Articles by Samuel Irvine

ANCAP, Australia’s crash-testing authority, has awarded five-star safety ratings to the Tesla Model 3 and new Kia EV3 and MG S5 EV.

Ford has introduced a special edition variant of its popular Everest SUV dubbed the ‘Black Edition’, which delivers a suite of cosmetic tweaks.

It’s said that imitation is the best form of flattery, but at what point does it go too far?

Toyota's first plug-in hybrid model for Australia is on track to arrive locally by the first half of 2026 following the sixth-generation RAV4's reveal.

BYD is seeking to clamp down on the burgeoning range-extender electric vehicle (REEV) market by readying a new line-up of ultra long-range plug-in hybrids (PHEV).

Honda has updated its popular ZR-V SUV in the US, granting it a host of cosmetic and tech upgrades.

Gone are the days when digital gauge clusters and sweeping panoramic touchscreens were reserved for the owners of prestigious European cars like a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or a BMW 7 Series.

Honda has become the latest global automaker to revise its electrification plans by announcing it will reduce its investments in electric vehicles (EVs) and instead prioritise advancements in its hybrid technology.Japan’s second-largest carmaker said it doesn’t expect to meet its aim of having EVs account for 30 per cent of its global sales by 2030, citing uncertainty in the global car market. The brand will subsequently reduce its investment in the powertrain technology by 30 per cent to seven trillion yen (A$75 billion) by fiscal year 2031.It does see significant growth in hybrid vehicles, with the brand targeting a 2.2 million hybrid sales by 2030, which would equate to roughly 61 per cent of the 3.6 million sales it recorded last year.Hybrids accounted for about 23 per cent of Honda’s global sales last year.To meet this ambitious target, Honda will bring 13 new hybrid models to the market from 2027 over a four-year period, with the US, the brand’s largest market by far, flagged as its major battleground.These new models are expected to run on Honda’s current two-motor hybrid or e:HEV system, which it said will advance through a newly-developed electric AWD drive unit and weight reductions to realise the “world’s most efficient powertrain”.Honda claimed fuel economy will subsequently improve on its e:HEV models by “more than” 10 per cent over where they stand currently, suggesting a Honda Civic e:HEV LS, the brand’s most fuel-efficient model in its Australian line-up, will see its fuel consumption fall below 4.0-litres/100km.Honda said it will pursue advances in its hybrid powertrain without major additional financial investments in the technology, instead favouring cost reductions by pursuing production efficiency and the “commonisation” of more key parts and components with suppliers.Despite the reduced investment in EVs, the 0 Series electric saloon and SUV models, which were teased in concept guise earlier this year, will remain a major part of the brand’s electrification strategy and remain on track for release next year.They, along with Honda’s future hybrid models, will feature the brand’s next-generation Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which are poised to incorporate Level 3 autonomous-driving capabilities.Honda’s decision to revise its electrification plans comes following the collapse of a proposed merger with Nissan this February, which would have created the world’s second largest car brand, behind Japanese rival Toyota.Talks broke down after it was reported that Nissan did not want to be a Honda subsidiary.Nissan, which sold half a million fewer cars than Honda last year, reported a $7 billion net loss in the 12 months to March 2025, leading it to announce 20,000 job cuts and seven factory closures. Nissan has now similarly shifted its focus to more hybrid vehicles.Honda currently sells five hybrid models in Australia: Accord, Civic, CR-V, ZR-V and HR-V.The brand has sold 5331 cars as of April this year in Australia, 9.2 per cent fewer than the same period last year, in what is a small fraction of its global sales.

