Car News

Volvo is reportedly working on a next-generation version of its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology and it’s understood it will be applied to a series of vehicles. While it’s virtually guaranteed that this new Volvo PHEV system will make its way into a number of SUVs, new information indicates that it may power a successor to the S60 sedan. Tentatively dubbed the S70, a heavily camouflaged prototype has been spied in China. It’s understood to be based on the Lynk & Co 10. Official details are few and far between for now, but it’s understood it could be revealed before the end of 2026 and may initially be for the Chinese market, like the XC70 SUV. Based on this, digital artist Sugar Design has whipped up some renders of this forthcoming PHEV sedan. The digital renders of the forthcoming, so-called Volvo S70 show it has some design similarities with the XC70 PHEV SUV. There’s a faux front grille, large diamond-cut alloy wheels, flush door handles, as well as an elliptical tail-light design. Another notable design point is the LiDAR mounted on the roof which indicates that the car may have some level of semi-autonomous driving capabilities. No renders of the interior have been made yet, however a spied prototype showed it will have a central roller and button cluster like the new XC70, EX60 and ES90. At this stage we’ve only seen a sedan version of this forthcoming Volvo, however Sugar Design has mocked up what a wagon counterpart would look like. Tentatively dubbed the V70, it looks virtually identical to the S70 renders, but has a longer roofline, as well as a more upright tailgate and tail-lights that look more like the XC70. It’s unclear whether Volvo actually intends to produce a wagon version of the forthcoming S70. If it does, it could be a successor to the V60 which was axed during 2025. No official details about what may power the Volvo S70 and V70 have been confirmed yet, however PHEV power is likely. Given reports have indicated that the Lynk & Co 10 may form the basis of these cars, this potentially points to what may be on offer. The Lynk & Co 10 is powered by a PHEV set-up combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors. Total system output is 390kW. The electric motors are fed by either an 18.4kWh or 38.2kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, allowing up to 100km or 192km of CLTC claimed electric range, respectively. It’s understood that the forthcoming Volvo S70 sedan could be revealed before the end of 2026. Like the Volvo XC70, it’s expected the S70 will likely be aimed primarily at the Chinese market where sedans are still popular. However, export markets may be on the cards. While the S70 seems closer to production reality, it’s unclear whether Volvo actually plans to produce a wagon counterpart. No spied prototypes have been caught yet. If Volvo does plan to launch a new electrified sedan and wagon, the pair would form as successors to the S60 and V60.

The new Nissan Patrol Y63 has given Aussie 4WD buyers some serious thinking to do.  Nissan recently revealed pricing and key specifications for the new-generation Patrol. There are some huge changes for the Patrol in 2026, but Nissan has done its best to trump the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series. So, how does it shape up to its sparring partner on the numbers? 2026 pricing (before on-road costs) Pricing is pretty close, with both models skirting on the edge of the $100,000 mark to start, despite the Patrol being about $2500 more expensive than its outgoing V8 sibling.  The Patrol undercuts the LandCruiser across the range, with Nissan’s 4WD kicking off from $350 less. The biggest gap comes in the sport-focused variants, where the Patrol Pro-4 X is more than $10,000 cheaper compared to the GR Sport grade of the LandCruiser.  Hybrid LandCruisers are the most expensive, with a near $11,000 gap on the most expensive Patrol variant.   This round goes to the Patrol, but there might not be much in it for buyers on base price. Nissan made the big decision to ditch its much-loved naturally-aspirated 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine for a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 unit. The good news is the Patrol’s petrol V6 boasts even more power than the V8, producing 317kW, compared to 298kW on the outgoing model.  This blows the LandCruiser 300’s twin-turbo diesel V6 engine out of the water on power because it only produces 227kW. It's debatable how much difference this will make in the real world as torque often proves more important for 4WDs when it comes to off-roading and towing capacity. Both the Patrol and LandCruiser 300 pack 700Nm in a dead heat. The LandCruiser 300 Series Hybrid edges the Patrol, making 341kW and 790Nm, although it does come at a price premium as covered above.  The Patrol’s engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, while the LandCruiser 300 uses a 10-speed unit.  