Audi S2 Reviews

2027 is lining up as a significant year for Audi Australia, with confirmation the new-generation Q7 large SUV and its larger Q9 sibling will arrive. The ground-breaking A2 e-tron compact electric SUV is formally under evaluation, too. An Audi Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide the large SUV models are "likely next year" arrivals. “We haven't confirmed them fully.
We're still in the evaluation process for specification, line-up, variants and pricing,” the spokesperson added. Launched globally in August this year, the third-generation Q7 is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine featuring mild-hybrid support and an electric compressor in two power levels - 220kW/630Nm and 180kW/500Nm. Offered in five-, six- and seven-seat configuration in Europe, and underpinned by the brand’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, the new Q7 is longer, taller and significantly wider than the model it replaces. As its name implies, the new flagship Q9 SUV is a step up in size from the Q7. At a fraction over 5.3 metres long, 2.2m wide and 1.8m tall with a 3140mm wheelbase the German maker says it’s “the largest Audi of all time”. Available as a six- or seven-seater, it’s propelled by the same powertrain options as the new Q7, with equipment highlights including automatic doors, Audi’s “largest ever” panoramic sunroof (with switchable transparency), 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen 4D sound and 23-inch alloy rims.   The Audi spokesperson said the A2 e-tron is also under evaluation for this market. “Given what we're seeing in the market at the moment for EVs, the appetite, especially at the price point that vehicle would sit at, that's something you'd want to have here.” “A2 e-tron would be positioned to target a government EV incentive for next year. “Naturally, we see a fit within the Australian market,” the spokesperson said. Making its public debut at last month’s Paris Motor Show, the pure-electric A2 e-tron crossover-style hatch is billed as “the most efficient Audi ever built” with WLTP energy consumption of 12.8kWh/100km thanks in part to an ultra-slippery 0.24 drag coefficient. Globally the car is offered across four power levels — 125kW, 140kW, 170kW and 240kW — matched with one of three batteries: 52, 61 or 84kWh. All are rear-wheel drive, powered by a single permanently excited synchronous motor.  Tech highlights include (optional) bi-directional charging - Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) - DC fast-charging capacity of up to 183kW, Audi Assistant (with artificial intelligence) and the ‘Audi Connected Work’ suite including Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams and an AI-based Work Agent. A standard 12.8-inch curved multimedia touchscreen is paired with an 11.9-inch cockpit display and the magnetic Fidlock fastening system is included to provide “smart organisation and modular storage solutions”. Wrapping up the three-model offensive, Audi Australia Director Jeff Mannering shared a broader insight. “The strategy is to have a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and an electric option in every segment the brand competes in.” Stand by for even more Audi Australia new model news sooner rather than later.

Audi Australia sees itself as a “crash test dummy” for the brand globally in terms of how the wave of new Chinese automotive challengers entering this market is impacting the German maker’s positioning and customer base. Asked about the impact of the rapid influx of emerging nameplates from China on the new car market, Audi Australia Director Jeff Mannering told CarsGuide there are four things influencing the current dynamic. “First, the Chinese cars are coming, the reason being there are no tariffs on Chinese products and I think we’re number three or four in the world in terms of the amount of models that have come in. “I presented to the board last week and said, ‘Guys, get ready ‘cause it’s coming’. So, we’re a bit of a crash test dummy in terms of what can possibly happen in a very short period of time.” Mannering also referenced on-going conflict in the Middle East which has generated a “switch in mindset that says diesel is very expensive, petrol’s very expensive, so you get a push towards EVs and plug-in hybrids. “And with the amount of Chinese cars that have those powertrains it was a case of the stars aligning,” he said. A third factor called out by Mannering is tax reform, touching on the federal government’s EV discount policies, Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemptions and the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) scheme.  In detailing his fourth influence on the current market Mannering concedes Audi is “never going to compete on a price position with Chinese cars” but notes 70 per cent of the brand’s customers in Australia finance their purchase. “It's hard to get finance because it's negative equity in house prices because they've gone down.  “So, a lot of people have shifted to cheaper cars. I think that's part of the whole shift in the market.”  In terms of Audi Australia’s response to these factors, Mannering said, “We are always looking at our models and how do we rationalise, or do we bring different powertrains in?  “It's not as if you're saying ‘hope this goes away’, you're engaging with the whole thing.  “I think it's woken everybody up to now focus on what could possibly happen. “It's always work in progress and even if the Chinese brands weren't here, we were doing it anyway,” he said.  And the Audi board's response to Mannering’s heads up? “They are somewhat nervous because they've seen this is what can happen and we need to be faster as legacy OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). “We've been entrenched in the manufacturing of great cars and it's not just Audi, it's all the legacy brands.  “We haven’t had the greatest competition, except amongst ourselves. And now there's a whole new country that's brought these cars in and said, We're here, guys. Great. Good night,” he said. On the question of how Audi will stand apart and maintain demand in an ever more crowded market Mannering is clear. “We're always good sports about healthy competition. Being a traditional brand with 100 years of history, building amazing vehicles, I think it's that feeling you get when you drive a specific brand.  “For Audi, the amount of engineering prowess and the years of experience that go into developing a car like the RS 5, for example, shows how it makes our customers feel. “It drives like an Audi, performs like an Audi and that's why our customers buy an Audi, because it feels special. 
