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Another carmaker has stepped back to pause and consider what its future in Australia looks like.Fiat has announced it has stopped importing passenger vehicles into Australia, as it assess what its future line-up may look like.It wasn’t an extensive model range, with the Italian marque only selling the electric Fiat 500e and its sporty twin, the Abarth 500e.The company will continue to import and sell its range of commercial vehicles.It is understood this isn't the end for Fiat cars in Australia, but a break to work out the models in its line-up that would best suit.“As part of Stellantis Australia's ongoing portfolio and product planning process, the availability of specific models can vary over time as we assess market demand and future product opportunities. We remain focused on ensuring the vehicles we bring to Australia meet customers’ expectations,” said a company spokesperson. “Following Stellantis' recent confirmation of Fiat as one of its core global brands, we are excited by the opportunities the brand presents for the future. “Fiat 500e and Abarth 500e stock in Australia has now largely been sold through and, at this stage, we are not planning additional orders while we evaluate future product opportunities for the local market. “We continue to support our Fiat and Abarth customers and dealer network and look forward to sharing more information about Fiat's and Abarth’s future plans in Australia at the appropriate time.”Fiat has only sold 144 vehicles through the first six months of this year in Australia, which is down 30 per cent compared to the same period last year.Its range of commercial vehicles is faring better, and sold 139 in June alone.Fiat has an expanding range of SUVs overseas, including the Grande Panda and Grizzly. These models are both electrified and better suited to Australian tastes.Peugeot, which is also owned by Stellantis, also closed up shop in Australia earlier this month.The French brand’s local distributor, Inchcape, handed back the keys to its selling rights and there is no immediate taker to pick up where they left off.The writing was on the wall for Peugeot after a string of tough years that culminated in 373 sales through the first five months of this year, which was down 35 per cent compared to the same period last year.This follows a circa-29 per cent drop in 2025, and losing a quarter of sales in 2024.

Details of Chinese carmaking giant GWM’s upcoming ‘next-size-up’ Ora 7 sportback-style wagon have finally emerged, just after the pure-electric Ora 5 compact SUV launched in Australia.Displayed as a production-ready ‘concept’ at last year’s Shanghai motor show, filings with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) have filled out the technical picture for the new BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle).To be named Ora Lightning Cat in its home market, it’s likely the mid-size five-seater will replace the existing Porsche Panamera ‘inspired’ coupe-style sedan version of the car.Measuring just over 4.8m long, a little more than 1.8m wide and around 1.5m tall with a 2870mm wheelbase, the new Ora 7 is in the same size ballpark as medium BEV sedans, including the BYD Seal, Kia EV4 and Mazda 6e. The new wagon will be offered with a choice of 58.3kWh and 68.9kWh NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) battery packs across single-motor, front-wheel drive and dual-motor, all-wheel drive variants. The current Ora 07 sedan uses LFP (Lithium iron Phosphate) batteries. A 150kW/340Nm motor on the front axle is used on two FWD versions, which is joined by a second 160kW unit at the rear for a combined 300kW/680Nm on the flagship AWD.Range claim for the base FWD version is 560km (to the more lenient CLTC - China Light-duty vehicle Test Cycle protocol), with a large-battery long-range FWD variant expanding that number to 630km and the heavier dual-motor AWD using the same pack coming in at 535km.Three tyre sizes are quoted - 225/50R18 (FWD standard), 235/50R18 (FWD long range) and 235/45R19 (AWD).And it’s interesting to note the concept version’s flush door handles have been swapped for traditional pull-out units in the production car in line with the Chinese MIIT’s ban on new vehicles models with flush handles applying for approval starting January 1, 2027.If the newcomer was to land here it will have to match or better that previously-mentioned EV sedan trio on price - BYD Seal (from $49,888), Kia EV4 (from $49,990) and Mazda 6e ($49,990), all prices before on-road costs.CarsGuide contacted GWM Australia for comment on the new Ora 7 wagon’s potential for local sale and a spokesperson told us, "Our current focus is on the Ora 5 platform and the opportunities to expand that range."As confirmed at the recent Ora 5 launch, a touring/wagon variant is already on the roadmap which we feel would be more aligned to Australian market requirements," they said.

