Electric News

Denza in Australia is targeting a potential launch of the stunning Z9 GT wagon/shooting brake, with new specifications also revealed for BYD's answer to the Porsche Taycan.In exciting news for Australia, the model is squarely on the brand's radar locally, with right-hand-drive production confirmed. While not officially locked in for our market, the Denza Z9 GT is firming as one of the five models the brand wants to launch in our market by early 2027."If you look to Europe, they have launched the Z9 GT, and that will be available in right-hand drive as well," says Denza Australia COO, Mark Harland."We haven't confirmed that, but that is one of the cars that is available to me within the next 12 months. And that's a car where if we go 'we see some volume in Australia', which I think there is, then that's definitely the car that I can get here."You heard the man, folks. Start banging desks and harassing Denza dealers, because the Z9 GT looks like a monster.According to new reports out of China, an updated model will enter production in March this year, introducing a new Fjord Green hue, a Lava Red interior treatment, and the shifting of the LIDAR array to the roof. Elsewhere, the Z9 GT is offered with two powertrain options; a plug-in hybrid setup and a full BEV electric model.The numbers are staggering: The full EV will be reportedly offered with two battery sizes – 102kWh or 122kWh – with a claimed driving range in excess of 1000kms, albeit on the more lenient CLTC testing cycle. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid promises to redefine pure EV driving range, too, with the brand claiming more than 300km of pure on the WLTC cycle.The EV version appears to be offered with a single electric motor, producing 370kw, as well as a fire-breathing tri-motor version producing a total 850kW, though how much of that power (taken from each motor's maximum output of 230kW, 310kW and 310kW) will be available at once is unclear.The plug-in hybrid variant also makes use of three electric motors, only this time paired with a 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid. It's unclear whether this update changed the outputs, but the earlier version produced around 685kW – enough to complete the sprint to 100km/h in well under four seconds.Stay tuned for more on both BYD's top-three aspirations by the end of 2026, and the expansion of its Denza luxury arm's line-up.

China’s Leapmotor has detailed more on the forthcoming A10 small electric SUV ahead of its imminent launch in the domestic market.

Chery has officially unveiled its QQ3 small electric hatchback in China.Chery Australia could not yet confirm whether the QQ3 was destined for Australia, but we know the brand is keen on the prospect. Local Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris has already signalled his desire for an electric hatchback to launch Down Under.“I think having a very small and then a small hatchback would be a game changer,” Harris said.“I think there’s a huge amount of potential in those segments, and at the moment I think those segments are a little bit stale and not that interesting.“So if we could bring something like the QQ, I think it’d be a huge amount of opportunity.”The QQ3 sits as a rival to other small budget EVs, which in Australia, would be fellow Chinese competitors such as the BYD Dolphin, GWM Ora and MG4 - all sitting around the $30k price bracket. Expect Chery's hatch to sit in a similar price bracket, if not even more affordable, if it comes to Australia with it being positioned generally as a budget EV. It would likely need more power than its entry-level 58kW output from its single rear-mounted electric motor as debuted in China to be competitive in our market. There is also a 90kW set-up, but that also seems a touch under-powered compared to rivals.Its lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery options offer a driving range of either 280km or 401km, but that is calculated using the lenient CLTC testing cycle. More-accurate-to-real-world WLTP numbers are often noticeably less than that.On the inside, the car has a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and dual 50W wireless phone chargers. It will also be able to be optioned with heated and ventilated seats, as well as a heated steering wheel, following in the footsteps of other Chery models which offer high spec at a low entry price.The car gets the typical QQ bubble exterior design, with a segmented, round front and rear headlight design that houses diagonal strips. It rides on 17-inch wheels.Deliveries on the new QQ3 are scheduled to begin next month in its Chinese home market. Expect to learn more about Chery's range expansion as it follows up on the much-anticipated launch of its first dual-cab with a unique diesel hybrid powertrain later this year.

Elon Musk’s Grok artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot assistant is officially rolling out to Tesla vehicles in Australia in a staggered series of over-the-air software updates over the coming days.

BYD's next-gen charging system has been spotted rolling out in China.