 “Our brand profile, very much performance-focused, we live and breathe every day. But new competitors that come keep us healthy,” he said.

Sourcing models from Audi’s two joint-venture operations in China for Australian consumption is an “active discussion” at the German brand’s local subsidiary and Ingolstadt HQ. In line with global VW Group strategy to become more competitive and increase speed to market, Audi Australia has a careful eye on the output of the Chinese ‘AUDI’ sub-brand produced in collaboration with industry giant SAIC and the more traditional ICE, hybrid and electric Audi variants it has developed with the equally imposing FAW Group. Asked whether Audi Australia was looking at the brand’s Chinese portfolio to fine-tune its offering, Director Jeff Mannering told CarsGuide, “The current joint ventures, the strategy is currently that it's done for the (Chinese) domestic market.” “But I'm sure with what's happening in the world and the speed at which they're bringing new models out, there is some discussion.” “I think it's more a group topic on where do we have any alternative options to either get more competitive or to get a little bit faster. “And it could be multiple places around the world, but China is probably the hot topic at the moment and they’ve just done the E5,” he said. The AUDI E5 Sportback is a pure-electric “executive shooting brake” which deletes Audi’s traditional four-ring logo in favour of an illuminated AUDI ‘wordmark’ designed for the Chinese market. Underpinned by the Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP), developed specifically for AUDI, it features an 800-volt architecture as well as 220kW single-motor rear-wheel drive or 579kW dual-motor quattro all-wheel drive powertrains. Measuring close to 4.9m long, just under 2.0m wide and a little under 1.5m tall, the five-door, five-seater offers up to 770km of CLTC range thanks to a 100kWh NMC battery. The flagship dual-motor quattro is claimed to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds. Also underpinned by the ADP, the AUDI E7X (the sub-brand’s first model, unveiled in May this year) is a large pure-electric SUV with system outputs of 300 to 500kW, quattro all-wheel drive and a large battery option up to 109kWh delivering over 750km of (CLTC) range. Established close to 40 years ago, FAW-Audi produces mainly long-wheelbase versions of the A3, A4, A5 and A6 sedans as well as the Q2 and Q5 SUVs. At the same time, the Chinese range includes the Q4 e-tron, plus the Q3 and Q3 Sportback. Confirming the potential for Audi’s Chinese-focused models to escape their home market, Mannering alludes to active HQ boardroom discussions. “Yeah, I'm pretty sure they would be talking about how do we get in the game,” he said.

Originally a naturally aspirated V8-powered coupe, the Audi RS5 has evolved to become a high-tech, twin-turbo V6 plug-in hybrid, now offered in sedan and Avant (wagon) form. CarsGuide was invited to the Australian launch of the new iteration in Tasmania, covering some of the best driving roads in the country as well as a session on the Symmons Plains race circuit. Strap in.

