Electric News

Electric cars are about to change forever as another brand confirms solid-state battery trials in 2027 that put 1000km-plus driving ranges within striking distance.Geely is joining BYD and battery giant CATL in installing futuristic solid-state batteries in vehicles next year, according to Chinese reports.The Chinese behemoth said it would roll out the tech across its brands, which include Geely, Polestar, Volvo, Zeekr and more.Solid-state batteries are often touted as the holy grail of EV cells, they are more energy dense, faster to charge, work better in cold temperatures and are less prone to fire than conventional units.This means brands can install smaller batteries for similar driving range to current EVs, which means they are lighter, more efficient and less of a strain on resources.The reduction in weight and improved packaging that goes with smaller batteries also opens up the possibility of electric performance cars, utes and 4WDs that are all hamstrung by excess weight of current EVs.Makers can also choose to keep the batteries the same size as current units and effectively double the vehicle’s driving range.Driving ranges of more than 1000km have been claimed for the future electric vehicles fitted with these batteries.Geely announced earlier this year that it would start production of its own solid-state batteries after a validation process before installing the new battery type in vehicles for next year.Some reports put Geely’s new cells at 500Wh per kg, which is more than double the average battery.It is also more than double the Golden Brick battery found in some Zeekr 7X models, which have a driving range of close to 500km.The Golden Brick is also immensely fast to charge and suck up 450kW of juice when connected to an appropriate DC charger.This solid-state battery could push the driving range of popular EVs such as the Geely EX5, Volvo EX60 and Zeekr 7X well beyond 1000km.So far no Chinese brand has publicly revealed the results of its solid-state trails, which pours cold water on the idea the batteries will arrive soon and change the game.European makers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have shown off what their prototypes can do.In August 2025, Mercedes-Benz completed a trip from Stuttgart in Germany to Malmo, Sweden without charging.The trip covered 1205km and the prototype vehicle had 130km of range left when it reached its location.Mercedes-Benz Chief Technology Officer Markus Schafer said he wants to have this tech in production vehicles before the end of the decade.“The solid-state battery is a true game-changer for electric mobility. With the successful long-distance drive of the EQS, we show that this technology delivers not only in the lab but also on the road."Our goal is to bring innovations like this into series production by the end of the decade and offer our customers a new level of range and comfort,” said Schafer.The reality is the tech will come, but it will likely be expensive and reserved for high-end cars before trickling down to more mainstream models.Audi engineers previously told CarsGuide they might never be mainstream and will be a niche application because they are too hard to manufacture currently.

Zeekr has shared details of its upcoming 7GT wagon ahead of its Australian arrival.Due before the end of 2026, the 7GT will be the brand’s next model following on from the success of the 7X mid-size SUV, and the brand has now confirmed it will bring the same three core trim levels available in China across to our market.This means the 7GT will be available in both standard and long-range versions, as well as a top-spec Performance all-wheel drive.The brand also hinted at an as-yet unknown fourth variant, which was said to be some kind of special edition.The 7GT has already been specified in Europe, where it is available in a base 75kWh Core RWD version with 310kW/440Nm. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds and travel 519km according to WLTP measuring standards. Next is a mid-spec 100kWh Long Range RWD version with the same power outputs and 0-100km/h sprint time despite its larger battery. Its range is boosted to 655km (WLTP).The top-spec Privilege AWD adds a second motor on the front axle, producing a combined output of 475kW/710Nm. It reduces the 0-100km/h sprint time to just 3.3 seconds, but also reduces driving range to 558km (WLTP).If the 7GT’s local price-tags remain relative to the cost of the 7X SUV in China, it will be a keenly-priced option locally. In China, the 7GT is priced lower than the 7X, with a conversion suggesting a starting figure of around $55,000, especially since the entry-level rear-wheel drive version is now confirmed. Expect the top-spec all-wheel drive version to top-out closer to $70,000.While specifications for right-hand drive Australian market cars are yet to be revealed, over in Europe the base car comes with the large 15.0-inch multimedia touchscreen and 13.0-inch digital dash, as well as built-in navigation and even panoramic sunroof. The mid-grade Long Range adds things like a 35.5-inch head-up display, while the top-spec Privilege AWD grade also adds active air suspension with adaptive dampers.Overseas, all three core 7GT variants are also available optionally with a range of interior packages, ranging from suede sports seats through to up-sized performance brakes designed to extend performance usage beyond what would otherwise be possible in cars with such heavy batteries.All versions of the 7GT are also equipped with an 800-volt electrical architecture, allowing a 10-80 per cent charge time between 13 and 16 minutes. All cars are also equipped with 3.3kW vehicle-to-load discharging and 22kW AC charging according to Euro specs.Inside, Euro spec cars get a choice of textile black, or Nappa leather interior trim in either charcoal or white. Chinese cars meanwhile are available with a wider array of interior trims including synthetic suede.The 7GT’s wagon body allows it a 456-litre boot capacity, while the frunk is 65-litres in rear-wheel drive variants or 32 litres in all-wheel drive variants. In Europe, the wagon is permitted to tow 1600kg, although whether this will carry over into the Australian market where regulations tend to be slightly different, remains to be seen.The 7GT was also recently awarded a maximum five-star EuroNCAP safety rating (which is expected to form the basis of a maximum five-star ANCAP rating).The sporty wagon will be Zeekr’s next launch in Australia, with the highly-anticipated 8X large SUV and 9X flagship due over the course of 2027, both of which will introduce plug-in hybrid power to the Chinese premium automaker’s line-up.

Hyundai began production of its newest electric car, the Ioniq 3, at its Türkiye plant during the week, with a promising price tag already attached to the car in the UK.Order books opened for the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 3 in the UK with a starting price of £22,245, which directly converts to A$42,400.While that’s not confirmation we can expect the Ioniq 3’s price to land around $40,000 on arrival in Australia, it does show Hyundai might be able to compete with small electric SUVs from China.Hyundai already sells a 'Light' SUV, the Inster, at around the $40,000 mark, so expect the bigger Ioniq 3 (which comes in at 4155mm long, 1800mm wide and 1505mm tall) to sit above that.While the Hyundai Ioniq 3 likely won’t be able to undercut small electric SUVs (which it’s smaller than) like the BYD Atto 2 (from $31,990), GWM Ora 5 (from $33,990) or Jaecoo J5 (from $36,990), Hyundai’s positioning as a more premium offering should help it entice buyers away.While it’s not set to launch here until the first half of 2027, the Ioniq 3 is also being built in Hyundai’s Türkiye factory, so importing the car from Europe will bring its own costs.However, Hyundai will be keen to make the car as competitive as possible through pricing or spec to bolster its electric car sales.Five variants of the Ioniq 3 have been confirmed for the UK with two battery-size and drivetrain set-ups.The version with a “projected WLTP range” of 344km thanks to a 42.2kWh battery and 108kW output is dubbed Standard Range, while a Long Range version with an anticipated range of 496km but lower output of 100kW is also locked in.The former is only available in the base model and brings the aforementioned £22,245 price with it, while the other drivetrain is available in the base trim as well as three higher grades.An N Line Evo variant tops the line-up at £31,945 (A$60,900).

