cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filterRange-topping Ti-L Reserve boasts the Ti-L+’s kit and:Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper)22-inch step-machined alloy wheelsTrailer docking supportElectric trailer brake controllerDual 12.8-inch second-row entertainment screensDriver and front passenger massage seats

Audi has introduced a series of updates for model year 2026 (MY26) to the A5 and S5 liftback and wagon, as well as the Q5 and Q6 e-tron SUVs.All models now receive physical scroll wheels on the steering wheel with haptic feedback. These replace the touch-sensitive sliders.Additionally there’s a new-generation multimedia software with new digital instrument cluster views and enhanced functionality thanks to an app store, upgraded USBs, as well as the capability to connect to headsets and game controllers via bluetooth.On the safety front, all MY26 Audi A5, S5, Q5 and Q6 e-tron variants receive a new long-range radar, as well as the inclusion of active lane-keep assist and a lane-change assist. Audi claims this has been optimised for Australian conditions.Audi S5 variants also receive a new ‘dynamic plus’ drive mode that allows for controlled oversteering by altering the stability control, torque distribution, brake torque vectoring, and the engine and transmission calibration.The S5 also receives a factory-fitted dashcam, as well as enhanced parking features including trained parking, a reverse assistant, kerb protection and a car wash mode.The 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen is now added via the optional Premium package for the A5 e-hybrid. It was previously a standalone optional extra.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi A5/S5 line-up is as follows:A5 Sedan e-hybrid quattro 270kW S line: $89,900A5 Sedan TFSI 150kW S line: $81,127A5 Avant e-hybrid quattro 270kW S line: $92,818A5 Sedan TFSI quattro 200kW S line: $89,827A5 Avant TFSI quattro 200kW S line: $92,827S5 Sedan: $116,827S5 Avant: $119,827After an initial batch of MY25 Q5 e-hybrid plug-in hybrid (PHEV) examples arriving in Australia, supply of the updated MY26 examples are now fully on tap.The Q5 is still available in TFSI 150kW, TDI 150kW quattro, TFSI 200kW quattro, e-hybrid 270kW, as well as the flagship SQ5 variants. Both SUV and Sportback ‘coupe’ SUV body styles remain on offer.Beyond the new multimedia and active safety updates, the optional 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen has been moved from the Tech Pro to the Premium package.Additionally, the Tech Pro package gains additional parking functions like trained parking, a reverse assistant, kerb protection and a car wash mode.A dashcam now comes standard on SQ5 variants.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi Q5/SQ5 line-up is as follows:Q5 SUV TFSI 150kW: $83,627Q5 Sportback TFSI 150kW: $87,127Q5 SUV TDI 150kW quattro: $89,727Q5 SUV TDI 150kW quattro sport: $96,227Q5 SUV e-hybrid 270kW: $98,018Q5 SUV TFSI 200kW quattro sport: $98,027Q5 Sportback TDI 150kW quattro sport: $99,727Q5 Sportback TFSI 200kW quattro sport: $101,527SQ5 SUV sport: $110,027SQ5 Sportback sport: $113,527SQ5 SUV: $126,027SQ5 Sportback: $129,527For MY26 Audi has discontinued the mid-spec Q6 e-tron Performance trim, leaving only the entry-level Q6 e-tron and flagship SQ6 e-tron variants. Both are offered in SUV and Sportback ‘coupe’ SUV body styles.Range is claimed to have been "optimised" for all variants, plus there’s "optimised" regenerative braking, the addition of one-pedal driving, as well as additional charging information.The entry-level Q6 e-tron trims now get frequency selective comfort suspension as standard. This car previously had passive dampers.A dashcam comes as standard on all variants, plus there are additional modes for the augmented reality head-up display.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi Q6 e-tron/SQ6 e-tron line-up is as follows:Q6 e-tron SUV: $101,017Q6 e-tron Sportback: $101,017SQ6 e-tron SUV: $152,517.81SQ6 e-tron Sportback: $157,517