Tesla looks set to soon introduce a new, stretched version of the top-selling Model Y electric SUV in Australia with three rows of seating.

The Tesla Cybertruck suffered a monster sales slide in 2025, with US numbers totalling just over 20,200 units, a fall of no less than 48 per cent compared to the year prior.And that’s on the back of 38,965 sales in 2024, approximately 210,000 units short of Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s bullish annual volume prediction prior to the electric pick-up’s domestic launch in late 2023.Mid-year 2025 estimates pointed to at least 10,000 unsold units (worth around US$800 million) sitting in the brand’s inventory.A revised annual target of 125,000 sales pulled production capacity away from the controversial ute towards more popular models like the Model Y SUV.But reduced supply is one thing, driving increased demand is obviously the critical factor.So, no surprise Tesla has attempted to generate extra Cybertruck interest with a new, more affordable variant.Announced on social media platform X, the new model is simply called the Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive with an MSRP of US$59,990, compared to US$79,990 for the Premium All-Wheel Drive and US$99,990 for the flagship Cyberbeast.Available to order in the US, the Dual Motor AWD boasts an estimated range of 525km, and features a powered tonneau cover, multiple vehicle-to-load (V2L) bed outlets (2x 120V + 1x 240V) as well as adaptive damping, heated front seats, ‘Steer-by-wire’ four-wheel steering and a braked trailer towing capacity of up to 3.4 tonnes.The Cybertruck is currently sold in North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) as well as select Middle Eastern markets including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.Still displayed on Tesla’s Australian website, the Cybertruck is not on sale locally, although Tesla Country Director for Australia and New Zealand Thom Drew told CarsGuide mid-last year that the stainless-steel-bodied EV has "never been off the table", at the same time confirming he had received a briefing on what changes will be required for Australian Design Rule (ADR) approval here."Cybertruck is a conversation that we're having ongoing. I can't tell you a timeline, or if or when, but we're advocating for it as much as we can," he said.

Hyundai says Australian consumers will see value in paying more for its Elexio than they would for a BYD Sealion 7, suggesting the marginal increase in a weekly novated lease cost is countered by its heritage and dealer network.That's the word from Hyundai COO, Gavin Donaldson, who told CarsGuide that Hyundai's footprint in Australia justified the price jump from a BYD Sealion 7 into an Elexio, with both electric SUVs being sourced from China.According to Hyundai's data, approximate weekly novated lease costs for the Elexio Elite are around $205 per week, compared to around $200 for the entry-level Sealion 7. The brand's data also has the Tesla Model Y at $216 per week, the Kia EV5 at $204 per week, and the Xpeng G6 at $199.That $5 per week, or $260 per year, is easy to "justify", says Mr Donaldson."I would hope that the infrastructure of the Hyundai dealer network across Australia would justify that. I would hope that, anywhere across the country, if you're driving a Hyundai EV, that you know you have the support of a network that has been in the country for 50 years."We are a legacy brand in Australia. We have been here for 40 years. As you said earlier, we've been involved in creating EVs for 35 years. I have to believe that the service and the background of your dealer network provides you with a benefit."Novated leasing does close the RRP gap between the Elexio and the Sealion 7. The Hyundai model launches with the top-spec elite, which lists at $61,990 but is being offered at $59,990 drive-away until around the end of March. It will be joined in Q2 by an entry-level model which will list at $58,990.The Sealion 7 lists at $54,990, and then steps up to the $63,990 for the Performance model.Both models are sourced from China, with the Elexio produced in a factory Hyundai describes as its most advanced in the world. In China, the Elexio's starting price converts to around $30,000, but the brand is quick to point out that cross-country prices never correlate to local pricing."Doing these cross-country price comparisons don't apply to any manufacturer in the market right now," says Hyundai's Product Planning Assistant Manager, Ronald Yuwono."We think that the price we've got here is quite compelling."

Hyundai has confirmed a new and cheaper variant of its Elexio electric mid-sized SUV will soon arrive in Australia to better combat the wave of cut-price Chinese electric vehicles in market.

Why this big commercial brand has electric vehicles, but won't need them any time soon in Australia.