Electric News

Volkswagen will launch a number of new electrified commercial vehicles in Australia later this year and in early 2027.Headlining these is the addition of an ID. Buzz Pro all-wheel drive trim, complementing the existing GTX flagship all-wheel drive trim. To date the ID. Buzz Pro has only been offered with a single, rear-mounted electric motor.There is also an all-wheel drive version of the ID.Buzz Cargo, as well as a long-wheelbase body style, coming to complement the existing rear-wheel drive trim.Both of these will form part of a model year 2027 (MY27) update for the ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo. Volkswagen hasn’t fully disclosed what else will be changing or added with this update just yet.Volkswagen is planning to launch a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Multivan people-mover in the first quarter of 2027. It’s understood this will come with all-wheel drive.This will be complemented by an Australian launch of the Caddy PHEV.Beyond the launch of these electrified products, the next launch for Volkswagen’s commercial vehicle division is the Amarok W600, which has been fettled by Australian engineering and manufacturing firm, Walkinshaw.The German carmaker will roll out its MY26 update for the Amarok, which axes the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine, and the addition of a new Amarok Style with the 2.3-litre turbo-petrol engine and the special edition Amarok Dark Label.Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia Product Manager Michael Cenci told CarsGuide the entry-level Amarok Core will pick up the updated 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine for MY26, swapping out the wet belt for a timing chain.This mirrors what the related Ford Ranger received for its MY26 update.Beyond the updated engine, the Amarok Core will also receive a 10-speed automatic transmission, replacing the six-speed automatic.At this stage it’s unclear what other changes will occur with this MY26 update for the Amarok. Volkswagen hasn’t published pricing yet.

Game-changing solid-state batteries are back on the agenda.Chinese carmaker Dongfeng has announced it will begin mass-production of solid-state batteries in the second half of 2026, according to reports out of China. With an energy density of 350Wh/kg, much higher than conventional lithium-ion batteries, the brand said vehicles equipped with the battery will have a driving range of 1000km. Solid-state batteries don't use a liquid or gel to store energy like conventional batteries, allowing for significantly greater energy density. Greater energy density means a bigger driving range from the same size battery, so its success will put range anxiety to bed for good. These batteries are also said to reduce the likelihood of fires and are much lighter than lithium-ion alternatives. Earlier this year, Dongfeng put a solid-state prototype model through cold-weather testing in China and confirmed plans for a production model to launch in 2027.Dongfeng sub-brand Forthing is due in Australia this year, meaning solid-state battery technology from the brand Down Under might not be too far away.Solid-state batteries looked to be on the back burner in the industry, with a full-scale uptake still decades away, according to some experts. Donfeng might have just moved up the timeline if it gets mass-production underway this year.  Dongfeng is the latest addition to a growing list of Chinese brands racing to get solid-state batteries into production. Chery appears to be closest in this race with its next-generation ‘Rhino’ battery boasting 400Wh/kg and 1500km of driving range expected to feature in Chery sub-brand Exeed models before the end of the year. Chery’s local branch has also shown interest in these cars launching in Australia.Mass-production of solid-state batteries have proved to be a significant challenge, with high production and development costs combined with technological complications slowing progress. Dongfeng’s announcement of mass-production in the second half of 2026 puts it ahead of much of the competition that are targeting taking this step no sooner than 2027. BYD plans to begin only small-scale solid-state battery production next year, according to reports.Donfeng's joint-venture partner in China, Nissan is another brand to developing solid-state batteries, but its mass-production program won't begin until the end of the 2028 financial year.It is not just China getting in on the solid-state game. In September 2025, Mercedes-Benz confirmed a solid-state prototype of its EQS sedan went 1205km on a single charge.