Many Aussie have bought their first ever EV in 2026 and it’s changed the new car market forever. The Iran war's impact on fuel prices is often put forward as a key reason why more people than ever are making the electric car switch, but that's not the full story. Ed Harvey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Australasian home EV charger manufacturer Evnex, told CarsGuide it was fuel security that started to sway buyers. “It flipped the argument,” Harvey said. “The fuel prices have not just really strengthened the cost-saving argument, but also I think it's the first time that people really started talking about energy security or transport security.” Range anxiety has put many buyers off EVs.  It combines a fear of running out of charge with having nowhere to charge it. Harvey said the fuel crisis brought about by the Iran war and the closing of the integral Strait of Hormuz in March 2026 started to change buyer perception. Buyers can now save as much as $3600 a year in just fuel costs by making the EV switch, according to Evnex's research, but Harvey said fuel security also started to cause anxiety with panic fuel buying leading to localised shortages. The federal government relaxed fuel standards and released reserves, while launching a $20 million “Every little bit helps” fuel conservation advertising campaign. Harvey said it was fuel availability not fuel prices that "flipped the script" for many buyers. Drivers worried about where they could fill up as opposed to where they could charge up, for the first time. “I think that really changed how people thought about energy security and our reliance on imported fossil fuels,” Harvey said. “I knew some people with petrol or diesel vehicles that were asking friends to borrow electric vehicles for the holiday period because they were nervous they might not be able to get where they needed to go.” BYD Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins told CarsGuide higher fuel prices and fuel shortages contributed to exponential EV uptake earlier in 2026. Collins described the early stages of the fuel crisis period as a “pivotal point” and an “unprecedented time”. “That March, early April period - I think it was genuinely only a four-week period where we saw a big spike in orders,” Collins said. “I think there were a lot of people that were on the cusp of buying an EV and that tipped a lot of people into ‘I’ll just make the decision now’. “It was a pretty tumultuous time, so I think there’s some truth to that.” The Electric Vehicle Council’s (EVC) 2026 ‘State of EVs’ report found buyers purchased one EV every 100 seconds in the first half of 2026. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales contributed to more than a quarter of all new car sales in the first half of the year, compared to roughly one in every 10 in the first half of 2025. Where there are competitive EV choices, buyers are making the switch, such as the mid-size SUV segment. The BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5 and Tesla Model Y have consistently featured among the best-selling cars in Australia in 2026, and have experienced unprecedented growth. There hasn’t been the same growth in some other large segments of the market, and this is because competitive EV choices are still emerging, according to Electric Vehicle Council Chair and Origin Energy E-mobility GM Chau Le. “In each of these segments, EVs are becoming competitive, but we're not quite there yet in some of the segments,” Le told CarsGuide. “We're still a bit out, but with more EV models coming in and improvement in battery technology, it's only a matter of time until we're competitive across all segments.” There are no electrified utes that reach the balance of affordability, capability and driveability that their diesel counterparts have yet. Diesel-powered utes like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux continue to be a significant component of the new car market. Once competitive electric ute choices emerge, the ute segment will likely follow a similar transformation to the rest of the new car market. New car buyers' priorities have shifted permanently, and there's nothing fuel prices or supplies can do to change it.

Audi Australia has confirmed local pricing and specification details for the German maker’s much-anticipated, fifth-generation Audi A6 Allroad, with headline news including availability of ‘electrified’ turbo-diesel and petrol hybrid models as well as a scheduled arrival in the first half of 2027. The A6 Allroad e-hybrid quattro ($127,900, before on-road costs) is an all-wheel drive, plug-in hybrid combining a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine and an electric motor integrated into its seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission for overall outputs of 270kW/500Nm. Its 20.7kWh (usable) battery is good for a combined cycle electric-only range of up to 87km (and an electric top speed of 140km/h) with 11kW AC charging capacity enabling a 0-100 per cent top-up in 2.5 hours. As its name implies, the A6 Allroad TDI quattro ($137,900, BOC) is also all-wheel drive, this time a mild-hybrid powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine supported by a belt-driven alternator/starter/generator and electrically-powered compressor for outputs of 220kW/580Nm. In launching the new-from-the-ground-up Allroad Audi said this is “more than $10,000 in additional standard equipment compared with its predecessor”, the standard equipment list for both variants including: S line interior Nappa leather sport front seats