Commercial News

Ford Australia has recalled the F-150 full-size pick-up due to a software fault that could prevent a trailer’s brakes from operating while towing.The notice issued by Ford on April 22, 2026, at vehiclerecalls.gov.au  lists the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) of the affected 6832 F-150 trucks made between 2021-2026.According to the statement, the fault is software related and involves the Trailer Module.“Due to a software defect, the Trailer Module (TRM) may lose communication with the vehicle when a trailer is connected. This can result in a loss of trailer braking performance and the turn signal lights not operating as intended,” the notice reads.“A loss of trailer control whilst driving and/or signal lights not operating as intended, may increase the risk of an accident causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and/or other road users."Owners will be contacted by Ford Australia in writing requesting they contact an authorised Ford dealer to have the fault rectified with a free software update.This is the latest in a series of recalls which have plagued Ford’s F-150, with the previous recall being for a fire risk due to fuel vapours.

Mitsubishi is soon releasing the Australian-fettled Triton Raider and if it’s a success the Japanese brand claims there’s room for something above – perhaps with Ralliart in the name.Mitsubishi Australia General Manager Product Strategy and Product Public Relations Bruce Hampel said the Japanese carmaker has many iconic sub-brands, including Ralliart, but for the time being is trying to build the brand name with the Triton Raider.“We’ve positioned this vehicle above the GSR. I guess with the rally raid theme is really what we to pursue and that really helped us inform the Raider naming for this particular variant,” said Hampel.“It’s really our first foray we’re breaking new ground for Mitsubishi in that higher price bracket compact pick-up segment, which is quite extensive in the Australian market.”It’s worth noting that Mitsubishi offered the limited-production Triton Xtreme in 2023, which was co-developed by Walkinshaw. It’s still the most expensive new Triton to date at $71,990 before on-road costs.“So we’re really seeing how goes, how well we’ve managed to deliver the customer needs and how well that’s resonating with them,” added Hampel.“The goal is ultimately to build the brand and pull on our heritage, and part of that is the history we have with our sub-brands in the Australian market.“And if successful then, yes, we’ll continue taking the next step.”Ralliart is an iconic, high-performance sub-brand for the Mitsubishi brand that has its roots in rally racing.The Ralliart name is still affixed to certain, range-topping versions of the Japanese carmaker’s vehicles.The last Mitsubishi model offered in Australia with a Ralliart badge was the Lancer in 2015. Sitting below the Evolution, it was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that’s mated with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and sent drive through an all-wheel drive system.There have been many versions of the Triton Ralliart offered in other markets across many generations now, however they have largely been decals and aesthetic packages.There is demand for souped-up dual-cab utes in Australia, particularly stirred up by the Ford Ranger Raptor with its 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine.The forthcoming Triton Raider has been developed in partnership with Melbourne-based engineering and manufacturing firm, Premcar.Although the 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel engine doesn’t produce any more power or torque, the suspension and tyre package has been tweaked to make this Triton more capable on- and off-road. There are also tougher looks.Using the model year 2026 (MY26) version of the Triton GSR as a base, the Raider gains Yamaha horizontally mounted dampers to further reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).There’s a unique front and rear suspension damper package with the front damper gaining an internal rebound spring to create more wheel control on a variety of surfaces.Other tweaks include 18-inch ROH ‘Assault’ alloy wheels finished in a unique brushed bronze finish that are wrapped in Bridgestone AT002 all-terrain tyres.As a result of the suspension and tyre package, there is a 25mm ride height increase at the front, 10mm ride height increase at the rear and 20mm wider track width.Matching the brushed bronze alloys, there are a range of exterior highlights and decals with the same finish. Additionally there are upgraded side protection bars, underbody protection and a sports bar with unique red highlights.Inside the Triton Raider receives black leather upholstery with orange stitching and Raider branding embroidered into the front headrests. There’s also a Raider badge fitted on the centre console.At this stage Mitsubishi hasn’t detailed pricing for the Triton Raider, though it is likely to be more than the current flagship GSR trim, which is priced at $65,590 before on-road costs.This means the Triton Raider could be closer to $70,000 before on-road costs.