Nissan claims its new Patrol can tow 3700kg, which is 200kg more than the industry standard and what is offered for its Toyota rival.  Nissan has not revealed the fuel efficiency of the Patrol, so it cannot be compared with the LandCruiser 300's 8.9L/100km.  The Patrol’s fuel tank is 13L smaller than the LandCruiser 300, and is a noticeable step down on the Y62 model, impacting how far it can travel between fill-ups. Fuel efficiency will be an important point to compare, especially with fuel prices continuing to surge. The Y62 returned claimed fuel consumption of more than 14L/100km, so the Y63 will need to offer a substantial improvement to remain competitive. The Patrol trumps in power numbers and has superior lugging capacity, so it is the winner on the figures for now. The Patrol features much of the equipment and interior luxuries available on the LandCruiser 300 as standard. All variants are equipped with a joint 12.3-inch central touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital driver display. By contrast, buyers need to upgrade to higher grades of the LandCruiser to receive a 12.3-inch digital driver display.  The Patrol also rides on 18-inch wheels as standard, compared to the LandCruiser 300's 17-inch examples. The Patrol edges the LandCruiser 300 when it comes to standard equipment, but there’s not much in it again. Nissan’s 10-year/300,000 conditional warranty is hard to go past, but services must be completed at an authorised Nissan dealership to be eligible.  Toyota offers a similar deal, adding an extra two years of warranty for the car’s engine and driveline when serviced at dealerships.  Nissan offers capped price servicing at $499 per visit for the first five appointments, working out roughly $2000 less than the LandCruiser over its first five years.  Without authorised dealer servicing, the Patrol’s warranty reverts to a five-year/unlimited kilometre promise, which matches the LandCruiser’s standard one. Nissan’s stacks up a better deal than Toyota’s seven-year engine and driveline alternative, and it’s also cheaper. If buyers don’t opt for capped price servicing, the pair can’t be separated.   Nissan has put forward a compelling proposition for its Y63 Patrol.  It’s cheaper, more powerful and better equipped as standard than the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.  The Patrol’s real test will be whether it can match the LandCruiser’s reliability record, but a 10-year/300,000km conditional warranty shows Nissan is backing its 4WD to do the business.  Only time will tell whether the Patrol can provide a serious threat to Toyota’s iconic name.  It’s undeniable it's already doing so on paper. 

Plug-in hybrids aren’t the future - they’re the present. That’s the view of one car company leader, which is backed up by new car sales data from the first half of the year.  Audi Australia Director Jeff Mannering believes the time is right for plug-in hybrids (PHEV) to take over from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. It has started already, with Mannering pointing to the latest A5 Avant, with the PHEV accounting for 85 per cent of all sales of the wagon. “ So the consumers answered your question,” Mannering told CarsGuide. “They're actually moving to that car because it’s a better customer outcome.”  Industry-wide, PHEV sales are up 118 per cent in the first half of 2026 with more than 64,000 sold. Unsurprisingly, and despite Audi’s positivity, it is the Chinese brands leading the way. BYD, Chery, GWM and Geely lead the way in terms of PHEV volume sold. BYD has the three best-selling PHEV models - the Shark 6 ute followed by the Sealion 8 and Sealion 6 SUVs.  Mannering is also seeing a change at the top end of the market. Audi Australia has also achieved price parity between its latest Q5 ICE and PHEV models, showing the closing gap between the two technologies. Mannering admitted the petrol-engined Q5 is likely to be dropped in the near-future, as it no longer makes as much sense to customers when you can by a more powerful but more efficient PHEV for the same money. One of the primary reasons for this is the impact of the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES), which has pushed car makers to offer more affordable low emissions vehicles, like PHEVs and electric vehicles (EVs). “ Yeah and that's why we fought for the price parity, and it was with NVES because we, as a brand, want to be NVES compliant because we don't want to be in a position of paying fines; it's not a great look,” Mannering said. “And we've got our directive to be compliant, and currently, because the levels go down it will automatically change. Now, what happens in the next five years with the government, who lobbies the government on if there's any changes to, what the level is, will determine the mix of all the segments or the mix of the powertrains.” Audi will also continue to push its EV offerings, with the refreshed Q4 SUV to launch in Australia in September.