Honda has renewed its partnership with GAC in China, after months of speculation it would pull out of the agreement when its original 30 year contract ended.The GAC/Honda joint-venture in China has struggled for market share, even amongst other foreign partnerships. With the rise of China’s automakers such as BYD, Geely and SAIC, not to mention even smaller players XPeng and Xiaomi soaking up domestic market share, even once-successful joint venture players such as Volkswagen (the longest serving and most successful of all) are faltering.Nikkei Asia reports Honda’s market share in China has fallen 60 per cent last year, with GAC Honda specifically fallen to 340,000 units. While that might seem enormous given the brand’s mere 15,383 unit tally in Australia last year, it makes it a relative minnow in the enormous Chinese market, where annual sales for the biggest brands are frequently measured in the millions.Honda has renewed its agreement with the Chinese giant for a further 10 years, a Honda spokesperson told Nikkei Asia.“We’ve made this decision in order to assess the business environment,” the spokesperson said.An executive from one of the JV’s suppliers told the outlet, "this is Honda sending a message that it won't give up on China".It is notable the Honda/GAC operation currently has less joint-venture models than most rivals, and only one purely electric model in a market, which is demanding more zero-emissions options.GAC Honda currently sells the Honda Breeze (a re-styled CR-V), ageing Avancier coupe SUV, and a sedan Integra (not related to the coupe sold in Australia) all as unique combustion models, while also selling Chinese domestic versions of the Accord, Odyssey, and HR-V (as the Vezel).The only electric car the JV sells is the P7 mid-size SUV in an EV-hungry market, while the Dongfeng joint venture sells its own version, dubbed the S7, and the more affordable e:NS2 crossover. Despite showing several concept models at Chinese motor shows in previous years, new and more desirable models are yet to materialise in the fast-moving market.Even GAC’s joint venture with Toyota was significantly more successful last year, moving around 756,000 units, with popular JV models including the bZ3X, which shares its platform with the GAC Aion V.The bZ3X has since become available in right-hand drive form for Hong Kong. Toyota Australia hasn’t ruled the China-built model out for our market either, given it will need to sell more electric vehicles in the near future to comply with the strict new vehicle emissions standards (NVES), which closes the vice on hybrid models before long.As for Honda using the sought-after ‘China Speed’ manufacturing for more cost-effective export models, it is only just testing the waters resurrecting the Insight nameplate for a version of the China-built e:NS2 from its Dongfeng venture sold in Japan.Meanwhile rivals are forging ahead with Chinese partnerships for export, with Kia and Hyundai already selling the Chinese-built EV5 and Elexio in Australia respectively, and Nissan announcing its intention to make its Dongfeng joint-venture models like the Frontier Pro PHEV ute and NX8 large SUV available globally.

A Chinese brand rivalry is heating up in Australia.Chery Group is one of the largest growing carmakers in Australia but it is now facing competition from within its own ranks. Omoda Jaecoo has burst onto the Australian car scene with its Jaecoo J5 small electric SUV, which claimed the best-selling small SUV title for May 2026. It even outsold the Chery Tiggo 4, which is the best-selling SUV so far this year.The Tiggo 4 starts from $23,990 (drive-away), making it the cheapest in its segment. The J5 EV carries on this budget mantra, starting from $36,990 (drive-away).This makes it much cheaper than many of its legacy rivals like the Hyundai Kona Electric ($54,000, before on-road costs). A petrol J5 has just gone on sale and a hybrid is on the way, bringing Omoda Jaecoo’s important model into direct competition with the Tiggo 4. The petrol variant is priced from $25,990 (drive-away), making it $2000 more than the Tiggo 4, but it is marketed as a more premium version of its closely-related sibling.Omoda Jaecoo by Australian Chief Commercial Officer Roy Munoz emphasised the importance of the J5, describing it at the brand's 'hero' model.Munoz said the Chery Group brands need each other to be successful in Australia, but rivalry still exists between them.“There’ll always be competition,” he told CarsGuide.  “We can’t win them all. They can’t win them all, but together we can win a big share of the market.“So as long as we’re still both up there, that’ll keep everyone happy.”The Chery Group rivalry will heat up further in the coming months with the arrival of Lepas that will debut in Australia with its L6 electric mid-size SUV. Lepas will be joined by Freelander and iCaur from 2027 as the Chery Group sub-brand collection grows. Chery Group subsidiary Jetour has also been confirmed for Australia, but it will operate under its own steam as opposed to forming part of what has already been established Down Under. 