The demise of the Ford F-150 Lightning, the electric version of America’s favourite pick-up truck, is a painful lesson not just for the Blue Oval, but the entire automotive industry.When it was first announced the Lightning made a lot of sense. Ford knew it wasn’t going to convince F-150 buyers to swap into a compact electric SUV, so the company would just make their truck electric.Except, as Ford would find out the hard way, the American market wasn’t ready to shift to electric vehicles (EVs) in the majority, and certainly not the pick-up truck buyers.So the news that the Ford F-150 Lightning would be disappearing from both US and Australian roads was not really a surprise. But it’s the latest demonstration that multiple carmakers may have fallen into the same trap and could pay a similar price to Ford.What is that trap? That would be to build large electric vehicles.“The American consumer is speaking clearly and they want the benefits of electrification like instant torque and mobile power," explained Andrew Frick, President of Ford model e, the brand’s  electric division, about the decision to drop the Lightning.“But they also demand affordability… rather than spending billions more on large EVs that now have no path to profitability, we are allocating that money into higher-returning areas.”It seemed like the right idea only a few short years ago as EVs became more accepted as a concept, but sales were still relatively small due to a lack of choice.Go back five years and most of the EVs on sale were either small cars or SUVs, like the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, with the rest of the market segments largely ignored. It was a logical move, as a smaller car is more efficient (on average) than a larger one.The problem is that left so much of the new-car market without an EV choice. What would someone looking for an electric ute or electric family-sized SUV do? So, being driven by the need to fit consumer tastes, carmakers tried to cater to them.And thus we had the likes of the F-150 Lightning, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Audi e-tron, Kia EV9 and, more recently, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 all arrive to cater to the audience that wants a ‘big EV’.The problem is, and where this became a trap, is that building a larger EV means a larger asking price, and there simply aren't enough people willing to pay big bucks for an EV. At least not now, especially as the current fuel price drives more demand in EVs.The people have voted with their wallets and it's easy to see where the core EV buyers are spending their money. BYD has already sold 1481 Atto 2s in the first three months of 2026, with another 1082 Atto 1s. The mid-sized BYD Sealion 7 has managed 4468 sales, the Zeekr 7X a healthy 1725 and the Geely EX5 1437.Kia is perhaps the best demonstrator of this trend, the small EV3 has managed 861 sales so far this year, while the mid-sized EV5 has found 1148 buyers. But the bigger EV6 has notched just 77 sales and the huge EV9 has managed to move just 18 units in 2026.And that’s not because Australians don’t want big SUVs, the new plug-in hybrid Denza B8 has already out-sold the EV9 with 75 sales since arriving, while the aging Nissan Patrol is still going strong (1383 sales) and the Toyota LandCruiser shows no signs of slowing down (2857 sales).And this isn’t driven simply by the ongoing fuel crisis. Looking back at the 2025 data it shows the same pattern, Australian motorists looking for an EV are looking for smaller, more affordable models rather than the big ones. In 2025 Kia sold 4787 EV5s and 2597 EV3s but just 348 EV6s and only 269 EV9s.The solution, or so it seems at this point, is the plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Buyers looking for a bigger vehicle but still looking to cut their fuel bill are tending towards PHEVs and other hybrids, such as the BYD Shark 6, BYD Sealion 8 and Chery Tiggo 9.Obviously there will still be more large EVs coming our way, the most high-profile being the new electric Toyota HiLux, but all current signs indicate that this is a small percentage of the market and unlikely to change in the near future.