Leather sport steering wheel Matt brushed shift paddles Aluminium inlays Stainless steel pedals Black headlining Electrically-adjustable front seats (heated/ventilated/massage) Four-zone climate control Dynamic ambient lighting Panoramic glass roof (with switchable transparency) 11.9-inch ‘virtual cockpit’ instrument display 14.5-inch OLED multimedia display 10.9-inch front passenger display Head-up display  Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto  Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System (16-speaker/685 watts) Matrix LED headlights OLED tail-lights 20-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels (e-hybrid 21-inch) Equipment for home and public AC charging And standard safety includes: Adaptive cruise control Active lane assist Autonomous emergency braking Front cross-traffic assist Front and rear turn assist Side assist Rear cross-traffic assist Lane departure warning  360-degree camera view Park assist plus Speed sign recognition Front dash camera Nine airbags (including front centre bag) Tyre pressure monitoring. The new Allroad is 84mm wider than the previous model with adaptive air suspension offering a height adjustment range of 55 millimetres.  In dynamic mode, the Allroad lowers 20 millimetres “to support stability and handling” and offroad and offroad+ modes raise the suspension by 15 millimetres “with revised damping and traction control characteristics designed to improve capability on uneven or low-grip surfaces.” An additional 35mm lift is available at speeds up to 35 km/h for even more extreme terrain. Standard all-wheel steering sees the rear wheels turn up to five degrees in the opposite direction to the fronts at slow speeds reducing the turning circle by almost a metre to 11.4 metres.  At higher speeds, the rear wheels can turn up to two degrees in the same direction as the fronts for added stability. Introducing the new Allroad Audi Australia A6 Product Manager Peter Strudwicke said, “The Audi A6 Allroad has always occupied a distinctive position in our portfolio, combining the practicality of an Avant (wagon) with the confidence and capability of quattro all-wheel drive.” “The introduction of the e-hybrid is significant for our market. Together with the advanced V6 TDI, it gives customers two compelling interpretations of the Allroad, while delivering the performance and refinement they expect from Audi,” he said. 2026 Audi A6 Allroad option pricing:

Petrol- and diesel-powered cars are back on the agenda in Europe. France and Germany are brokering a deal to see the European Union will walk back from its 100 per cent CO2 emissions reduction target, opting for a 90 per cent reduction instead, according to a report in Auto News. The old rules would have completely phased out petrol- and diesel-powered cars by 2035, but the EU has changed its tune. The EU is expected to also remove any offset requirements for the remaining 10 per cent that would have required carmakers to pursue expensive low-carbon steel or alternative fuels. This news means European carmakers will continue to build internal combustion cars for the foreseeable future. Rumours of the EU rolling back its emissions targets started in 2025, when multiple reports speculated the ground-breaking ban was in doubt. President of the European Parliament’s biggest party, the EPP, Manfred Weber told German newspaper Bild in December 2025, the 2035 plans were “off the table”. Weber said that “there will also be no 100% target from 2040 onwards”, ruling out a complete combustion engine ban in the future. The rules have come under extensive scrutiny from key stakeholders, including German giant Mercedes-Benz. Chief Executive Officer Ola Kallenius criticised the inclusion of offsets as part of the rules in March 2026, with offsets now all-but officially ruled out. “I know the market for green steel and how unrealistic those expectations are,” Kallenius said. He also said the rules could trigger a collapse in demand and distort the market. New cars sold that emit high levels of CO2 incur fines for brands under Australia's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). By contrast, brands earn credits for cars that emit no CO2. The federal government has no plans to ditch NVES and is targeting five million EVs on Aussie roads by 2035, but some carmakers have criticised the rules. Ford Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley said regulations like NVES force carmakers to build cars to satisfy the rules, not buyers. “What we’ve seen around the world with this kind of pressure on pure EVs is that ultimately all OEMs develop compliance vehicles,” Farley said. “They’re not designed for customers. They’re designed for the OEM to be compliant and they’re subsidised by the OEMs and the customers have great choice. “That’s not a natural market and over time that winds up not being sustainable. “Something your government, or any government, has to be very sensitive to around the CO2 glide path. We want to reduce our CO2 footprint, but there’s a level that the customer can’t afford, and not all duty cycles can be electrified.” The NVES regulator handed down the inaugural 2025 performance period for NVES in early 2026. Mazda accrued over 500,000 emissions debits, which was the most of any brand, while Nissan and Subaru rounded out the top three. The regulator will release details of the 2026 performance period in February 2027, before the rules get even tougher in years to come. Some hybrid models will start to incur fines under the scheme, while utes will also come under scrutiny.