Australians are rushing to get their hands on this new car tech, but it might not be the environmental saviour it is claimed to be.Plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs as they are also called, are claimed to be a bridge between conventional petrol and hybrid vehicles and battery-powered electric vehicles.They combine a small petrol engine with a decent-sized battery and an electric motor, which provides some fully electric driving capabilities without the range anxiety of EVs and much lower overall claimed fuel use and CO2 emissions.Australians have bought more than 54,000 of them in the first six months of this year, which is 111 per cent more than in the same period 2025.The problem is they need to be used in a very specific way to achieve their claimsPolestar Australia boss Scott Maynard previously labelled the technology the “worst of both worlds”.“You've got all of the complexity of jamming an electrical drivetrain into an engine bay that's already got a petrol or a diesel engine in it. You're still burning fuel. You've still got to dispose of the whole thing. It's not a green solution.“It's not a clean solution at all, but it's a marketable one,” he said.New research commissioned by the Swiss government has laid bare the issues.A new study funded by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and conducted by Empa - the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology - showed why fuel use is always higher than claimed.The study pointed to people needing to be very disciplined with charging the car to gain the full advantage, otherwise they pollute significantly more than they claim.Study author Miriam Elser said if the vehicle is not charged regularly then they are just driving a much heavier petrol-powered car.“Due to the additional weight of the battery and electric motor, consumption can even be higher than with a comparable conventional gasoline engine," she said.The smaller petrol engine is also underpowered compared to most other purely petrol-powered cars, which means it needs to work even harder to shift that weight. This is a perfect storm for skyrocketing fuel use.Empa’s laboratory tests examined 12 current plug-in hybrid vehicles across a range of temperatures and driving profiles."This enabled us to distinguish for the first time between the influence of cold weather, heating, and driving style on the electric share and combustion engine operation," said Elser.The results were clear: under real-world conditions the efficiency advantage of plug-in hybrids is largely lost. The study revealed low temperatures, the heating and dynamic driving significantly reduce the electric range. The internal-combustion engine kicks in earlier and more frequently, and fuel consumption as well as CO2 and pollutant emissions increase, in some cases significantly.Elser called for a better balance between battery and engine size and overall vehicle weight.This flies in the face of the huge range of plug-in hybrids coming out of China, which are usually large SUVs with batteries measuring 40kWh or more.  There is also a growing number of plug-in hybrid utes, which are big, heavy and are required to tow and carry a load that would greatly reduce their efficiency.The study does state if used properly they can greatly reduce emissions compared to purely petrol-powered vehicles.

It's official. XPeng has taken over exclusive distribution of its cars in Australia. Former distributor True EV has been forced to permanently shut the doors to its glamorous Sydney showroom in Mascot.True EV also confirmed XPeng Australia is now the sole distributor of XPeng cars in Australia, as part of a statement on its website.True EV blamed a lack of vehicle supply for the showroom’s demise. True EV said it has continued to fulfil customer parts orders and is committed to assisting customers where possible through this transition. XPeng Australia will now bear responsibility for servicing and customer support, according to True EV.True EV said XPeng will also take charge of all cashback offers and promotional offers.The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported earlier this month customers who purchased XPeng cars from True EV in 2026 hadn't received $5000 cashback offers promised.XPeng has not officially confirmed it will honour these cashback agreements in lieu of True EV, but it will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. A spokesperson for XPeng Australia said it would work to resolve issues for affected customers. XPeng told True EV it was removing its exclusive rights to distributing vehicles in January 2026.True EV began Federal Court legal proceedings against XPeng soon after, alleging the car maker had breached its distributor agreement. XPeng claims True EV ordered and paid for less than a third of the obligatory orders targets, and has not proceeded with an order in more than 12 months. True EVs distribution arm went into external administration in Australia in March, with financiers Helios appointing receivers to extract nearly 200 cars. The company's interlocutory injunction application to prevent XPeng starting its own operation in Australia was denied earlier this year. The trial will begin in October. XPeng Australia recently unveiled an updated version of its G6 electric mid-size SUV that will hit new factory-backed showrooms imminently.XPeng is plotting to bring more models to Australia.An X9 people mover will join the G6, with a GX luxury SUV also on the horizon.XPeng's Mona L03 and L05 SUVs were spotted undergoing testing Down Under recently.A long-wheelbase G9 large SUV has also been spied in Australia as it gears up for a global launch.