This family favourite three-row SUV has been given some serious off-roading credentials in Australia. The Hyundai Palisade will be available in a new XRT Pro grade from next month.It starts from $79,900 (before on-road costs), making it $3400 more expensive than the base variant, but $10,000-plus cheaper than the range-topping example.This off-road ready variant could provide the Palisade an edge for buyers over the popular Toyota Kluger three-row SUV.The Palisade XRT Pro still features a car-based chassis, but its upgrades bring it closer to the rugged ladder frame Ford Everest 4WD ($58,990). The new variant is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 207kW and 422Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.This differs from other Palisade variants that are also equipped with a 2.5-litre engine but have a conventional plugless hybrid set-up and six-speed auto, making a combined 245kW and 460Nm.The Palisade XRT Pro comes with a factory-fitted towbar. When fitted with the towing accessory kit, it boasts a braked towing capacity of 2200kg, up from 2000kg as standard.It has XRT-specific 18-inch alloy wheels and a distinct metallic grille, along with blacked out and 'XRT Pro' detailing.Hyundai said the debuting XRT Pro grade adds genuine off-road capability, with focused hardware and other physical components geared for rugged activities.It features an electric limited-slip differential (e-LSD), dedicated off-road displays and a ground-view monitor.It also has improved approach and departure angles compared to the standard Palisade, with ground clearance up to 212mm from 187mm. The car has been given a specialist 4WD-tuned suspension in addition to the Aussie-specific set-up on other variants.It has separate mud, sand and snow terrain modes designed to help tackle different challenges.The new variant is slated to arrive in dealerships from September. 

Chinese car maker Geely says it’s about to smash the 5.5-minute electric car charging time record with a battery breakthrough, but there’s a catch.Geely has announced it has developed a 1000V electric architecture for its vehicles which will allow charging from 10-80 per cent in less than 5.5 minutes, as it chases BYD and its advanced 'flash charging' technology.EV batteries can only charge as quickly as the vehicles electrical components will allow it to. Currently the standard is 400V and you'll find this in vehicles such as Tesla's Model Y and Toyota's bZ4X. Some car makers offer higher voltage systems with up to 800V architecture such as in the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Zeekr 7X.Think of voltage like water pressure, the higher the voltage the quicker charge can be added to a battery with less current. Of course all of the pipes (electrical hardware) need to be upgraded to handle the pressure.Currently the limit is about 900V but BYD and Geely are racing to get to 1000V and beyond.Nobody likes to wait, and right now the long EV charging times are one of the main barriers for consumers looking at buying an electric car.The race is on to bring EV charging down to the same time it takes to fill up the tank of a petrol or diesel vehicle which is approximately two minutes using a standard service station fuel pump and 65L tank.Geely says its 1000V electrical architecture will allow cars to top-up from 10-80 percent in under 5.5 minutes. That’s a record for the industry. Currently BYD is the title holder with its flash charging technology which it claims can fill from 10-70 percent in five minutes.Sure, it’s not quite the two minutes it takes to fill up with petrol, but with both brands in this quick-charging dogfight it won’t be long before one of them, or another brand (Chery perhaps) is claiming the achievement.The catch is that achieving these record fast changing times requires more than just the car with 1000V architecture and EV owners already know what we’re talking about - the charger itself.Geely is beginning to roll out 1500kW chargers in China and it’s only by using these ultra fast chargers with the 1000V architecture that these cars can achieve the claimed charging times.Typically in Australia public fastest chargers range from 50kW-350kW with 400kW now also appearing.Even in China 1500kW chargers aren’t at very common and filling at under 5.5 minutes is not going to be accessible to everyone. Geely appears to be future-proofing its cars to ensure their cars can take advantage when the infrastructure arrives.  Currently in Australia Geely uses 400V architecture in the EX5 mid-sized SUV but it also owns Zeekr and the 7X mid-sized electric SUV has an 800V system.According to Zeekr the 7X will fill from 10-80 percent in 13 minutes if a 400kW charger is used.