Three new cut-price challengers are on the way to hunt down some of Australia’s favourite dual-cab utes. These newcomers pack some enticing gear with plug-in hybrid power, rugged off-road capability and likely sharp prices in their arsenal to put Ford Ranger, BYD Shark 6 and Toyota HiLux on the menu. Success isn’t guaranteed. Some recent big names such as the Kia Tasman and MG U9 have failed to fire, but these three have a red hot chance. The Chery Stockman is due to arrive at the end of this year, and is the first ute to pack a diesel plug-in hybrid set-up. The Stockman combines a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine with an electric motor to deliver 350kW and 800Nm to all four wheels. It can drive up to 100km under electric-only power, but this is calculated via the more lenient NEDC test cycle. Expect closer to 80km when tested to the benchmark WLTP protocol. This combo will be ideal for off-roading and load-lugging, two areas plug-in hybrid workhorses often struggle with. It will have a 750kg unbraked and 3500kg braked towing capacity. Chery has not revealed payload yet. Chery has also previously said it would have front, centre and rear diff locks and it should have low gearing for proper off-roading. Chery has had remarkable success in Australia thanks to its sharp pricing, expect no different from the Stockman.  This will be backed up by a rapidly expanding dealership network. It also looks mean. Watch out big boys. The Indian brand’s follow-up to the much-maligned Pik-Up has just been revealed and it is a shoe in to come to Australia, with a late 2027 arrival date likely. It is based on a new ladder frame platform, which means it'll be built for hard work. Mahindra hasn’t revealed any official details on the new ute, but it is likely it’ll share a fair bit with the rugged Scorpio SUV. This means a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, six-speed automatic and part-time four-wheel drive are likely. Inside will be plush, with plenty of hi-tech features and top-end finishes. In India it will launch with a starting price of less than 1.98 million Indian Rupee (A$29,300), which is more expensive than the Scorpio, but expect it at less than $50,000 drive-away in Australia. Nissan is going all-in on rugged 4WDs and utes in the next few years, and a big chunk of them will be sourced from China and its partner Dongfeng. The Nissan Frontier Pro ute hasn’t been confirmed for Australia, but it is highly likely the ute will arrive next year to sit alongside the recently launched new Navara. Former Nissan Oceania Managing Director Andrew Humberstone suggested to CarsGuide last year both models would be sold here. It is also believed the Frontier Pro will be called Navara Pro when it lands, following on from its recent reveal in the Philippines. It uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a transmission-mounted electric motor producing a potent 320kW and 800Nm combined. The EV-only range is around 100km WLTP. There is a chance it could spin-off an SUV, so watch out Toyota Prado and Ford Everest.

Geely’s Xiaomi SU7 rival is a smash hit in China. The Geely Galaxy TT has already had more than 20,000 pre-orders in China in its first two weeks on offer, ahead of its September 2026 launch date. The Galaxy TT is an electric coupe-style sports sedan - a segment gaining huge amounts of fanfare in China. The rival Xiaomi SU7 sold out 15,000 units in just 34 minutes earlier this year. These sedans are viewed as cheaper alternatives to the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-Tron GT, with the Galaxy TT priced from 145,900 yuan (or about $30,000).  This places it about 50,000 yuan (or roughly $10,000) cheaper than the Zeekr 007 GT wagon, which will be known as the 7GT when it arrives in Australia later this year.  Cars imported from China incur a 20 to 30 per cent increase compared to what they cost when put on sale here. Based on this., the Galaxy TT would likely be offered from less than $50,000 if it ever lands Down Under.  The Galaxy TT is 4999mm long, 1919mm wide, 1479mm high and has a 2920mm wheelbase, so it is a little bigger than a Toyota Camry. It is powered by single and dual electric motor set-ups, with the front motor pumping out 180kW, while the rear motor makes 245kW, combining for up to 425kW in total.  Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes as little as 3.8 seconds, going on to a top speed of 210km/h. Top-spec variants are equipped with a 75kWh CATL battery with up to 725 km of driving range, according to lenient CLTC testing.  Its 800-volt platform allows for a DC fast charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 12 minutes, with capacity to add 400km of range in a little over 10 minutes.  The Geely’s Galaxy TT is not the local branch's short-term schedule currently, but it has not categorically ruled out an arrival down the line.  Its early success in China could prove a catalyst for Geely to explore global expansion, including to right-hand drive markets like Australia.  Geely has slowly increased its model range in Australia, meaning we could see the Galaxy TT in local showrooms in the coming years.  