GWM’s next model under its Ora electrified sub-brand has appeared in regulatory filings in China, as a sporty new station wagon.Dubbed the Ora 7, this car made its debut in concept form at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2025.It was called the Lightning Cat Travel Edition, and was pitched as a spin-off of the sportback model, which never launched in Australia.Thanks to the new filings, which have appeared via the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, it appears the production version of the car will instead adopt Ora’s new numerical naming system, and will be pitched above the incoming Ora 5 small SUV.At 4820mm long, 1850mm wide and 1520mm high, the new Ora model competes directly with the incoming BYD Seal 6 plug-in hybrid, which is available in both sedan and wagon form.Unlike the Seal 6, the Ora 7 is a pure electric model, with dual motors producing 160kW and 150kW. The old Lightning Cat was previewed as having a combined output of 300kW/680Nm.What does seem to have evolved since the Lightning Cat is the battery chemistry, which appears to have swapped from the more expensive and higher-output NMC chemistry to a more affordable LFP unit, according to Chinese media.The car remains almost entirely faithful to the concept shown at Shanghai, all the way down to the sporty gloss black wheel package, although notably the flush door handles have been swapped for traditional ones in keeping with new Chinese regulations that ban flush or sunken door handles for safety reasons.The interior is yet to be revealed, but expect it to come with similar new-generation updates as seen on the recently-launched Ora 5, including the brand’s latest two-spoke steering wheel design, stalk-mounted gear shifter, minimalist centre console and new software hosted on larger screens.At this stage it is unclear whether Australia will see this station wagon model.

GWM has just stepped up its budget EV game in Australia, unveiling the Ora 5 hatchback.There is no official news on a launch for the Ora 5 hatchback, but there is a good chance it will hit showrooms before the end of the year, with deliveries of the SUV variant already beginning.GWM Australia has been contacted for comment to find out launch plans for the car. The Ora 5 hatch shares much of the same design and set-up as its SUV sibling, but it has been given a lower and sportier stance, according to GWM. It differs from the SUV as it does not featuring roof rails. It keeps the same bubble headlight design and general exterior look. GWM also confirmed it has the same 58kWh battery with a driving range of 435km on WLTP standards. The brand did not confirm what will power the hatch, but given it is so similar to the SUV, it is expected to have the same single electric motor producing 150kW and 260Nm. Pricing remains unknown at this stage, but there is potential for it to be priced under the SUV, which starts from $33,990 (drive-away).The news comes after the brand ditched its Ora hatch Down Under earlier this year to make way for the Ora 5 SUV. The Ora faced serious budget competition from other Chinese rivals such as the BYD Dolphin that is priced from under $30,000 (before on-road costs), while the Ora was priced from $35,990 (drive-away).Competition in the EV hatch space has increased significantly, including the arrival of the GAC Aion UT ($31,990, before on-road costs). The Ora 5 is generally bigger than many of these EV hatch rivals.It joins at a time when GWM continues to grow on the sales front and chase down legacy brands in Australia.Chinese competitors such as BYD and Chery have experienced more growth than GWM in 2026, with the affordability proving a key selling point.

An iconic revamped hot hatch from Peugeot is about to take a big step towards an official launch. The fully-electric Peugeot E-208 GTI will launch later this year as Peugeot seeks to transition one of its most iconic nameplates into the electrified era.A rival to the incoming Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI and Renault 5 E-Tech, it joins a raft of competitors looking to make the same transition.In Australia it would be a direct rival for the Abarth 500e, but there is no official news on whether it will land Down Under. It will need to satisfy the business case to launch in Australia. The hot hatch, which was once offered here in a previous iteration, will face hurdles to remain profitable but offered at a competitive price, given it will need to be shipped over from Europe.This is something preventing several smaller and budget-targeted models from coming to Australia, although occasional exemptions are made for hot hatches, as was the case for the recently-discontinued Hyundai i20 N.Similar issues have prevented the standard E-208 from going on sale in Australia, even though Peugeot went to the trouble of getting it approved and announcing it for an Australian launch, which was then cancelled.Peugeot Australia has been contacted for comment to see if the E-208 GTI will launch in Australia.The brand will show off three production versions of its new EV hatch later this week to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its first 24-hour Le Mans race entry.This will be the first time we will see the final production E-208, following an extended period of development.The car has spawned from the petrol-powered 208, which has been a popular hatchback model across Europe. It will be powered by a single electric motor, producing 209kW and 345Nm, so it can sprint from 0-100km/h in less than six seconds.It features a 54kWh battery, offering a driving range of 350km, according to WLTP standards.This latest reveal could provide more details on the specifications for the car as it nears full-scale production.Peugeot has had a tough time in Australia recently, selling less than 400 units across its range up to May 2026.