A new ute from BYD has been spotted again, and it’s not some variation of the best-selling Shark 6.Instead, this new offering from BYD will be based on a monocoque chassis with more modest capabilities than its larger ladder frame Shark 6 sibling.The brand hasn’t been forthcoming on details of this new tray-backed offering, but judging by the spy images from China it will be a more lifestyle and urban-focused vehicle.In interesting additional details unearthed by CarNewsChina based on Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filings, BYD has earmarked new production capacity for a ‘plug-in hybrid pick-up’ at its Zhengzhou production facility, marking the first time BYD has been approved to produce such vehicles for domestic sale.This is because while the Shark 6 has been a smash hit in export-markets, it is yet to be sold locally in China.The car-based BYD ute has been spotted multiple times before, and is expected to launch both in China, but also South America in 2026. In both cases, the styling appears to share much of its design language with the brand’s “Dynasty” line-up of vehicles, specifically the car we know in Australia as the Sealion 5.Current spy images show an SUV-style body all up until the C-Pillar, which gives way to a relatively compact tray. It also shows significant rear suspension compression, suggesting it is undergoing load testing.Unlike previous images, it also shows a Sealion 5-style grille that was previously more heavily camouflaged. It also shows an integrated rear sports bar piece which syncs-up with the SUV-style roofline.The tailgate has upright-style headlights, while the rear axle appears further back than it does on the Sealion 5, suggesting an extended wheelbase over its presumably SUV platform-relations.It matches previous European patent filings, which show a unibody pick-up with near-identical styling to the Sealion 5 up front, Sealion 6-style alloy wheels, and a rear light profile which more resembles the Shark 6, with a family similarity suggesting it could be part of a broader Shark ute line-up.BYD global executives have previously poured cold water on the idea of a smaller sibling to sit underneath the Shark 6 in Australia, with the brand’s Asia Pacific General Manager Liu Xueliange telling CarsGuide BYD has “no plan” for the smaller model.However, with the overwhelming success of the Shark 6 in the intervening six months since those comments were made, it would be unsurprising if the brand isn’t looking hard at the possibility of expanding on the Shark’s success Down Under.If so it would be one of the first to dip back into the unibody ute market, which is currently only served by the KGM Musso EV.Overseas, there is a bigger scene for such non ladder-frame offerings, with the likes of the Hyundai Santa Cruz and top-selling Ford Maverick also potentially being good fits for the Australian market.Locally passenger car based utes once used to be strong sellers thanks to the locally-assembled Ford and Holden utes, but even smaller tray-backed models enjoy cult classic status, like the Subaru Brumby and Proton Jumbuck.It would be characteristic of BYD to ignite interest in an unlikely segment of the market, as it has done with affordable EVs, plug-in hybrid utes, and now small cars like the BYD Atto 1. Watch this space.

Kia has confirmed critical details of the brand's upcoming ute, and seemingly inadvertently spilled on Hyundai's plans for a BYD Shark 6-fighting dual-cab.

What is the future of the Mazda BT-50? Could it become a Toyota-based one-tonne ute?With the existing, Isuzu D-Max-derived model now six years old and well into its mid-cycle facelift, speculation is rising as to what will come next once the reported 10-year supply contract with Isuzu ends.This means that the existing BT-50 that launched in 2020 following Mazda’s break-up with Ford (the previous BT-50 was based on the 2011-2022 Ford Ranger) still has about four years to go, so planning should be well-underway by now. 2030 isn’t that far away.One scenario could see a variation of the Toyota Tacoma, which has only been built in left-hand-drive in Mexico for North America since late 2023, despite sharing its right-hand-drive (RHD)-ready Toyota New Global Architecture-Frame (TNGA-F) platform with the Toyota LandCruiser 300 and Toyota Prado 250, among others.We say variation because, back in December last year, ex-Toyota Australia boss Sean Hanley revealed exclusively to CarsGuide at the HiLux launch that the Tacoma could become RHD for Australia when the right powertrain configuration is offered, to sit above the smaller, ageing HiLux in the range.“It's evolving and developing all the time, and I would never rule out the possibility of that car being part of our line-up at some stage,” he said at the time. “It all gets down to powertrain and configuration.”If that comes to pass, and Hanley did add that he was actively pursuing that outcome, it may give Mazda an in to the “evolving and developing” Tacoma thanks to the two Japanese brands’ growing association sharing passenger vehicles.This is especially prescient since the existing BT-50’s only major market in the RHD world is Australia, with Japan and the UK passing on this current generation, while South Africa ceased importing the ute after sluggish sales in 2024.Mazda Australia Managing Director Vinesh Bhindi refused to comment on any possible Tacoma/BT-50 tie-up in the future, saying instead that a decision has not yet been made as which direction the company will move next.“Isuzu is still a partner in the current generation, but the next-gen is yet to be locked in,” he told CarsGuide last month.