Hyundai has come out with all guns blazing at its 2026 CEO Investor Day, sharing strategy related to everything from increased global production targets, boosted manufacturing and a plan to launch more than 100 new or substantially refreshed products by 2030. Headlining the event in Seoul, Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO Jose Muñoz also confirmed Hyundai will aggressively expand into body-on-frame SUVs and pick-ups as well as other new segments to deliver a 35 per cent increase in worldwide sales to 5.55 million units across the group by 2030. Global manufacturing capacity to expand by 1.27 million units by 2030 Seven new vehicles arriving in the next eight months Electrified vehicles to represent 60 per cent of sales by the end of the decade (up from 23 per cent in 2025) The group’s first Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) models (targeting around 960km range) hitting showrooms from the first half of 2027  Genesis to launch its first hybrid, first EREV and GV90 flagship SUV, targeting 350,000 annual sales across more than 40 markets by 2030 Hyundai N performance line-up to “expand to 100,000 annual sales by 2030 and be joined by a new volume high-performance tier” Scaling Boston Dynamics robotics commercialisation to expand 10-fold by the end of the current financial year No surprise, given the current US federal administration's tariff regime, North America is set to increase production by 500,000 units over the next four years with end-part localisation rising above 80 per cent. This will be led by a new Santa Fe EREV to be built at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing facility in Alabama and followed by the push into shared ladder-frame models produced at the group’s ‘Metaplant’ in Georgia. In emphasising Hyundai’s shift towards body-on-frame SUVs and pick-ups Mr Muñoz referenced the recent Hyundai Boulder and Crater SUV concept vehicles, noting a rapidly growing customer base feeding demand for tough, off-road capable vehicles “providing a prime opportunity for Hyundai Motor, which already has an 8.4 per cent share of the highly profitable market.” Speaking with Automotive News after the formal presentation, Munoz said, “We want to develop a family of products capitalizing on platforms. “You would typically see several models derived from the same platform and will try to maximize the volume.” He confirmed ‘frame-trucks’ will account for 50 per cent of planned volume growth over the next four years, adding, “This already gives you an indication that (truck volume) is going to be significant,” although he declined to give sales estimates, saying volume will partly hinge on whether Kia or Genesis also develop vehicles based on the same ladder-frame platforms. During the main presentation Muñoz said, “Our fundamentals have never been stronger. Hyundai Motor Group is the third-largest automotive group and the second-most profitable, which gives us the ability to invest while others are pulling back.”  He confirmed many of the new product arrivals across the group will be entries into “white spaces” where the brand is underrepresented, the first newcomers arriving soon, including: Hyundai Ioniq 3 All-new Hyundai Elantra Hyundai Tucson (including hybrid) Hyundai Santa Fe EREV All-new A-segment SUV EV for India All-new global B-segment SUV All-new B-segment SUV for Europe The compact, pure-electric Hyundai Ioniq 3 EV is set to arrive in Australia in the first half of 2027, offering a maximum 496km range.