Volkswagen has used this year’s Peon Festival, Brazil’s largest agricultural fair to unveil a camouflaged version of its all-new South American Amarok, pointing to a long-suspected under-the-skin connection to Chinese giant SAIC’s Maxus Interstellar X, MG U9 and LDV Terron 9 dual cab ute siblings.SAIC Volkswagen is one of the longest established automotive joint ventures in China and has clearly played a significant role in the development of the new pick-up which replaces the 16-year old original ‘2H’ series-based Amarok, still in production in Argentina for the South American market. The outgoing ute was last facelifted in 2024.At the high-profile preview Volkswagen said, “The presentation of the new Amarok is part of (its) pickup truck offensive strategy in Brazil and South America, a region that is playing an increasingly important role in the development of the brand's new generation of pickups, with active participation in design, engineering, testing, and validation.“South America is no longer just a consumer market; it’s helping to define the future of Volkswagen pickups,” it said.Despite its heavy camouflage wrap, the new dual cab bears an obvious resemblance to the Maxus, MG and LDV utes, specifically its bluff, squared-off nose, high bonnet and broad C-pillar panels.If the Latin Amarok adopts the MG/LDV’s powertrains in base versions it will likely centre on a variation of their 163kW/520Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission and 4WD systems. That said, VW has said the new-generation model will also be electrified, supporting earlier reporting from Motor1 Brazil on a plug-in hybrid Amarok 800 TSI version expected to produce around 350kW/800Nm. Rear suspension will likely lean towards the Maxus and MG’s independent set-up rather than the LDV’s leaf-spring, live axle arrangement.Interestingly, Motor1 Brazil has also quoted internal sources confirming the ‘Atacama Project’, a three-row, seven-seat SUV version of the Latin Amarok.Commenting on the upcoming Amarok, Volkswagen South America Executive Chairman Alexander Seitz said, “The future Amarok is being developed based on the needs of South American customers, for one of the most demanding environments in the world.”With the new Amarok’s release scheduled for the second quarter of 2027, Volkswagen is investing over A$800 million in its General Pacheco plant in Buenos Aires, the Amarok production hub for Latin America and Mexico which has just reached the 800,000 unit milestone.Of that total, more than 465,000 units were exported to more than 100 markets.Could Australia be one of them in future?Aside from the no right-hand drive factor VW has already played down that idea, saying in a statement, “While the new Amarok will be developed in South America and produced for the local markets, the existing partnerships for the production of the Amarok in South Africa will remain in place.”The (NF) Amarok currently sold in Australia was developed in parallel with the T6.2 Ford Ranger and is built in South Africa. VW positions it as a premium vehicle for global consumption.

Ram Trucks Australia has confirmed the return of the 1500 TRX muscle truck to the local market, this time around in SRT form, powered by an “uprated” 580kW (777hp) version of the 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8.Due to hit local showrooms in the first half of 2027, Ram said initial production allocations of the Ram 1500 TRX SRT will be limited, at the same time confirming “several hundred customers” in Australia attempted to place pre-orders on hearing the news in January this year that the performance pick-up was returning to the US market.Ram said technical specs and standard features for the MY27 Ram 1500 TRX SRT will be announced closer to local showroom arrivals.For reference, in US-spec this beast sends 580kW (+57kW) and 922Nm (+40Nm) to all four wheels via an eight-speed auto transmission, complete with sequential manual shifting.0-100km/h in 3.6 secondsWith the help of launch control the 3.0-tonne-plus beast storms from 0-60mph in a claimed 3.5 seconds, which would translate to 0-100km/h in a jaw-dropping 3.6 seconds.The Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shock absorber system is also onboard to “continuously adapt to speed, throttle position, braking, torque, steering angle and more”.Initially arriving here in mid-2022, close to 1000 examples of the first-generation Ram 1500 TRX were sold in Australia and New Zealand, finishing with a 130-unit Final Edition in 2025.Revived by Ram CEO Tim KuniskisThe Ram 1500 TRX SRT was revived by Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis for the North American market in the context of a broader change in business focus for the brand’s parent company, Stellantis.A renewed emphasis on North America is a clear rebalancing of the corporate scales by Stellantis Group CEO Antonio Filosa, with former chief Carlos Tavares widely perceived to have favoured the group’s European brands including Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Fiat, Opel and Peugeot, with his successor Filosa now leaning into its US nameplates - Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram.In fact, Kuniskis is on the record with the goal of making Ram “number two in trucks” in the USA by the end of the decade.Ram Trucks Australia said it has been working closely with Ram Trucks USA to secure the updated TRX for Australia and New Zealand since its North American return was confirmed.Passion for the TRX in AustraliaRam Trucks Australia General Manager Jeff Barber said, “We know there is a lot of passion for the TRX in Australia, which is why we have worked hard to secure production out of the US for our market.“Supply of the new TRX will initially be restricted because demand is off the charts in the US, however the factory has been incredibly supportive of the Australian market and we are pleased to confirm the TRX is coming back,” he said.Pricing is confirmed with a 15 per cent increase over the previous standard model, which was pitched at $224,950, before on-road costs (Final Edition $249,950, BOC).Ram 1500 TRX SRT (MY27) pricingAvailable colours are: Bright WhiteDiamond BlackForged BlueMolten RedSerrano GreenSpitfire Orange 