“Mazda has worked with Isuzu for many, many years, so (we have a) very solid partnership and we hope to continue it in the future.”This is an important question for Mazda to figure out, since the BT-50 contributes vital volume for the brand in Australia, coming in at fourth place in the first three months of 2026, with 3113 units sold, behind the CX-30 small SUV (3246), ageing CX-3 light SUV (3489) and CX-5 mid-sized SUV (6247).The one-tonne ute has slipped from fifth to seventh spot so far this year in its increasingly-crowded segment, having been overtaken (though only just) by the GWM Cannon/Cannon Alpha duo (3131) and BYD Shark 6 PHEV (3480) out of China, while still trailing the Mitsubishi Triton (5604), D-Max (6057), Toyota HiLux (10,592) and Ford Ranger (12,180).The 4x4 version of the BT-50 is the harder hit of the series, seeing a 23.6 per cent decline in 2026, though the largely-diesel-driven dual-cab ute market’s exposure to soaring fuel prices due to the Iran War seems to have affected all 4x4 players in some way. The exceptions are a surging GWM Cannon (which introduced a PHEV option last year) and, unexpectedly, the resolutely diesel-powered Triton.A Mazda ute has been part of the brand’s heritage since its first vehicle rolled out of a factory in Hiroshima in 1931. Plus, there were five generations of the BT-50’s B-Series/Bravo/Proceed predecessor from 1961 to 2006 (pre-dating HiLux), with a Ford Courier also forming part of that equation for 34 years from 1972, before switching to the American Ranger badge thereafter.So, there’s been a half-century precedent with Mazda sharing its ute, be it with Ford or Isuzu.Will Toyota be next? Watch this space!

It was a day long expected, but it still hit with a bang.A Chinese car maker has out-sold almost every other car brand in Australia.BYD sold the third most vehicles in March, behind only the mighty Toyota and a surging Kia. That means a Chinese brand out-sold big names including Ford, Mazda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi.But BYD wasn’t the only Chinese brand in the top 10 either. In the first three months of 2026, BYD, GWM, Chery and MG are all firmly locked into the best-selling brands. Whatever your feelings on the influx of Chinese brands in recent years, it is clear Australian customers are buying them and they have cemented a place not only in the market, but at its upper echelons.The real question though, is can BYD sustain this success? Was March just a flash in the pan or was it the start of a genuine shake-up of the established order at the top of the sales charts?The initial sentiment around the Chinese industry was that it was flooding the market with cheap, small cars, and there was certainly a lot of truth to that. The MG3 and MG ZS were both big-sellers with small price tags, so it wasn’t surprising to see MG make an impact so early. But if you look at how BYD has found sales volume in Australia, especially since taking direct control of the local operation from original importers EV Direct, it is a very different story.BYD’s two biggest sellers in March were the Sealion 7 (1970 sales) and the Shark 6 (1314), neither could be accurately described as ‘cheap and cheerful’ small cars. Are they price competitive? Definitely, but neither is dramatically cheaper than their direct rivals, certainly not in the case of the Sealion 7.The Sealion 7 is hardly a budget-busting small car, it’s a mid-size, all-electric SUV that is priced from $54,990 (plus on-road costs). That’s competitive against its competitors, but not significantly enough to justify its sales volume alone. In other words, the Sealion 7 is one of the most popular mid-size SUVs in the country (electric or otherwise) because buyers are attracted to it for more than simply the price.The same goes for the Shark 6, which has managed to succeed seemingly in spite of its seemingly unorthodox take on a modern dual-cab. BYD made a brave choice to enter Australia’s ute market with a petrol-powered plug-in hybrid offering, but it may have been precisely the right ute at the right time.Buyers are seemingly happy to try something different and between the tax breaks and the rising cost of diesel, it’s not unsurprising that the Shark 6 has been a sales hit. So much so that it is firmly ensconced as the fourth most-popular 4x4 ute on a regular basis, behind only the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max.But does this mean BYD’s March success is sustainable? Well, certainly there are no indications that the Sealion 7 or Shark 6 will suffer a sales collapse (but stranger things have happened). While there is likely to be some ebb and flow in the sales charts this year and BYD may slip up and down the order, there are a number of indicators that the brand could sustain a top five, or even a top three, sales position long-term.And it could be thanks to the initial expectations of the Chinese market - cheap, small cars. BYD has only launched the new Atto 1 and Atto 2 hatchbacks in the final months of 2025, so they are still finding a market in Australia.But with the high cost of petrol leading to a spike in electric vehicle interest, the thought of a city-friendly small car that never requires a visit to the service station could become a popular choice for Australian drivers.Add to that the addition of the Sealion 5 and Sealion 8, which naturally sandwich the Sealions 6 and 7, as well as the talk of an expanding Shark 6 line-up and there is every chance BYD will have management at the likes of Ford, Mazda, Kia and even Toyota starting to feel concerned about the long-term outlook.