Mitsubishi has thrown the covers off its next fully electric model, marking the return of the Eclipse name, again.The new model for 2027, now called the Eclipse Sportback, is a re-badged and partially re-styled Nissan Leaf as part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.While it shares its overall design with the new-generation Leaf, it features a more dramatic front bumper, a new ‘grille’ design, a tweaked rear bumper, Mitsubishi badgework, and bespoke wheel designs. The interior is yet to be revealed.It will likely share the bulk of its specifications with the new-generation Leaf, including a 160kW/355Nm electric motor, either a 75kWh or 52kWh battery pack, and a driving range that is claimed to exceed up to 600km.The new Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback appears to be a North American market exclusive for now, and the brand says it forms part of its ‘Momentum 2030’ strategy to expand its footprint in the USA with new electrified models.It is not the only model sold under the Eclipse name, with the brand also offering a re-badged version of the Renault Megane E-Tech dubbed the Eclipse Cross exclusively for the European market.The Eclipse nameplate was originally a two-door sports coupe manufactured for the North American market across four generations from the 1990s to the early 2010s, the Eclipse name was re-booted for a small SUV dubbed the Eclipse Cross in 2017 and launched in Australia in 2018.The model ran until 2025 when it was discontinued locally because its ageing chassis and on-board safety tech no longer complied with Australian Design Rules.It is likely Australia will never see the new Eclipse Sportback, as Mitsubishi has had to make more strategic decisions for Australia where it faces tough competition from aggressive Chinese newcomers. The brand has confirmed Australia will instead receive a new yet to be named fully electric model, which Mitsubishi is developing based on a car from Taiwan’s Foxtron brand.The brand recently confirmed it is on-track to see this fully electric crossover model launch in Australia before the end of the year. It will need to be aggressively priced in order to help the brand bring down its potential penalties under Australia’s recently-implemented New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).Nissan has pulled back on its plan to launch the Leaf in Australia, saying it will be more competitive on the hybrid front, rather than trying to compete with aggressive rivals in the price-sensitive and highly competitive electric small SUV space.It is not the only Mitsubishi alliance model unlikely for an Australian launch. The brand also offers the Renault Symbioz-based new-generation Grandis as a mid-size SUV.Mitsubishi's XForce hybrid small SUV and XPander MPV from South East Asia have been ruled out for Australia as they prove uneconomical to upgrade to comply with Australia’s stringent safety requirements.

The Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and RAV4 are typically Australia’s most popular cars in any given month. But what other cars are having a great 2026?We’ve scoured the latest new car sales data to reveal the cars that are off to a storming start in the first five months of this year. For our list we’ve tried to focus on cars that have shown at least double-digit sales growth and have sold at least four-digit volume, so we avoid niche models that are coming off a very low base.We also deliberately avoided focusing on electric vehicles, as we have previously written about the EVs that are enjoying a sales boom in 2026.This is by no means a comprehensive list, and there are several models that are enjoying huge growth from brands such as BYD and Chery, but we’ve limited it to one entry to highlight more brands.Chery Tiggo 7 Pro - up 200.2%Choosing a Chery to put on this list wasn’t an easy task, as the brand is enjoying a bumper year with total sales up more than 84 per cent. The compact Tiggo 4 Pro remains the brand’s sales leader, with more than 11k sold already, but the Tiggo 7 is the clear star performer in terms of growth.With sales tracking more than 200 per cent up, the Tiggo 7 Pro has moved from also-ran to serious contender in the intensely competitive mid-size SUV market. It’s still well-short of the class-leading Toyota RAV4, but only the related Jaecoo J7 (up 427%) and BYD Sealion 7 (up 297%) have experienced more growth so far this year.Kia K4 - up 103.5%Reports of the demise of the hatchback appear to be exaggerated. While small SUVs remain incredibly popular, Kia has demonstrated that the right small car (as the K4 is both a hatch and sedan now) still has plenty of appeal.The South Korean brand has sold 3850 examples of its Cerato-replacement so far in 2026, more than double what it managed this time last year, when the hatch was not available.BYD Seal - up 92%The Atto 3 and Sealion 7 EVs are also enjoying good years, and the new Sealion 5 and 8 plug-in hybrids are both off to a good start, but for this list we’re highlighting the under-rated Seal EV. Under-rated because, like the hatchback, sedans are supposed to be in terminal decline.And yet, BYD has managed to almost double the sales of its mid-size sedan in 2026, with 1885 sold year-to-date. This actually makes it one of the brand’s worst-performing models, only further highlighting just what a successful year BYD is having.For the record, sales of the Sealion 7 are up 297%, the Dolphin is up 115% and the Atto 3 is up 85% (despite being the brand’s longest tenured model). Everything is looking rosy for BYD so far in 2026.Toyota Camry - up 48.3%It’s not exactly the glory days for the Camry, 5221 sales in five months is small fry compared to its past, but it remains an under-rated sales performer for not just the brand. Combined with the Seal, these two very different sedans have almost single-handedly kept the family car segment afloat in recent years.Every other existing model in the mid-size sedan segment is down in 2026, but the Camry remains the automotive equivalent of a cockroach - impossible to ever count out.Hyundai Palisade - up 37.1%This was a borderline inclusion on the list, as Hyundai introduced a new generation Palisade in late 2025 so the comparison to last year’s sales is against the out-going model. But given the huge price jump from the old model, plus a small range, it suggests Hyundai’s biggest SUV is finding an audience.Aside from the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and GWM Tank 300 (see below) the Palisade is the only other large SUV to meet our criteria, further underlining its strong sales performance so far this year.The addition of a more-affordable Elite trim grade, to go along with the initial flagship Calligraphy, plus the introduction of the more-rugged XRT Pro variant later this year may help the Palisade to continue its momentum.GWM Tank 300 - up 26.9%As mentioned above, the Tank 300 is another standout performer in the large SUV segment. The Chinese brand’s off-road capable offering has grown in recent times to include a diesel and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) alternative for buyers, which has clearly helped to expand its appeal.The relative struggles of the bigger Tank 500, which has only sold 529 units this year compared to 2228 Tank 300, is a clear demonstration that not all Chinese models sell in big numbers simply because they are cheaper than their rivals.The Tank 300 has therefore done enough to convince buyers to give it a chance and if this growth continues in the second half of the year it could become a key model for GWM.