Hyundai’s much anticipated new off-road flagship SUV, as previewed by the Boulder concept in New York earlier this year, has appeared in patent documents in India.The filing, which provides no additional detail on the model, appears to iterate on the design of the original concept. It shows what appear to be more functional headlights and wing mirrors, physical door handles that didn’t appear on the concept, tweaked designs for the window profile, new black plastic overfenders and a re-designed bumper.Other new details from the single low-resolution image include control arms for the front suspension previously not seen on the concept, as well as a roof platform.The SUV maintains its blocky profile and huge wheel and tyre package, which appears to offer ultra-aggressive approach and departure angles as well as a very high ground clearance.It is unclear at this stage whether the design application filed with the Indian intellectual property office is a later stage concept, or a preview of the eventual production model.As it stands, the changes between this filing and the concept appear to move it much closer to production specifications, while adopting the bar-style LED light designs as seen on other upcoming Hyundai models like the Ioniq V, which is about to launch in China, and the upcoming next-generation Avante (i30) sedan.The Boulder SUV is expected to share its next-generation body-on-frame underpinnings with the also much-speculated-upon Hyundai ute, which will be a bespoke proposition from the Kia Tasman from its sister brand.As to what we can expect to power this dual-pronged expedition into the hotly contested 4WD space, the brand has said multiple times before that it is working on new range-extender hybrid technology, which will have the new off-roaders drive the wheels via electric motors, while having an engine on board serving only as a generator.Hyundai’s local CEO Don Romano previously told CarsGuide this EREV technology is “option number one” for the company’s upcoming ute.He also said there was a lot of considerations for the new product, including difficulties over where it will be built (as a potentially US-first product, it may be built there, which brings up cost competitiveness issues for the Australian market). It may also be built somewhere in the Asia Pacific region for markets in the eastern hemisphere. Hyundai currently has facilities in Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, on top of its home factories in South Korea.Romano also told CarsGuide the ute model at least may take longer than expected, saying the brand would rather “get it right than fast.”By 2030 is currently the expectation, according to the brand.Having both a ute and an SUV as well as hybrid tech from the outset would certainly give Hyundai a unique selling point over the currently diesel-only Kia Tasman.It also has the luxury of monitoring the success of the ute from its sister brand in our market, as well as a growing range of Chinese hybrid off-roaders headed to Australia between now and 2030.The smash-hit BYD Shark, which introduced plug-in hybrid tech to the dual-cab space will soon be joined by an array of rivals, including from storied brands like Nissan, which is expected to launch its highly anticipated Chinese joint-venture Frontier Pro (also known as the Navara Pro in some markets) as a plug-in hybrid in 2027.

Volkswagen has confirmed a battery size for its smallest EV will bring a new entry price with order books already open overseas.The 2027 VW ID.Polo brings a new 37kWh battery as an option, available in its base model Trend for as little as 24,995 euros (A$40,900). From 29,195 euros (A$47,760), it can also be had in higher specifications like Life and Style.The move by the German manufacturer is almost certainly an addition to retain sales in the lower-budget end of the market, where Chinese manufacturers have been increasingly popular despite EU tariffs on new Chinese cars.VW claims the new battery size provides enough driving range, 334km under WLTP testing, for daily use, and can be charged from 10-80 per cent in 23 minutes. Charging speed tops out at 90kW with a powerful enough DC charger.It’s also available in versions of the ID.Polo with either 85kW or 99kW, and is set to launch just weeks after the larger battery version with a 52kW unit.The ID.Polo is yet to be confirmed for Australia, but Volkswagen’s local arm has been considering similar models like the ID.Cross small electric SUV for some time now.The ID.4, ID.5, ID.Buzz and e-Transporter are the only EVs the brand currently offers locally.While there’s no guarantee the ID.Polo will land in Australia any time soon, its larger 52kWh battery would likely be more popular, with trim levels probably similar to the Trend, Life and Style versions available in Germany.The announcement comes as rumours of a significant model-cull circle the Wolfsburg brand alongside its continued mass-reduction in employee numbers around the world.