A tsunami of electric cars is headed our way.General Manager BYD Asia Pacific Mr Liu Xueliang said 30,000 BYD and Denza vehicles are on the way to our shores in May and June to feed rampaging sales.That’s more than half the vehicles BYD sold in 2025 and almost double what they have sold in the first three months of this year.The Chinese brand is looking to capitalise on the ongoing fuel crisis caused by the Iran war, which is driving Aussies in increasing numbers to buy an EV or plug-in hybrid — two vehicles types BYD has in big numbers.Liu said it was important that the company meets the growing demand and is able to get customers as soon as they place an order.If BYD manages to move those vehicles in the next few months it would have beat its sales for 2025, and it would be the second biggest selling brand in Australia and nipping at the heels of the previously-thought-untouchable Toyota.Mr Liu also said the company is aware fuel rationing might be happening in the future. It would be prioritising getting vehicles to essential workers such as doctors, firefighters and others in the coming months.BYD now has the model range to host those kind of sales figures with the brand launching seven new models in the past six months.These include the BYD Atto 1 and Atto 2 small electric cars alongside the plug-in hybrid Sealion 5 compact SUV, Sealion 8 seven-seat SUV, Seal 6 mid-size sedan and wagon and Denza B5 and B8 4WDs.Early signs of Aussies clambering for BYD and Denzas in 2026 was evident in the March sales figures.The Chinese automaker sold 7217 vehicles in the past month as Australians scrambled to get their hands on plug-in hybrids and electric cars as fuel prices soared.That is a mammoth one month total which beat Ford (7149), Mazda (7156) and Hyundai (6979). Only Toyota (16,574) and Kia (7320) did better than BYD.BYD sales increased by 50 per cent compared to March last year and are up 100 per cent for the year.For the full year, BYD's sales were already up 156 per cent by the end of 2025.

Geely’s commercial division, Farizon, has revealed pricing and specifications for its upcoming V7E commercial van.Sitting below the already-launched Farizon SuperVan, which is a more premium offering to compete with the likes of the Ford Transit Custom and Volkswagen Transporter, the V7E is in a budget price bracket, offering a smaller load area and payload.Starting from just $49,990 drive-away, the V7E becomes by far the most affordable electric offering in its class, even undercutting the impressive $55,990 price-tag for the new Kia PV5 electric commercial van.Farizon said its new van is purpose-built for trades, couriers, and fleet operators, as opposed to the more multi-purpose edge and diverse bodystyle options of its more expensive SuperVan.The V7E offers up to 1338kg of payload (1208kg in the Extended Range), with a 6.95 cubic metre load area. It also has a 2.86 metre total load length and a low load height of 610mm.It arrives in two variants but just one bodystyle, with the $49,990 leading price for the base Standard Range 50kWh version (240km WLTP range), stepping up to $53,990 for the 66kWh Extended Range variant (329km WLTP range).Both share a 100kW maximum DC charge speed, with the 50kWh version charging from 20 - 80 per cent in just 26 minutes, while the 66kWh version can complete the same charge in 33 minutes, which the brand says reduces downtime for operators.Slow AC charging maxes out at 11kW for a roughly four hour charge on the base car or five hour charge on the Extended Range. The V7E also features a full-size 240-volt household power outlet on board to help use the battery to power external devices.Both versions of the V7E are front-wheel drive, powered by the same 110kW/230Nm electric motor.As for total loading specs, the V7E measures 4995mm long, 1820mm wide, and 1985mm tall with a 3200mm wheelbase. The cargo area measures 2865mm long, 1690mm wide, and 1435mm tall. GVM for both variants is 3150kg. Towing capacity is limited to 750kg unbraked or 1000kg braked.The V7E has a 1100mm sliding side door and 270-degree opening barn doors at the rear.Standard equipment is the same on both cars, featuring 16-inch aero-style wheels, LED headlights, fabric seat trim with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7.0-inch digital dash cluster and a dual speaker audio system. It also features an array of physical controls to “reduce reliance on touchscreen interaction.”The V7E only features dual frontal airbags, but a full suite of active safety items usually only found on passenger cars.Farizon offers an eight-year 200,000km battery warranty and a five-year 200,000 new vehicle warranty, with a matching five years of roadside assist.Customer deliveries of the V7E are expected to begin in May of 2026.