There is plenty of affordable Chinese car choice for buyers in Australia, and we’ve just learnt why. Chinese brands can build an EV for $11,000 less than European legacy automakers, according to a report in AutoNews.  Manufacturers aren’t just winning on price, they’re winning on speed as well.  Chinese automakers develop cars more than two times faster than their European rivals. These advantages are seeing Chinese manufacturers surge up the sales charts globally, and there’s more than 100 EV models on sale in Australia.  Chinese carmakers can build and sell cars faster.  European carmakers take up to five years to bring a new model to market, while Chinese rivals can do it in only two years.   When these models do finally hit the market, they aren’t as prolific as Chinese ones, with less than a third of sales from vehicles introduced in the past three years.  New Chinese models account for up to 100 per cent of a brand’s sales within the first two years by contrast.  These factors have contributed to European car brands’ pre-tax profit dropping from 13.2 per cent in 2021 to 6.9 per cent in 2025, which in turn limits their ability to innovate.  The European Union has resorted to hefty tariffs on Chinese EVs coming into the region to protect its car industry, but it’s not stopping buyers choosing them.  These brands have now started building their cars in Europe to avoid tariffs, while taking advantage of under-utilised European automaker factories.  Consultancy firm AlixPartners told AutoNews the way Chinese brands are operating in Europe has fundamentally reset consumer expectations on price and technology. “A gradual response isn’t an option,” AlixPartners co-head of automotive for Germany, Austria and Switzerland Xing Zhou said.  “Manufacturers need to restructure, support their suppliers and move faster on technology partnerships than most have been prepared to do so far.” European carmakers need to aim for two-year development cycles and lean into artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce costs and increase production and development speed, according to the firm.  “The window to act from a position of financial strength is closing, and closing faster than most boardrooms and governments assume,” global co-leader for automotive and industrial practice at AlixPartners Andrew Bergbaum said.

Hybrid power is now mainstream for Aussie buyers.   It's an important choice for buyers transitioning from petrol- and diesel-powered cars to full EVs. Hybrid-powered cars are also important for brands as they seeks alternatives to internal combustion cars that incur fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). There are broad categories of hybrid cars in Australia, and each one has its own benefits for buyers. Here's a look at what hybrids are available, and which one might suit you best. Mild hybrid power is the first stage of electrification for cars. Mild hybrid cars can't drive on EV power alone, because they only use a small, low-voltage battery (usually) 48-volt, with a less than 1kWh capacity. The electric motor usual powers certain electrical features and the starter motor. They don't need to be charged, but they also don't offer noticeably better fuel efficiency than standard petrol- and diesel-powered cars. The popular Toyota HiLux ute is available with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, while Suzuki and Renault offer mild hybrid set-ups on some of their models. Conventional hybrid, plug-less hybrid or self-charging hybrid cars are popular in Australia. The engine works seamlessly with a bigger electric motor to maximise fuel efficiency. A conventional hybrid usually runs on electric-only power at low speeds or for short distances when cruising at higher speeds. The engine will kick in at higher speeds or when more power is needed, blending petrol and electric power. This makes fuels efficiency in urban environments or star-stop traffic better than what a petrol- or diesel-powered car would achieve. The battery in a conventional hybrid is charged by the engine and from regenerative braking, meaning the car doesn't need to be plugged in. The conventional hybrid car's battery is smaller than those in plug-in hybrid and fully-electric cars, and still requires a petrol engine to run. Toyota provides conventional hybrid set-ups on the vast majority of its Australian line-up, including its RAV4 SUV and Camry sedan. Other popular brands Kia, Hyundai and others also have affordable conventional hybrid variants on its popular models. Plug-in hybrids or PHEVs take hybrid power to the next level because they are equipped with a much larger battery and a more powerful electric motor set-up. PHEVs have a long electric-only driving range, with some capable of exceeding 200km, before the engine is needed to drive the wheels. Most new PHEVs have an EV range of at least 100km. This means daily commuters will rarely have to fill-up on fuel if they charge the battery every night. PHEVs also boast significant combined driving range as they have a regular sized fuel tank to power the engine, resulting in ranges of north of 1000km before the fuel tank and battery are depleted. Carmakers often claim PHEVs drink less than 2.0L/100km of fuel, but that requires owners to constantly charge their batteries and never let it deplete. Once the battery is depleted fuel use will skyrocket, as the small engine has to move around a heavy vehicle weighed down by the battery and electric motors. PHEVs suit a buyer with access to charging facilities, who also want outstanding fuel efficiency. Bigger Chinese vehicles usually employ PHEV set-ups, including the BYD Shark 6 ute and incoming Zeekr 8X and 9X. Range-extender hybrids, also known as Range Extender Electric Vehicle (REEV) or Extended-Range Electric vehicle (EREV), are gaining popularity globally. They are feature similar hardware to PHEVs, but work in a different way. The engine in a REEV's is used as a generator for charging the battery, and the wheels are driven by the electric motor, or motors, only. REEV's have an EV-sized battery that can also be plugged in to charge, giving these cars a driving range comfortably exceeding 1000km. Leapmotor's B10 and C10 SUVs use REEV set-ups in Australia, but the incoming Forthing Taikon 5 and the XPeng L03 will also employ the set-up when they hit showrooms. Nissan’s ‘e-Power’ hybrid system in the X-Trail and Qashqai SUVs employ REEV tech on a smaller scale, using the engine to power a small battery that powers the wheels, but this battery cannot be plugged in to charge.