Australia’s newest car brand is edging towards an official launch. Lifestyle-focused Chery sub-brand Lepas will hit showrooms with its L6 electric mid-size SUV in November. The brand confirmed the car has now completed an extensive local testing and adaptation program.Engineers have put the L6 through thousands of kilometres of driving, including hot- and cold-weather testing.They also focused on fine-tuning the advanced driver assistance systems and software integration to identify Australian road markings, signage and traffic environments.The L6 will land Down Under on a delayed schedule, having been previously slated for a mid-year launch. Lepas has not revealed pricing for its first model, but expect it to be available from a competitive price-point.It is likely to sit above the very popular Jaecoo J5 electric small SUV that starts from $36,990, drive-away. The mid-size SUV segment is the most popular part of the Australian market, so the L6 will face fierce competition from its rivals. It will take on everything from budget offerings like the BYD Atto 3 and Geely EX5 to more premium-pitched alternatives such as the Zeekr 7X, depending on the variant. The L6 is powered by a single electric motor, producing 160kW and 275Nm.It has a 67kWh battery, with a total driving range of 450km, according to WLTP standards. Lepas will feature a different design to other Chery Group cars, and will appeal to a different buyer, according to the brand. The L6’s interior shows off a more rounded look, with curved and flowing elements as well as two-tone trim materials. It is expected to get the same 13.2-inch central touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital driver display as on the Jaecoo J5. There will be a plug-in hybrid version of the L6 coming to Aussie shores next year. Lepas is also planning to introduce an L4 small electric SUV and L8 large plug-in hybrid SUV in 2027.

General Motors Speciality Vehicles (GMSV) has updated the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pick-up, giving it more payload capacity than ever before.From August 1, all locally converted versions of the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium will offer 942kg of payload, which is an increase of 194kg over the pre-update version.Meanwhile the Silverado 1500 ZR2 will offer 922kg of payload, which is an increase of 209kg over the pre-update version.With this payload increase, it sees the gross vehicle mass (GVM) increase from 3300kg to 3505kg. This sees it move from a NA (light goods vehicle) to NB1 (medium goods vehicle) certification.This reclassification means the Silverado 1500 will be exempt from the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), at least for the time being.Vehicles with a GVM between 3500kg and 3855kg are exempt from the NVES until June 30, 2027.This comes as General Motors (encompassing Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC) was the brand with the fifth-highest penalties last year as it missed the CO2 emissions target.It’s currently on the hook for fines up to $6.59 million unless it can sell more vehicles under the targets in successive years, or purchase credits from carmakers under the targets.Another reason why this move from NA to NB1 vehicle classification for the Silverado 1500 is timely is it sidesteps a newly introduced Australian Design Rule (ADR), which mandates that all new vehicles on sale in Australia from August 1, 2026, must have autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection.However, the Silverado 1500 is already equipped with this active safety technology.Other tweaks with this update include black badging and lettering on the exterior, plus the Z71 off-road suspension with Rancho shocks branding in the LTZ Premium has been replaced by off-road suspension with twin-tube dampers.Power across the line-up still comes from a 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine that produces 313kW and 624Nm. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with drive sent through a four-wheel drive system with full-time capabilities.The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 line-up now starts at $135,990, before on-road costs, for the 1500 LTZ Premium and $147,490, before on-road costs, for the ZR2. This is a $1000 price rise when compared to the pre-update model.All versions of the Silverado 1500 continue to be produced in Mexico and then remanufactured from left- to right-hand drive by Walkinshaw in Melbourne, Victoria.Walkinshaw also converts the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, Toyota Tundra, as well as the Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 from left- to right-hand drive at its facility.