MG, the original Chinese-backed success story in Australia, has been on the back foot in the face of new rivals, but the brand isn’t staying still with the reveal of a range of new models for the Australian market shown at the Melbourne Motor Show.The Shanghai-based brand showed off several new modelss, including the much-hyped IM LS9 large hybrid SUV, which will go into battle against the Zeekr 8X and Denza B5 with its range-extender hybrid powertrain.The LS9 was launched under SAIC’s more premium IM brand in China last year, and features a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with no connection to the wheels, acting as a range-extender for a large 65.9kWh battery pack which grants it a 308km electric driving range according to the more lenient CLTC standard.The large SUV also brings unprecedented levels of luxury for an MG-branded product with generous interior claddings, large screens, and three rows of seating (in a six-seat layout for the Chinese market).The brand will introduce a fully electric version of its U9 ute, which launched in 2025. Appearing previously in approval documents, the U9 EV will have a dual-motor powertrain producing 200kW at the front and 125kW at the rear, although torque figures are yet to be confirmed. If the U9 electric follows in the footsteps of the LDV e-Terron 9 available overseas, it will be equipped with a 102kWh battery granting it a 430km driving range.Importantly, it plots a 3500kg towing capacity, which is more than can be said for the EV utes currently available in the market, like the Toyota HiLux BEV and its 2000kg towing ability.The existing combustion U9, powered by a 2.5-litre diesel engine, will also be offered in a new Black Edition trim level.Next, taking aim at the Tesla Model Y and newcomer rivals the Geely EX5 and GAC Aion V, is the S6 EV.It is essentially a scaled-up version of the S5 small SUV already on sale in Australia. The S6 moves into the mid-size SUV category, although maintains many of the same interior features as its smaller sibling,Right-hand drive specs as confirmed by the UK-market version of the car show a 77kWh battery pack with up to 530km of range in both rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive layouts.Also bolstering MG’s range of electric vehicles is an upgraded version of the rear-wheel drive MG4. Not to be confused with the just-launched MG Urban, which is in a lower price bracket in a front-wheel drive layout, the new facelifted MG4 will continue to cater to a slightly more premium and drive oriented audience, starting at $39,990 for the base Essence, and topping out at $47,990 for the returning XPower all-wheel drive version.Stylistically largely the same from the outside aside from new wheel and colour choices, the new MG4 will get a completely overhauled interior featuring a new 12.8-inch multimedia screen with wireless phone mirroring, a 10.25-inch driver display, as well as physical controls from the larger S5 SUV, new seat trims, and a more refined centre console treatment, with improved detailing throughout.Like the UK-market model, the new version dumps the entry-level 51kWh battery, with the base Essence now being a 64kWh proposition with an improved 452km WLTP driving range. It features a 140kW/350Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels, while the XPower features 150kW/250Nm on the front axle, and 170kW/350Nm on the rear axle it can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds. With the same 64kWh battery pack, the XPower’s range is reduced to 405km.