Mazda’s next-generation CX-3 is confirmed for production as soon as 2027, and is an important part of the brand’s turn-around strategy. The CX-3 is part of a wide-ranging renewal strategy for Mazda which kicked off with the latest CX-5 and China-built 6e and CX-6e. It most recently appearing in a shadowy preview in a slide deck accompanying the brand’s latest (and somewhat dire) financial figures. Now, this shadowy preview has been brought to life thanks to YouTube channel AutoYa, which frequently posts renders of upcoming new models based on available imagery. It combines the shape of the shadowy preview with the design cues of the existing Vision X Compact concept shown in 2025 to preview the new small car family, as well as including elements of the CX-6e and new CX-5. The channel has also taken the liberty to imagine the interior as a shrunken down version of the new CX-5’s interior, albeit with a smaller set of screens. What we can tell you about the CX-3 is that it will be built in Thailand (like the current model), which is an advantage for the Australian market as it will be cheaper to build and ship here and will naturally be in built in right-hand drive. It will be the first new-generation CX-3 in 12 years after a long run of facelifts and model year updates for the still-popular crossover. It will also be an important model for Mazda as it fights off newer competition, including an upcoming next-generation Hyundai Kona, and aggressive new manufacturers from China like Jaecoo with its J5 and BYD with its Atto 2. As per the brand’s current new model strategy, it is expected the new small SUV will be available in both combustion and plugless hybrid forms. It is expected to use Mazda’s new in-house SkyActiv-Z technology, as opposed to using a Toyota-sourced system like the US-market CX-50. This system will debut on the CX-5, although the company has said it is not due in Australia until 2028. By then, the lack of electrification across Mazda’s range will be causing the brand significant issues with Australia’s new vehicle efficiency laws (NVES), which impose fines on automakers whose fleet CO2 emissions are above a certain threshold. Mazda is one of the most exposed manufacturers under the new rules. It is a big part of the reason the company has been so quick to the market with its Chinese joint-venture 6e and CX-6e, and plans to offer them with very competitive pricing. Meanwhile the company told CarsGuide in 2025 that its ‘small architecture cars’ like the Mazda 2 and CX-3 would be its next priority after its CX-5 plans come to fruition. The current Mazda 2 and CX-3 are slated to continue in Australia, at least until the new CX-3 debuts in 2027. The future of the related Mazda 2 remains uncertain, although the Vision X concept shown in 2025 at Tokyo was notably a hatchback, not an SUV. In other recent news from Mazda on the small car front, reports out of Japan claim the next-generation CX-30 is set to debut in 2030, 11 years after the current and original version launched. Little is known about the upcoming CX-30 replacement, other than it is also slated to adopt SkyActiv-Z hybrid tech, and that CEO Katsuhiro Moro said the car will adopt cost-saving measures first introduced in the CX-5 for the new model to keep it price competitive.

BYD might have provided key insight into future car prices for its Aussie vehicles. Standard BYD flagship models will be priced no more than about 300,000 yuan in China (roughly $62,000), according to Chinese media. The news comes after BYD released pricing for its upcoming Da Han (or Big Han) flagship large electric sedan aimed at the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in China.  It confirmed the Da Han will wear a maximum starting price tag of 299,900 yuan (roughly $62,000), just shy of the 300,000 yuan cap.  This leaves BYD’s premium sub-brands like Denza, Fangchengbao and Yangwang room to occupy more expensive brackets.  BYD’s latest pricing insight provides a glimpse into how its Australian line-up could be priced moving forwards. An imported new car from China usually incurs a 20 to 30 per cent price rise when it goes on sale here, so the cap is more likely to be around the $80,000 mark compared to $62,000.  BYD’s most expensive model on sale right now is the range-topping variant of the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid three-row large SUV, starting from $70,990 (before on-road costs).  This is not an exact science partly because BYD sells some of its models under different sub-brands and names in Australia compared to China.  The Denza B5 is known as the Fangchengbao Bao 5 in China, while the incoming BYD M9 people mover goes by BYD Xia in its local market.  This news does demonstrate BYD’s commitment to offering its cars at affordable price points in Australia in the future.  Chery Group has a growing list of sub-brands in Australia, adopting a different strategy to BYD. It seeks to capture different buyer demographics through its sub-brands as opposed to bracketing features at higher price points.  The majority of Chery Group cars in Australia rides on the brand’s T1X platform, including the Tiggo 4, Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8.  Chery relies on its T1X architecture for its sub-brands, with the Jaecoo J5 and incoming Lepas L6 riding on an updated version of the platform.  Chery uses styling tweaks to cater for different buyers. The Tiggo 4, Jaecoo J5 and Lepas L6 all share similar set-ups with minor price differences, but each is designed to appeal to a specific lifestyle compared to a price point.