Last month’s new car sales data bore the much expected correction we anticipated for plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales as the Fringe Benefits Tax exemption (FBT) was formally withdrawn.Sales of PHEVs had been rallying at record levels in the months prior to their March peak as buyers sought to cash in on the lucrative tax break, which coincided with Australia's viral first plug-in hybrid ute – the BYD Shark 6 – landing on our shores.PHEV sales peaked at 6932, or a 6.2 per cent share of the new car market, in March, falling to 2601 sales, or 2.8 per cent of the total market, in April as the entire sector contracted by 18.1 per cent month-on-month.Despite the sharp drop, the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) is confident sales will recover in the months ahead. It anticipates strong long-term growth across the EV market due to the introduction of more affordable models and buyers becoming increasingly familiar with the technology.“We expect that segment of the market to bounce back given a post-FBT exemption dip was always to be expected,” said Aman Guar, Head of Legal, Policy and Advocacy at the EVC.“Once someone chooses an EV of any kind they are very unlikely to ever go back to traditional cars again. The day-to-day convenience, the pleasurable driving experience, and the cost of living benefits of EVs combine into a very attractive package and these attractions are only going to grow stronger.”But the sales decline, driven by the axing of an important government incentive, has raised questions about whether EV sales – which still benefit from the same exemption – are even more fragile than they already appear.Electric vehicles accounted for 6.6 per cent of new car sales last month, which is just 0.2 per cent more than what they accounted for in April 2024.With these fractional increases, coupled with the post-FBT shock to PHEV sales, CEO of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), Tony Weber, is less confident that continued growth in EV sales is guaranteed without long-term government support.“Subsidies remain central to the success of EV policy in many leading markets. In European markets and other markets around the world, including New Zealand, demand for electric vehicles softened when governments reduced subsidies,” said Weber.Germany, Europe's largest car market, experienced a 27.4 per cent decline in EV sales in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the country's Federal Transport Authority, as the German government phased out subsidies that granted motorists up to €4500 ($7831) and manufacturers up to €2250 ($3,915) in incentives.In New Zealand, EV sales fell a staggering 70 per cent on 2023’s numbers, according to data from the Canstar NZ, as the government similarly dropped EV subsidies and implemented road-user charges for owners.“While many EV buyers pay a premium as early adopters, consumers are generally price sensitive. There is no doubt that EV sales in Australia have been enhanced by subsidies,” said Weber.The federal government hasn’t outlined any plans to retract the FBT exemption for EVs, which provides an estimated annual savings of $4700 to buyers who finance their car through a novated lease.It has, however, said that it will review the policy in 2027 to determine whether it should remain in effect as is or be modified.The policy, alongside the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (which is designed to financially incentivise carmakers to bring lower-emissions vehicles to market), is considered integral to achieving the government’s target of EVs accounting for 50 per cent of EV sales by 2030.Rohan Martin, Chief Executive of the National Automotive Leasing & Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA), joined the FCAI in emphasising the ongoing importance of incentives and further targeted support measures, such as increased investment in EV charging infrastructure, for EV sales going forward.“The FBT exemption on BEVs remains critical as we know that there remain a number of barriers to BEV consideration and adoption in Australia and that without the right demand-side policy incentives and support in place the transition to zero emissions vehicles will be materially slower.“We anticipate continued strong growth, via the FBT exemption and novated leasing, especially in outer suburban and regional areas where EV uptake remains strongest amongst working Australian families.”

Australian manufacturing will play a small role in the production of the new Nissan Patrol Y63, the brand’s local operations has confirmed.Every global example of the highly-anticipated Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series competitor will be fitted with a final drive differential housing made at Nissan’s Australian factory in Dandenong South, Melbourne.Stamped with a Kangaroo insignia, the aluminium component houses the car’s differential, which, in simple terms, is the mechanical device that allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds."We are proud to announce that the Nissan Casting Australia Plant is producing crucial parts for the brand’s 4WD flagship, the Y63 Nissan Patrol, which is currently sold in left-hand drive global markets and will be available to order in Australia in 2026” said Andrew Humberstone, Managing Director of Nissan Oceania.“It means that the Y63 Nissan Patrol isn’t just made for Australia, but partly made in Australia as well.”Nissan’s Dandenong South Plant has been in operation since 1982 and currently employs 192 workers who produce 1.2 million parts annually, including 25 different die-cast aluminium components and six different tow bars for domestic and overseas models.Notably, the Australian facility also produced several parts for the outgoing Nissan Leaf EV, including the EV inverter water jacket cover and casing, as well as the motor's stator housing.The production facility is the last remaining of any legacy carmaker in Australia after Ford and Holden ceased local operations in 2017.In addition to the news regarding the Y63 Patrol, Nissan simultaneously announced that it has officially earned Australian Made certification, meaning that every product that leaves the brand’s local facility will now carry the green and gold Kangaroo.The 2025 Nissan Patrol Y63 was unveiled in Abu Dhabi last year as a twin-turbo V6 successor to the outgoing V8-powered Y62.Last week, Nissan gave the now 14-year-old Y62 what is likely its final update. It included a suite of interior and exterior upgrades, ahead of the Y63’s local launch in 2026.