Toyota has proven its no electric car pretender, as it beats all others in the world’s most EV dominant markets.Toyota Europe’s Communications Director Robert Tickner announced the Toyota bZ4X is the best-selling vehicle in Norway and Denmark.These are two of the most cut-throat EV markets with electric vehicles accounting for about 98 per cent of all new cars sold in Norway and more than 60 per cent in Denmark, according to reports.Toyota has bested European locals Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, as well as international giants such as Tesla and Xpeng in the process.The Japanese giant has been heavily criticised for being slow to the electric vehicle market, with it instead betting on hybrids to plug the gap until more people were ready to plug-in.Tickner took a swipe at the haters."Toyota has been criticised by some for not going 'all in' on battery electric vehicles. For me, that's simply a misunderstanding of Toyota's strategy and the reality of true customer demand," said Tickner on LinkedIn.Toyota is now fleshing out its range of battery-powered cars to increasing success, with the company selling 12 EVs in Europe across the Toyota and Lexus brands, according to Tickner.Toyota EV sales trail Tesla, BYD and many others by a massive margin in Australia, but there are green shoots starting to appear.Sales of its bZ4X are up 330 per cent this year to 2075 examples through the first seven months.The company has scrounged around for more stock to help fill orders of the bZ4X. This extra supply is due in the coming months.Toyota just expanded its bZ4X range with the bigger Touring version, which will help boost sales Down Under.Lexus hasn’t had the same success, with its related RZ SUV only selling about 100 examples so far this year. This is still up about 180 per cent compared to the same period in 2025.The new electric version of the Lexus ES sedan is unlikely to be a huge seller.Toyota’s HiLux BEV has just arrived in the country. The all-electric workhorse doesn’t read spectacularly on paper and won’t be replacing diesel utes anytime soon, with it largely pitched to mines and government fleets needing to decarbonise.Toyota has confirmed the C-HR+ electric compact SUV will arrive in Australia in 2027. It shares its underpinnings with the recently launched Subaru Uncharted.Globally there are two configurations and two batteries available.The entry-level model has a single, front-mounted electric motor that produces 123kW and is fed by a 57.7kWh battery pack.There’s also a larger 77kWh battery pack available in the front-wheel drive version, which bumps the power output up to 165kW.There is also a range-topping dual-motor, all-wheel drive set-up with a total system output of 252kW.

BYD’s Fangchengbao brand has launched a new, entry-level version of its Tai 3 electric SUV in the domestic market.The Fangchengbao Tai 3 is the smallest model currently in its Titanium series of vehicles, which also includes the Tai 7 and most recently the flagship Tai 9 SUVs.Despite being an entry-level trim level, this new Tai 3 variant still has a second-generation BYD Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack that offers ultra-rapid flash charging.The 65.3kWh LFP battery pack is capable of charging from 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes. This allows for a claimed range of up to 510km, according to lenient CLTC testing.Power comes from a single, rear-mounted electric motor that produces 240kW and 305Nm. This is enough to send it from 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds.Other versions of the Fangchengbao Tai 3 in China feature a larger 75.6kWh LFP battery pack that’s also capable of ultra-rapid flash charging. It can similarly be charged from 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes.A rear-wheel drive version comes with the same 240kW electric motor, but with the larger battery pack it’s claimed to offer up to 620km of CLTC-claimed range.There’s also an all-wheel drive version, which adds a front-mounted electric motor for a total system output of 375kW. It is claimed to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.7 seconds.This flagship all-wheel drive version of the Tai 3 with the larger 75.6kWh LFP battery offers up to 565km of CLTC-claimed range.In China this new, entry-level version of the Tai 3 is priced from 143,800 yuan, which equates roughly to A$30,200.It’s 10,000 yuan (~A$2100) more affordable than the rear-wheel drive version with the larger 75.6kWh LFP battery pack. It’s priced from 153,800 yuan (~A$32,300).Lastly, the top-spec, all-wheel drive version of the Tai 3 is priced from 169,800 yuan (~A$35,650).BYD’s Fangchengbao brand isn’t currently offered in Australia, however a number of its models fall under the premium Denza brand locally. These include the Fangchengbao Bao 5 and Bao 8, which are called the Denza B5 and B8, respectively, in Australia.While the Fangchengbai Tai 3 hasn’t been confirmed for an Australian launch, it is launching in markets like Costa Rica and Thailand badged as the Denza B3.The latter country is notable as it’s a right-hand drive country, like Australia. This makes a local launch of this car with Denza branding a step easier.BYD has trademarked the name B3 in Australia for use as an automobile, however this does not guarantee that the Chinese carmaker plans to launch the vehicle locally. Many carmakers trademark names to ensure other carmakers don’t use them.