If you’re an EV buyer in 2026, you need to know about this.  The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has revealed the state of play for electric and plug-in hybrid cars in Australia in 2026.  This is the 10th year of the ‘State of EVs’ report as more buyers bought EVs than ever before Down Under.  The report analysed the 2025-26 financial year, and how buyer trends and infrastructure, among other things, have changed in that time.  It called for several policy reforms, including targeted equity-based policy to assist economically-disadvantaged Aussies reap the benefits of EV driving. Australia’s charging landscape is diverse, it is also complex and fragmented and needs major investment, according to the report.  In June 2026, there were 4268 public charging locations, which is 235 per cent more than June 2025 There were 11,602 public charge points in June 2026, up 175 per cent compared to June 2025 The EVC said there needs to be more research into how owners charge EVs and where they need them most.  “Australia still needs substantial public charging investment, but the task is not as simple as just installing more fast chargers,” the report reads.   “Most charging happens where vehicles already park—at homes, apartment buildings, workplaces, destinations, kerbsides and depots.” The report calls for a nationally-coordinated charging roadmap and scaled infrastructure deployment. This news comes after NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury told CarsGuide in December 2025 Australia’s charging infrastructure was lagging behind.  “We’re nowhere near. We’ve got nowhere near enough public charging,” NRMA spokesperson Khoury said.  “There are lots of areas that don’t have energy that comes from outside the energy grid so you’ve got to create energy sources at those locations.” The EVC is calling for the government to implement a range of new rules in Australia.  It wants a targeted equity-based policy to help all Australians use EVs and take advantage of the cost savings with EV adoption. The report states that EVs have lower running costs than petrol- and diesel-powered cars, with less maintenance, seeing a typical driver saving roughly $3000 per year.  The EVC said this figure did not include the substantial increases to fuel prices in 2026, with savings calculated today even higher.  It said the federal government needs to implement an updated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) for cars sold beyond 2029 to align with 2035 emissions reduction targets.  NVES is a set of emissions rules that imposes fines on cars sold that emit high levels of CO2 into the atmosphere.  Developing a car takes a brand several years to complete, meaning carmakers need to know the rules these models will need to follow. It also said there should be a national road-user charge that does not deter EV uptake. This would differ from the current system proposed by the New South Wales government from 2027 that the EVC said would slow EV sales. The New South Wales government wants a road user charge to make up for lost fuel excise revenue and ensure all road users contribute to maintenance.  The EVC found a fully-electric or PHEV car was bought every 100 seconds on average in the first half of 2026, with one in four new car sales using an electric powertrain. The report reads cost-of-living pressures, soaring fuel prices and greater EV choice has contributed to a sharp increase in electric car uptake in 2026.  Fully-electric and PHEV sales accounted for 25.8 per cent of new car sales up to June 2026, increasing from 12.1 per cent up to June 2025 There are 196 combined full EV and PHEV models on sale, compared to 153 models in 2025 There were 157,957 electric and PHEV sales in H1 2026, up 177 per cent from H1 2025 Australia’s EV uptake is now in line with the global average, according to the International Energy Agency “So, at a time when fuel prices are fluctuating and cost-of-living continues to bite, it’s no surprise that EVs have become a popular choice,” the report states.  “As of June 2026, drivers have never had a greater choice of EVs in Australia.” Australia recently got its new cheapest electric car in the BYD Atto 1 that is being offered from $19,990 (drive-away) until December, 15 2026.