It’s the equivalent of Toyota opening its own service station franchise, but BYD Australia has admitted it could open its own public electric vehicle charging network.It’s one of a number of options on the table for the Chinese brand as it introduces its proprietary ‘Flash charging’ system to Australia. The initial rollout will focus on its Denza premium brand dealers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide before expanding to BYD dealers in the future, but beyond that the options are wide open.“We’re working through that, but we'll have them in public spaces,” explained Stephen Collins, BYD Australia chief operating officer.“Now, whether it's next to a KFC or a shopping centre or a standalone ... the ones in China, for example, are basically standalone, so they're basically like the old petrol station. But it's just electric, a mega charging- electric service station.”Collins said creating standalone charging ‘service stations’ is possible thanks to the Flash charging technology, which can recharge at up to 1500kW and take a compatible battery from zero to 97 per cent capacity in just nine minutes. Currently the most powerful chargers in Australia are 400kW.Because of the speed of charging, Collins said this opens up the possibility of specific charging locations, instead of so-called ‘destination chargers’, such as those at shopping centres and hotels.“ I think that what they've shown in China is… ultimately having a public charging station, like the old petrol station, you literally drive in and in six, seven, eight, nine minutes, bang you're full,” he said.The BYD boss also said that Flash charging should help reduce another factor in buyer hesitation towards electric vehicles.“ I think ‘time to charge’ has been a barrier, and that's what this technology solves,” he explained. “So I think it will be a big factor, next year and into the following years is that time to charge.”The technology is specific to BYD and Denza and requires the company’s latest generation Blade Batteries with 1000V capacity, so cars from other brands will not be able to use the Flash chargers.