BYD has officially revealed a new ute in Brazil that’s more lifestyle-oriented than the body-on-frame Shark 6. Dubbed the BYD Mako, this new ute is based on the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV, which has a more passenger-oriented monocoque platform. This therefore makes it a rival to the likes of the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. It’ll also form as a rival to Toyota’s forthcoming Corolla Cross-based ute. Given this car was unveiled in Brazil, it seems the target market for this new ute is Latin America. It’s unclear if it will be offered in any other markets. “The Shark 6 is well accepted in this market and the lineup is pretty strong right now following the recent introduction of the Shark 6 Dynamic Cab Chassis and 2.0-litre Performance pickup. We’re pretty happy with that for now,” said a BYD Australia spokesperson. “But sure, we are always looking at what might be available, then assess whether it may fill a gap in our line-up and if there would be sufficient customer demand to make a business case work.” The BYD Mako is the Chinese carmaker’s second ute it currently offers, slotting underneath the top-selling Shark 6. According to previous reports, it features a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain marrying together a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. Total system outputs are 166kW and 400Nm. It’s understood that initial versions of the Mako will only be front-wheel drive, however it’s expected BYD will launch an all-wheel drive version at a later date. Interestingly the Mako retains a multi-link rear suspension set-up, like the Sealion 6, but it’s claimed to have reinforced springs and shock absorbers. This type of suspension set-up typically doesn’t offer as much payload as leaf-sprung utes. At this stage now payload or towing capacity figures have been detailed. The BYD Mako that was shown off in Brazil appears to still be in prototype guise. On the outside it looks rather similar to the Sealion 6, especially on the front half, but there’s a slightly different grille set-up, more aggressive roof rails and different 18-inch alloy wheels. The rear is where things make a sharp departure from the Sealion 6. There’s a large tub with a full-width LED lightbar for the tail-lights, BYD embossing on the tailgate, as well as a soft tonneau cover. Inside the prototype nature of this ute is even more prominent due to the series of kill switches, monitoring equipment and black tape to conceal design details. However, it looks virtually identical to the Sealion 6. This means there is a digital instrument cluster, 15.6-inch touchscreen multimedia system, as well as a small amount of physical buttons and switches on the centre console. At this stage BYD Australia hasn’t officially confirmed whether the Mako ute is coming to Australia. Despite this, BYD’s most senior executive recently promised a new model designed for Australia would launch during 2026. It’s unclear whether this is referring to the Mako or another vehicle. "We have another special model, just for Australian customers," Liu Xueliang, Group Vice President of BYD and General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division Liu told CarsGuide. Chief Operating Officer of BYD Australia Stephen Collins was pressed for more information, but would only say that the brand will “have more to say about that later in the year”. The larger, body-on-frame BYD Shark 6 has been a runaway sales success in Australia. So far in 2026 a total of 10,709 examples have been sold.

Australia will begin testing Artificial Intelligence intersections with traffic lights that can see you coming and change to green. The AI traffic light test will be the first of its kind and will be trialled on a small intersection in Queensland’s Moreton Bay. The system by Austrian traffic technology company SWARCO is currently in use in Denmark, and while the first Australian test is small, a larger version will start testing in Brisbane later this year. The intersection chosen for the AI traffic light test will be the junction of Paper Avenue and Moreton Parade in the suburb of Petrie in Moreton Bay. While not a tiny intersection the junction isn’t on main transport routes and will allow a fairly safe environment to see how the technology handles regular, but light traffic. The first testing in Moreton bay will start in September, 2026. In Australia currently, traffic lights work on sensors embedded in the road that detect waiting traffic and work on timers. It’s the same automated system that’s been in place since the 1970s and while it’s extremely reliable and safe, it’s also not flexible enough to respond to traffic needs.  The system being tested in Moreton Bay will use camera sensors to provide live data to intelligent software that can manage traffic flow at intersections. The AI will not only be able to see traffic, but will be able to identify all types of road users from buses, trucks and cars to motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians. The system learns how the traffic flows over the day and is important specifically for that intersection and it will react autonomously depending on the situation. This means you won’t be left waiting for a green light at an empty intersection late at night. Instead the traffic lights know it's empty and can see you approaching and flick to green to let you through so you won’t even have to stop. The same goes for pedestrians, with the system seeing you approach and ensuring a safe time for you to cross.    AI traffic lights can also recognise emergency vehicles and help clear the way for them. The test in Moreton Bay will run from September 2026 and finish in 2029, but later this year a larger $15m trial will begin in Brisbane. The Brisbane trial will encompass road corridors, not just an individual intersection. This is where AI systems become even more useful in managing traffic flow with intersections effectively all being able to communicate with each other.  Other states are also currently trialling AI but not on the same scale, with NSW testing thermal imaging and camera systems for cyclists, while LIDAR systems are also being developed to help better manage road use. Some European countries have already adopted the AI traffic systems including Denmark, while specific locations in the United States have recently started using intelligent intersections too.