Another Chinese brand is coming to Australia, and it spells bad news for one local favourite.Changan Automotive has gone on a hiring spree in Australia, with several job ads appearing on LinkedIn during the past several months, as it prepares to launch Down Under.It is one of China’s biggest automotive groups, and is of a similar scale to Chery or SAIC, the latter the owner of MG.Changan is also state-owned and has a range of brands that will be familiar to Australians.It launched the Deepal brand via local distributor Inchcape in 2025 and has joint ventures with several carmakers.The arrival of Changan spells bad news for Mazda, which has a partnership with the giant and relies on it to source its new range of electric cars, including the recently launched Mazda 6e sedan and incoming CX-6e SUV.These vehicles use Changan’s platforms, but have been styled and tweaked by Mazda.Changan versions of the vehicles would be expected to be cheaper than the Mazdas and more premium Deepal versions on sale in Australia.Changan also has the more tech-focused Avatr brand in its stable.There is no timeline yet for when Changan will launch, but it appears to be quite advanced with its hirings. This points to a likely early 2027 launch date.Changan has given no insight into what vehicles might be brought to Australia, but we can look to the UK for some ideas.The company confirmed it would be selling the small E06 electric SUV in the UK, a fellow right-hand drive market.It is related to the Deepal S05 compact electric SUV and a future Mazda spin-off, which are slated for an Australian launch.The company also sells utes in South Africa, including the range-extender hybrid dual cab called the Hunter K50. It would likely be called simply the K50 in Australia as Hunter is already used by JAC. Changan has also trademarked the K50 name here.There is also its range of Nevo branded vehicles, which includes a range of extended range hybrids and electric cars in several sedan and SUV sizes.More information will come to light once Changan officially confirms its arrival to Australia.

Small cars and light cars aren’t nearly as popular as they once were, but that could be changing thanks to the increasing accessibility of electric cars, said one new brand’s product boss.Geely's Director of Product Planning and Marketing Andrew Tuitahi said he sees “promising signs” for small and light car segments.While the sales figures aren’t proof at this stage, with EVs making people consider a smaller car than they might otherwise buy.“I can't say that it's saved, but there's definitely some promising signs,” Tuitahi told CarsGuide. “The unique thing that ‘new energy’, battery electric plug-in hybrids are doing is causing people to reconsider.”Tuitahi said the downsides once associated with light and small cars are more and more being addressed by new compact EVs, after earlier in the day having pointed out the healthy list of features in the Geely EX2.“So a lot of the compromises that you typically make if you were going to buy a b-segment or a light hatchback - things like drivetrain, power, performance, safety, style, you know, space - a lot of those things are solved with a battery electric platform. “So I think consumers are able to prioritise maybe some features by sacrificing a segment, but still getting that same space.”While the EX2 does cover much of the above, it should be pointed out its entry grade has a very modest 60kW output in the base Complete variant, or 80kW in the Inspire.Tuitahi added that along with the price and the overall size of the car, the range of a small EV is less a priority than it would be in larger EVs that are more likely to be used on long trips.“It really depends on the use case,” he said.“So we'd be encouraging our dealers to work with customers to help identify how they're going to be using their cars and whether or not they need that range. “You know… looking at the average kilometers traveled, certainly someone charging once a week would be within that range for an EX2. “Someone who can trickle charge every day is never going to be less than 70 or 80 per cent battery. So, it really comes down to use case.”

2026 has been a watershed year for new vehicle sales in Australia, with the tsunami of new challenger brands from China continuing to pound our shores with full-force.It’s upset the established order on the industry leaderboard, with BYD (up 115 per cent) charging into second spot through the end of July, and sending a shudder through the hallowed halls of traditional number one, Toyota Australia, and unceremoniously relegating Ford to the third step of the podium.The rapid rise of Chery (up 71.3 per cent) and GWM (up 16.6 per cent YTD) has meant former high-ranking top 10 regulars Mazda and Hyundai have been shuffled down the order, with Mitsubishi hanging on by the skin of its teeth in tenth. A resurgent Tesla (up 88.3 per cent) sits in ninth spot, but Nissan (-33.7 per cent) and Subaru (-26.2 per cent) are out of the top 10 picture altogether.Question is, what does this furious churn of customers mean for overall sales? Is the market likely to expand, or given its historical stability, come in close to previous years?If it’s the latter, the financial writing could be on the wall for those legacy brands losing market share to newcomers offering fancy, typically electrified models full of bells and whistles at aggressive price points.So, let's start at the top. After a faltering start to the year marked by supply shortfalls of the in-demand RAV4 and HiLux, Toyota looks to be in the midst of staging a monumental comeback.RAV4 is still down over 25 per cent compared to the same point in 2025 and HiLux is close to 12 per cent behind, but in early June, Toyota Australia announced it had secured an additional 10,000 vehicles for 2026.And since then, the company said it has “worked closely with its global partners to secure further stock to help satisfy strong demand”. In fact, Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas has said, "Increased supply of key models including HiLux, RAV4, Corolla Cross and bZ4X would play a key role in Toyota passing the 230,000 sales target for 2026.”It’s worth noting Toyota was the leader in 2025 with 239,863 sales, representing approximately 19.8 per cent of the total market.Which means normal programming is set to resume in terms of Toyota’s numbers and the Japanese giant’s first place positioning.But what about that cheeky upstart, BYD, riding high on the back of continued demand for its Shark 6 petrol-electric hybrid ute and the surging popularity of its Sealion 7 medium EV SUV.In fact everything from the new Atto 1 light electric hatch and Atto 2 compact EV SUV to the Sealion 5 and Sealion 8 SUVs are firing.In terms of a 2026 prediction, all BYD has said is it “would like to be in the top three by the end of the year.” We’d suggest that’ll mean a number in excess of 80,000 units and with 2025 second and third place finishers Ford and Mazda down 10.8 and 16.7 per cent, respectively so far this year, BYD’s aspiration looks well within reach. A total of 103,656 new vehicles were registered in Australia in July this year, which represents a modest 0.5 per cent increase over the same month last year (103,097 units) with the overall year-to-date number down just 0.2 per cent (710,449 vs 711,908 units).So, all this moving and shaking in the sales order clearly isn’t shifting the needle in terms of overall sales. One brand’s loss is another brand’s gain.The sales trend and numbers as they stand for 2026 so far point towards a year-end figure in the vicinity of 1.22 million units, which would be only fractionally up on the 1.21 million cars sold here last year.Economics 101 says in a mature, stable market that’s invaded by a host of new competitors, something’s got to give.Not every brand will get out of the Aussie new car sales race alive and the winners and losers over the next five months will be a telling pointer to which brands, new and not-so-new, are potentially heading towards the departure lounge longer-term.       Source: VFacts / Electric Vehicle Council 

XPeng’s new Australia-bound SUV means business, as it is priced to severely undercut key rivals in China.The XPeng G9L, which was recently revealed in China and confirmed to arrive here in the next six months, will cost the equivalent of $55,000 for the range-topping model in China.XPeng also confirmed there will be plenty of cheaper grades to choose from.This means the most expensive G9L will be more affordable than the cheapest Zeekr 8X ($75,000) in China.And the general rule of thumb is: if it's cheaper than its rivals in China, it’ll be cheaper than them here.Chinese cars are usually about 20 per cent more expensive in Australia than in China, so expect the G9L to top out at about $70,000 when it arrives.The G9L is a big five-seat SUV in the domestic market, which follows the latest trend of giant Chinese SUVs with roomy interiors.It is 5120mm long, 1999mm wide and 1795mm tall, with a 3100mm wheelbase, and is bigger than most seven-seat SUVs.It is available with an electric or range-extender hybrid (REEV) set-up. The latter uses a small petrol engine as a generator to charge the battery, with only the electric motor(s) driving the wheels.Both electric and EREV versions will be available in two- or all-wheel drive.The 2WD EV has a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 270kW, while the AWD adds a front-mounted 160kW motor for a combined 430kW.REEV variants have a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine to charge the battery.The single electric motor in the range-extender makes 210kW, with the AWD adding an extra 160kW motor for a combined 370kW.There are several battery options. Two-wheel drive versions use a circa-92kWh lithium iron phospahte (LFP) battery that is good for 702km of driving range, according to the more lenient Chinese test cycle.All-wheel drive versions use a roughly 92kWh Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) unit, which is good for about 660km of range. This can be upped to a 110kWh power plant that boosts range to 755km.REEV versions use a huge 64kW LFP battery for a claimed Chinese verified electric driving range of 435km.XPeng hasn’t revealed what versions will be available here.XPeng HQ has recently taken over from the Australian importer after a several issues, which is now playing out in federal court.The factory-backed operation has grand plans now it is allowed to sell cars here.It already has the updated G6 mid-size SUV and X9 people mover available for order.It has confirmed the L03 coupe-SUV will be next to land, followed by the G9L and L05 mid-size SUV, the latter is from its more affordable Mona range. The flagship GX, which will likely be called something else when it arrives due to Lexus already claiming that name, will land sometime in the future.

Sales of Mazda’s Tesla Model 3 rival are now fully on tap in Australia and we finally have an understanding of how it’s stacking up on the sales chart.As detailed in the latest VFACTS sales report, Mazda sold a total of 283 examples of the 6e electric liftback during July in Australia.This is off the back of the Japanese carmaker selling 28 examples of the 6e in June.Mazda has only reported two months of 6e sales in Australia so far and the figures may be higher than usual due to initial customer backlogs and demonstrator coverage across its dealer network. This will likely equalise over the coming months, giving a clear picture of demand and sales.Tesla sold a total of 134 examples of the Model 3 electric sedan in July, as detailed in the latest EV Council sales report. This is down 63 per cent compared to July 2025.Until the end of July a total of 3326 Model 3 examples were sold, which is down 18.4 per cent year-on-year.BYD, on the other hand, sold a total of 394 examples of the Seal electric sedan in July. This is up 44.3 per cent compared to July 2025.Until the end of July a total 3048 Seal examples were sold, which is up 62 per cent year-on-year.The Mazda 6e liftback is the Japanese carmaker’s second electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, following the niche MX-30 EV SUV that was offered earlier this decade.It’s produced in China in partnership with its joint venture Changan Mazda. It shares its platform with the Deepal SL03.Two versions of the 6e are offered in Australia – GT and Atenza. Pricing starts from $49,990 before on-road costs.All versions are powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor that produces 190kW and 290Nm. This is fed by a 78kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that allows for up to 560km of WLTP-claimed range.Following the launch of the 6e electric liftback, it’s soon launching an SUV counterpart called the CX-6e. Like the 6e, it’s made in China in partnership with Changan Mazda.Two versions of the CX-6e are set to be offered – GT and Azami. Pricing starts from $53,990 before on-road costs, which is $4000 more than the 6e. Despite this, SUVs sell in much higher volumes than passenger cars (sedans, liftbacks and hatchbacks) in Australia.For context, Tesla has sold a total of 25,040 examples of the Model Y/Model Y L in Australia so far this year. It’s by far the best-selling EV and the third best-selling car overall, behind only the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.With this in mind, it’s likely that Mazda will have higher sales of the CX-6e electric SUV than the 6e electric liftback. We’ll have to wait and see how it stacks up once it properly launches.