For the first time in Australia, electric cars are outselling diesel ones in what appears to be a major turning point for the Australian market.The latest data, compiled from both the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council, shows registrations of electric cars have more than doubled year-on-year, and now account for just under 20 per cent of Australia’s new car market.This is the culmination of multiple factors, including an influx of affordable Chinese models as the country’s behemoth manufacturers seek export markets to flee tough local conditions, and Australia’s new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES) heavily incentivise lower-emissions models, either to avoid fines or rack up credits.On top of this, skyrocketing fuel prices have clearly made many Australians think twice about committing to another combustion car, and the prospect of government incentives ending further down the track as outlined in the latest federal budget has no doubt only bolstered the latest figures.Digging into the data and one thing becomes obvious - amongst the 10 best-selling EVs, all of them were built in China. In what should come as a warning to legacy automakers yet to embrace “China Speed” as part of their business model in our market, even the most successful models from Tesla and Kia are built in China.This trend looks to continue, with Mazda the next brand to introduce Chinese joint-venture models via the Mazda 6e sedan and CX-6e SUV, both of which use Changan platforms. The Japanese giant will no doubt be betting heavily on these two models to reduce its market-leading projected fine under the new NVES rules.Nissan will also begin to introduce its array of successful-in-China Dongfeng-based models in the coming years, with Suzuki, Toyota and Volkswagen potentially being left behind as they continue to source cars from more traditional manufacturing locations like Japan, Thailand and Europe.May in particular was a bumper one, not just for market leader Tesla, but also for keen newcomers Jaecoo and Geely. BYD dominates nearly half of the top-10 charts, including the Atto 2 and Atto 1, which both arrived in 2026.EV Sales May 2026The year-to-date numbers paint a slightly different, but overall familiar story, with the Model Y managing to maintain its lead over the Sealion 7.Some year-to-date surprises include Geely’s EX5 rising to third place and Jaecoo’s aggressively-priced J5 has largely captured the entry-level EV space.Zeekr has had a huge year off the back of the launch of its 7X as it keeps up with its big order bank, and Kia has managed to hold onto 9th place with its relatively popular EV5.The Tesla Model 3 is in seventh place and is the only sedan on the list.EV sales year-to-date 2026It is hard to say what this chart will look like by the end of 2026, although the complete and ongoing re-shuffle of Australia’s favourite cars looks to continue. One thing is for sure though, China has the market well and truly cornered on fully electric cars in Australia.

Hyundai has sharpened the price of some of its sought-after electric cars, with both the Kona EV small SUV and Ioniq 5 mid-size SUV having their entry-point slashed by up to $8,000.The new Kona Electric Standard Range variant now kicks off the range, starting from $46,000, which notably undercuts the entry-point to the EV3 (from $47,600) from its sister brand, Kia.It is also more keenly priced than the entry-level Suzuki eVitara ($49,990) and Zeekr X RWD ($48,900).This still places the Hyundai Kona above popular entry-point rivals from China, which include the BYD Atto 3 ($39,990), Leapmotor B10 ($37,888) and Jaecoo J5 EV ($35,990), the latter was the second most popular EV in the country in May.The price cuts to the entry-level Kona Standard Range also come with a reduction in standard equipment, with the entry-level variant now not including a heat pump for more efficient climate management, electrochromatic rear-vision mirror, V2L port in the cabin, or a standard wall plug charging cable.Hyundai has also expanded the Kona Electric range, adding a new mid-grade Elite variant to the line-up. Priced at $53,000, it sits between the Extended Range ($50,000) and Premium ($60,000) grades. The Elite grade maintains the same 150kW electric motor and 64.8kWh battery as the Extended Range variant, but adds synthetic leather interior trim, 19-inch alloy wheels, powered driver and passenger seat adjustment, privacy glass, heated front seats, and an electrochromatic rear vision mirror.Specifications for the rest of the Kona Electric range remain the same.See the full pricing scheme in the table below.Hyundai has also modified its Ioniq 5 pricing structure, with the new entry-point to the range being the RWD version at $68,200, also an $8000 price cut on the outgoing version.It also comes with reduced equipment levels, with the brand removing the standard wall socket charging cable and interior vehicle-to-load port.The price cut places the Ioniq 5 in closer proximity to the mid-grade version of the ever-popular Tesla Model Y (Long Range AWD - $68,900), high-grade versions of the Toyota bZ4X Touring and its Subaru Trailseeker twin (both $69,990), as well as high-trim Volkswagen ID.4 GTX AWD ($69,990) or the Skoda Enyaq Sportline 85 ($68,990).It handily undercuts its sister car, the Kia EV6, which in base Air RWD form is still $72,660.The other three variants of the Ioniq 5 range have had their pricing revised with the same equipment levels as before, with the wall plug charger curiously removed from the flagship Ioniq 5 N, which has not had its price altered as part of this swathe of updates.See range pricing in the table belowIt was quick to the electric space, but sales of Hyundai’s range of EVs has been sluggish as the competition picks up.Both aggressively-priced new brands from China and new offerings from legacy players are squeezing the Korean brand, with Ioniq 5 sales sliding 38.5 per cent year-on-year, racking up just 224 registrations.The brand’s new Elexio mid-size SUV, which shares its platform with the popular Kia EV5 and is also built in China, has already racked up more than double the Ioniq 5’s registrations this year, with 549 units on the board.