BYD's answer to the Kia Carnival is coming to Australia.The BYD M9 plug-in hybrid is due to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year as a new electrified people mover option for buyers.The M9 will directly tackle the conventional hybrid- and diesel-powered Kia Carnival ($54,560, before on-road costs), sporting very similar dimensions.The M9 is BYD’s second people mover put on sale in Australia, following the arrival of the Denza D9 from the brand’s luxury division earlier this year.The M9 name comes from BYD’s Chinese ride-sharing and taxi services sub-brand Linghui.It also shares its underpinnings with the luxury-focused Xia DM-i people mover. It will be available in ‘Dynamic’ and ‘Premium’ grades, initially as a seven-seater that includes second-row captains chairs, before an eight-seater variant arrives afterwards. The front wheels are driven by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor, but BYD has not revealed output figures yet. In China the engine produces 115kW, while an electric motor adds a further 200kW. It will be equipped with either a 20.4kWh or 36.6kWh battery, offering 145km of electric-only driving range and a total range figure of 850km, according to WLTP standards. BYD confirmed the car will have DC charging capacity and vehicle-to-load capacity so devices can be powered directly from the car. Inside the car is available with heated and ventilated front and second row seats, as well as ‘near’ zero gravity adjustability. BYD has not confirmed a specific launch date, other than it will be in the fourth quarter of this year. The brand will also reveal pricing in Q4 and it is expected to be competitive with the established pack. It will certainly be cheaper than the Denza D9 starting from $95,990, while hybrid variants of the Kia Carnival kick off from $68,540. 

Chinese appliance and electronics company Dreame is abandoning its electric car business only a year after it announced it.As reported by Car News China, the automotive division of Dreame at its peak employed around 1000 people.However, over the last few months there have reportedly been a steady number of layoffs.Internal sources reportedly suggest that Dreame’s car business was more about marketing and fundraising for the brand, rather than actual manufacturing ambitions.They reportedly also claimed the company was required to secure funding before research and development (R&D) budgets were allocated.Additionally one former employee reportedly noted Dreame used high salaries and inflated titles to draw and poach talent from established carmakers."As part of a broader strategic refocus, Dreame has restructured its automotive activities and moved relevant technology, research and resources away from a standalone commercial rollout," said a Dreame Australia spokesperson."This reflects a decision to concentrate investment and resources on the areas where Dreame sees the strongest opportunities for sustainable growth and innovation."Dreame has great respect for the complexity of the automotive industry. While we remain proud of the technologies and concepts explored through the automotive program, we believe focusing our resources on our established and emerging technology categories is the right decision for the business at this stage."Dreame's global strategy is centred on four core pillars: smart home, outdoor and garden, smart mobility, and embodied AI."For Australia and New Zealand, this change does not impact Dreame's existing operations, retail partnerships or product roadmap across its core home technology categories. Our ANZ business continues to grow, and we remain committed to investing in the products, people and partnerships that have established Dreame as a leading technology brand in the region."Innovation remains fundamental to Dreame, but so does making disciplined decisions about where we focus our resources. Our priority is continuing to develop technology that delivers meaningful value to consumers and supports Dreame's long-term growth."Dreame first announced its car business back in August 2025. It had shown a single electric hypercar concept, the Nebula Next 01 concept, even in Australia.The Chinese brand had plans to launch in Australia within 12 to 18 months and it would be the first right-hand-drive market for the company.Initially Dreame was launching a “family” of electric SUVs, as well as potentially an electric passenger car (sedan or hatchback).Few official details about these Dreame EVs are known, but they were set to feature the brand’s solid-state battery technology. This would have been a world-first if it came to fruition.Dreame is a Chinese appliance and electronics company that was founded in 2017 and currently sells a range of robotic and stick vacuum cleaners, among other beauty care and technological gadgets in Australia.It’s similar to Xiaomi, which started as a technology company. However, unlike Dreame, Xiaomi actually produces cars.Dreame isn’t the first vacuum cleaner company to abandon car production plans. British vacuum cleaner company Dyson famously abandoned its plans back in 2019.With Dreame reportedly abandoning its car business, it’s now focusing on its core business lines, including vacuum cleaners, robotic lawnmowers, two-wheeled EVs, as well as its ‘Magic Atom’ robots.Despite reportedly abandoning its car business, Dreame is still planning an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong.