Electric News

Volvo has taken a knife to prices of its small SUV line-up with $10,000 sliced off cost-of-entry for its small EX30 Single Motor Extended Plus - now $49,990, before on-road costs.Base pricing for the slightly larger EX40 has also been cut with the entry-level EX40 Single Motor Extended Ultra reduced by just over nine per cent to $69,990, before on-road costs (was $76,990, BOC).When contacted for background on the pricing changes a Volvo Car Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide, “In preparation for the introduction of the game-changing EX60 to local shores Volvo Car Australia has repositioned its 30 and 40 series all-electric vehicles.“To accommodate the arrival of the EX60 it is paramount that we alter our current game plan. “When the all-electric mid-size SUV arrives, it will change the game in the largest electric market segment in terms of range, charging speed, performance, and price,” they said.The repositioned EX30/EX40 pricing (before on-road costs) is below.Speaking at Volvo Cars’ most recent investor briefing in Stockholm, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer Erik Severinson confirmed the upcoming EX60 mid-size EV SUV will be priced at the same level as an equivalent plug-in hybrid (PHEV).So, these small SUV price reductions point to a starting price position for the EX60 at around the same $74,990, before on-road costs, level as the entry-grade XC60 Plus B5 Bright AWD.The flagship XC60 Ultra T8 Plug-in Hybrid Dark AWD sits at $101,990, BOC.The mid-size pure-electric EX60 SUV will initially be offered with a choice of two powertrains.The P6 Electric comes with a single rear motor that produces 275kW/480Nm which delivers a sharp 5.9-second 0-100km/h acceleration time.And the dual-motor P10 AWD Electric’s dual motors send 375kW/710Nm to all four wheels for a 4.6-seconds 0-100km/h sprint.Claimed WLTP range is 620km for the former and 660km for the latter, thanks to its larger 95kWh battery.Charging is near top of the class thanks to Volvo's all-new ‘SPA3’ platform's 800-volt electrics. The P6 can be topped up at up to 320kW, while the AWD P10 rampd that rate up to an impressive 370kW.

In a dramatic turn of events, a new factory-backed arm of XPeng has taken the reins from previous distributor TrueEV in what appears to be shaping up to be a messy legal saga.The new factory-backed outlet says it has now established direct operations in Australia, with new local employees, and a new dealer network “effective immediately”.According to the new entity, this will include new customer support infrastructure and factory-backed logistics to service customers everywhere except Tasmania and the Northern Territory, where the brand is yet to establish a presence.The brand reassures buyers that it is “deeply committed to the long-term stability and continuity of the Australian market” and is currently hiring for a range of roles.Unlike the widely publicised BYD factory-take-over, which appeared to be amicable with its successful distributor EVDirect, the XPeng factory subsidiary is set to lock horns with its previous distributor TrueEV.TrueEV recently entered external administration after running the local XPeng brand since 2024, despite holding a five-year distribution contract for the brand.While the distributor has said for a long time that a factory-backed take-over was on the cards and would likely happen sooner than originally anticipated, explosive revelations first published by The Australian claim TrueEV will be suing XPeng for unconscionable conduct after it tore up its distribution agreement on the first of January this year.According to allegations made by TrueEV, XPeng undermined its operations since 2024, including withholding new product and “sabotaging” its dealer network by changing approval requirements, forcing TrueEV to de-list some dealers and forcing it to remove its service partner, Ultra Tune.TrueEV alleges this effectively made it impossible for it to sell cars through its already-established network of 15 dealers and 58 service locations.The case looks set to be dragged through the Federal Court unless a settlement is reached before then, and could create a rocky pathway for the factory backed operation as TrueEV could seek to legally block the company from operating as it pleases until the matter is settled.The revelations help to explain XPeng’s slow advance in Australia since the well-received arrival of its G6 mid-size SUV as a rival to the ever-popular Tesla Model Y.Despite the brand (under TrueEV) announcing the G9 large SUV and X9 people mover, as well as hinting at the introduction of the Mona M03 as an ultra-affordable electric fastback, the models have failed to materialise.It comes at a crucial time for Chinese EV-focused brands which will no doubt seek to capitalise on the current spike in fuel prices to build up their market share.In contrast to XPeng’s strong start and slow follow-up, a rocky start for its direct Zeekr rival with its niche X small SUV and 009 people mover has been very successfully followed-up by its 7X mid-size SUV, with the brand building hype for what should be its next product, the 8X plug-in hybrid large SUV.Stay tuned for more on developments for XPeng’s Australian operations.

Toyota’s latest collaboration with state-owned Chinese carmaker GAC is off to an impressive start with the launch of the pure-electric bZ7 large, fast-back-style sedan.Vice President of Sales for the GAC Toyota’s joint-venture Peng Baolin has confirmed the company booked over 3100 formal orders for the car within one hour of its official on-sale.While other recent newcomers have claimed even stronger initial interest (hello, 15,000 domestic Xiaomi SU7 sales in 30min), it’s a positive response to a critically important model.With a strong hint of Camry around the car’s face and other elements echoing the smaller bZ4X we already know in Australia, the single-motor, rear-wheel drive bZ7 is a substantial machine at just over 5.1m in long, close to 2.0m wide and 1.5m tall with a generous 3020mm wheelbase.Offered with two LFP battery sizes (71.35kWh and 88.13kWh) across five model grades, the bZ7’s power comes from a 207kW Huawei-sourced motor with claimed ranges of 600km, 700km and 710km, in line with the more lenient CLTC test protocol.A 3C fast-charging rate is claimed to deliver 300km of range in 10 minutes.Priced at ¥147,800 (~A$31,300) for the entry-level 600 Pro up to ¥199,800 (~A$42,300) for the flagship 710 Ultra, specification options include 20-inch wheels, front and rear seats with ventilation, heating and massage functions, the Huawei ‘HarmonyOS 5.0’ smart cockpit and ‘dual-chamber air suspension’ working in concert with an intelligent road surface pre-scanning system.Upper-level Lidar-equipped models boast one Lidar, five millimetre-wave radars, eleven high-definition cameras and 10 ultrasonic radars.It’s worth noting GAC Toyota also produces the smaller bZ3X electric SUV uniquely for China and Toyota Australia’s recently retired Vice President of sales and marketing (now Senior Executive Advisor) Sean Hanley had previously told CarsGuide the company has discussed the possibility of importing Chinese-made Toyotas to Australia.“We’ve certainly spoken about it we’ve not done any formal study to support that cause for Australia at this point,” said Hanley. “Having said that, it’s not something we would rule out in the future.“If we’ve got manufacturing joint operations under the Toyota brand, under Toyota quality, we certainly would never rule it out and we’d be silly to.“But if you’re going to convert left- to right-, you got to have some compelling volume,” he said.

Euro carmaker Renault has slashed the price of its Megane E-Tech electric hatch in Australia.The car will now start from $49,990 (drive-away), representing a more than $15,000 decrease on its original launch price.When it arrived the E-Tech started from $64,990 (before on-road costs) in late 2023.Renault’s small SUV is a European rival to the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia EV3, with this latest deal undercutting both. It also comes in cheaper than the Mini Countryman EV, which starts in the low $60K bracket. The deal will run until the 30th of June 2026, while stocks last. It only applies to models with solid white paintwork and a black roof, with metallic paint costing an extra $400 and alternate two-tone paint adding an extra $800.Renault sold 207 examples of the Megane E-Tech in 2025, which represented a drop on 2024 numbers. It trails the EV3 and Kona on the sales charts, with Chinese rivals such as the Zeekr X also besting it. The car has experienced a couple previous price cuts since it went on sale, and was available from $54,990 (drive-away), before this latest cut.The base variant of the Megane E-Tech has a single electric motor set-up, producing 125kW and 280Nm, with its 60kWh battery, offering 454km of driving range (WLTP). On the inside, the car has a 12.3-inch digital driver display and 12.0-inch central touchscreen. The Megane E-Tech is one of several electrified models forming part of Renault’s ‘International Game Plan 2027’ for overseas markets.The brand recently brought across its Scenic E-Tech SUV to Australia earlier this year, with the plug-in hybrid Filante also a possibility Down Under at some stage.

Toyota’s first electric ute arrives in Australia in the second quarter of the year, but don’t expect to see loads of them on the roads.The 2026 Toyota HiLux BEV will be the first all-electric commercial vehicle to join Toyota’s line-up and it will be available in two grades and body styles.It’s a dual-cab-only proposition but it kicks off with the SR in dual-cab-chassis guise from $74,990 before on-road costs. Opting for the ST with a pick-up body style increases that to $76,490, while the top-spec SR5 is pick-up only at $82,990.That base pricing is $17,000 more than the diesel equivalent SR dual-cab-chassis.For now there are few fully electric ute rivals in Australia. The ageing and unloved LDV eT60 was priced from more than $90,000 when it launched, and the KGM Musso Electric starts from $60,000 drive-away, but this is based on a passenger car platform and is more of an urban lifestyle ute.Another electrified ute option, Ford’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Ranger, runs from $71,990 to a hefty $86,990, while the BYD Shark 6 ($57,900 BOC) and GWM Cannon Alpha (from $61,490 drive-away) are other PHEV utes that might be cross-shopped.Toyota says the HiLux BEV has been developed with government fleets, mining and construction sectors in mind, and this is where the vast majority of sales will come from.Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said the carmaker expects to sell 500 HiLux BEVs in 2026. For reference, Toyota sold 51,297 examples of the internal combustion engine HiLux in Australia last year.He added that private buyers and sole traders were not the main focus for the ute.“We're really targeting certain customers at the moment with that HiLux BEV. You know, we've been piloting with certain fleets on that car, and we've had great feedback, no downtime on the vehicle.“I mean, look, if private buyers want to buy the BEV HiLux, go for it. Great, that's awesome. You know, the more we can promote, the better. But we are targeting the first 500 (sales) towards that sort of mining and government type buyer.”The HiLux BEV is a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup based on the regular ICE HiLux platform. The total system output is 144kW of power and 468Nm of torque which is distributed variably between the front and rear axle for on-road driving.Off-roading is aided by Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select traction control system with six different drive modes.It has a 59.2kWh battery capable of 150kW DC fast charging. Toyota says it can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. AC charging with 10kW three-phase power takes 6.5 hours to get from 10 to 100 per cent.Toyota says the final driving range is yet to be determined but at the moment it is 315km on the lenient NEDC cycle. That would put the WLTP figure in the high 200s.Braked towing capacity is 2000kg, less than most of the diesel grades’ 3500kg figure.The HiLux BEV has a uniquely developed suspension setup with tweaked MacPherson strut front suspension and a De-dion rear leaf spring setup to accommodate the rear electric motor, while retaining the live axle setup of the HiLux.2026 Toyota HiLux BEV pricing before on-road costs2026 Toyota HiLux BEV standard specificationFull standard specification is yet to be revealed but Toyota has announced initial specs.SRLED headlampsColoured front bumperPainted exterior mirrors and door handlesSharkfin antennaSide stepsFabric upholsteryAll-weather floor matsPlastic steering wheelShift-by-wire gear shifterDual-zone automatic climate controlPower windowsKeyless entry and startA 1500W inverter in the centre console12.3-inch multimedia system12.3-inch digital instrument clusterFour-speaker audio systemEmbedded satellite navigationVoice commandWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoDAB+ digital radioTwo USB-C ports in the front and rearSR5LED headlamps with auto-levelingAuto-retracting and heated exterior mirrorsLED foglamps and tail-lightsRear privacy glassLeather-accented upholsteryHeated front seats with powered driver’s adjustmentHeated steering wheelCarpeted floorAuto-dimming rear-view mirrorEight-speaker audio systemWireless phone charger2026 Toyota HiLux BEV standard safety specificationAutonomous emergency brakingRadar cruise controlLane trace assistRear cross-traffic alert‘Rear parking support brake’ (pick-up only)Road sign assistAutomatic high beamPanoramic view monitorFront and rear parking sensors (pick-up only)Tyre pressure monitorEight airbags2026 Toyota HiLux BEV coloursGlacier WhiteFrosted WhiteAsh Slate

Cold water has just been poured over the immediate future of solid-state car battery technology.Solid-state batteries have been spoken about as the silver bullet to range anxiety on electric cars, offering more than 1000km of driving on a single charge.It was thought that solid-state technology might be just around the corner, with brands moving closer to commercialisation, but it now looks like it may be further off than first anticipated.Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor at Tsinghua University Ouyang Minggao said solid-state batteries may require up to 10 years to reach one per cent market share.Minggao had previously estimated an earlier adoption time for the technology, but has now cautioned the potential for an imminent arrival.This lines up with comments from some major manufacturers, such as United States based General Motors (GM).“Solid state is still years away,” GM Vice President - Battery, Propulsion, and Sustainability Kurt Kelty said.There are also now questions about the safety of these batteries, with Minggao stating they are not “absolutely safe” as fine tuning continues. Increased safety of solid-state was one of the key advantages over other conventional batteries.Next year is a big year for solid-state, particularly in China, with several manufacturers introducing prototypes.Chery has been making the most noise about solid-state batteries, and has already announced two models to feature the technology.In addition to the Exeed ES8 is scheduled for a 2026 launch, the brand’s Exeed Liefeng will be introduced in 2027. It will come with a Rhino S battery which is targeting an energy density of 600Wh per kilogram, taking driving range to 1500km.BYD will begin small-batch production of its solid-state batteries next year, but it has not confirmed if any cars will be fitted with the battery.Geely is another Chinese brand pursuing solid-state, with its first in-house solid-state battery concept to debut this year.

After the embarrassment of the failed Mazda MX-30 electric vehicle (EV) of 2021, the Mazda CX-6e will undercut the Tesla Model Y by some margin when it lands in Australia late this year.While exact numbers have yet to be divulged, ‘mid-$50,000’ pricing was mooted by senior company executives at the first local outing for the all-electric mid-sized SUV in Melbourne.This of course suggests anything from about $54,000 for the Chinese-built newcomer, against $58,900 (before on-road costs) that the base Model Y currently commands in Australia, reflecting a similar price gap that exists between the closely-related Mazda 6e from $49,990 and Tesla Model 3 sedan from $54,900.Not much else was revealed other than a left-hand-drive prototype of the CX-6e itself, except that it will share the 78kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery for over 450km WLTP range, rear-axle-mounted 190kW electric motor and rear-wheel drive powertrain as the 6e.In Europe, the same vehicle delivers 290Nm of torque to help it manage the 0-100km/h sprint-time in 7.9 seconds on the way to a 185km/h top speed, as well as 195kW DC charging capacity for a 10-80 per cent top-up in under 25 minutes and 11kW AC charging capability.The newcomer features nine airbags and a long list of standard advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) technologies. Luggage capacity varies from 468 litres to 1434L with the back seat folded down.Closer to home, Mazda also went to some lengths to point out the CX-6e’s extensive level of Australian road tuning over the Changan Deepal S07 on which it is based upon, as part of a “near future driving experience” matched to European and Australian road environments.To that end, there have been modifications to the electric power steering, dampers, tyres (supplied by Michelin), software tuning and sound-deadening structures to quell noise/vibration/harshness, among other changes.Mazda also claims advances in the CX-6e’s ergonomics, calling it a “human-centric’ cockpit using Mazda’s Human Machine Interface philosophy. How the 26.45-inch centre display’s lack of physical buttons for fundamentals like the climate control system affects future Euro NCAP scores for its lack of hard buttons is not yet known.For now, Australia will only have the EV model, even though a range-extender version of the Mazda exists elsewhere.That employs a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (in place of the frunk under the bonnet) powering a 31.73kWh LFP battery, providing up to 160km of (non-WLTP) range.A twin-motor all-wheel drive version may also be in the pipeline, but the company wants to gauge buyer response before committing to more-expensive models.Still, with soaring oil prices combined with the accessibility of around 150 dealers nationwide, the keenly-priced CX-6e could become one of Mazda’s most popular models in Australia.More information will be revealed closer to the near end-of-year release date.

Subaru has confirmed the details of its new Uncharted small electric SUV ahead of its mid-year launch.There is no official news on pricing yet, but we can expect it to be cheaper than Subaru’s other EV on sale in Australia, the mid-size Solterra SUV, which starts from $63,990, before on-road costs.The Uncharted is based on the Toyota C-HR+, which is due to launch Down Under in 2027.It will rival the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia EV3 and be a more affordable alternative to the premium Volvo EX30. It will also take on key Chinese competitors such as the Zeekr X.The car comes with Subaru’s all-wheel drive system as standard, so it could have a leg up over its competitors.It has a 252kW dual electric motor set-up, which enables a 0-100km/h time of five seconds. It is equipped with a 75kWh battery from Chinese specialist CATL and initial Subaru estimates suggest it will have a driving range of 525km (WLTP). This is more driving range than the Kona Electric or base model EV3. A DC fast charge at 150kW will juice up the car from 10-80 per cent in around 30 minutes. The car comes with 211mm of ground clearance, lending all-terrain capability. On the inside, the Uncharted features neat technology including a 14-inch central touchscreen display along with a raised digital driver display. The car has dual wireless phone chargers with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. It also has 1500W vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, meaning large devices can be powered directly from the car. The Uncharted's exterior design features sharp creases in the bodywork, along with a sloping roofline, with the car riding on 20-inch wheels. The Uncharted is the latest of Subaru’s SUVs as the brand battles increasing National Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) pressures and relative recent sales decline. Along with the already on sale mid-size Solterra, the Uncharted will launch around the same time as the large Trailseeker.Subaru has sold around 5000 cars in Australia up to February 2026, compared to nearly 6500 this time last year. 

Australia is getting short changed on some of the world’s cheapest electric cars.High fuel prices are pushing people who never would have looked twice at an EV to consider the zero-emissions tech, but Australia is missing out on some of the most affordable electric cars.China is rife with circa-$10,000 electric cars that provide decent driving range and fast charging in a small and cheap package.The latest model to launch in China is Wuling’s next-generation Hongguang Mini EV, which is priced the equivalent of about $9000.It is a mini four-seater that has a claimed driving range of more than 300km — calculated on the more generous Chinese test cycle — thanks to a super low energy consumption of 8.9kWh per 100km.DC fast charging allows you to top the battery up to 80 per cent in about half an hour.It is very little, measuring 3268mm long, 1520mm wide, 1575mm tall and has a wheelbase — the distance between the front and rear wheels — of 2190mm.That put its in Japanese 'Kei Car' (city car) territory, and its single electric motor makes only 30kW.The Hongguang Mini EV isn’t alone, there is a booming market in China for this type of vehicle.The QQ Domi from Chery was revealed last year.It is a pint-sized electric hatchback measuring just 3.7m long and 1.7m wide, which is just bigger than a Kia Picanto but smaller than a Suzuki Swift.Its nearest EV competitor would be the larger BYD Atto 1, which is called Seagull in other markets.In China it launched at the equivalent of about $13,000. Chinese cars are usually 20 per cent more expensive here than the home market, which would mean it could lob in at about $16,000.Chery’s QQ3 is another budget friendly EV, which is priced to the equivalent of $14,000.It has a circa 300km driving range, and is much bigger than the Wuling. There is a choice of either a 58kW and 90kW electric motor.Chery has been testing one of its QQ models Down Under as part of its global development.The Chinese brand’s Australian Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris is very interested in something from that range.“I think having a very small and then a small hatchback would be a game changer,” said Harris.“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,” he said.There is one thing standing in the way of these tiny cheap electric cars… Australian Design Rules (ADRs).Mitsubishi recently considered its little eK X EV Kei Car for Australia but it wouldn’t meet safety regulations and it would be too expensive to bring it up to scratch with ADRs."The reality is that the car meets Japanese safety regulations. The reality is that it does not meet ANCAP five star, and will not meet ANCAP five star. We'd probably get three stars," said former Mitsubishi's Australian CEO Shaun Westcott back in 2024.The Hongguang Mini EV only has two airbags and electronic stability control in its safety arsenal, which doesn’t cut the mustard here.It also lacks side impact protection, which means it won’t meet ADRs. This same rule forced Lexus to axe the IS sedan and Nissan to discontinue the GT-R.

Ford has revealed a new, city-focused electric commercial van that’s aimed to be cost-conscious and simple, yet uncompromised.The 2026 Ford Transit City is the newest model in its sprawling line-up consisting of the Transit, Transit Custom, Transit Connect and Transit Courier.Despite all the aforementioned Transit models being different sizes, the new Transit City is on par with the mid-size Transit Custom.All versions are powered by a single, front-mounted electric motor that produces 110kW of power. This is fed by a 56kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that allows for up to 254km of WLTP-claimed range.While this doesn’t seem like much range, Ford claims the battery is “right-sized” and that 90 per cent of vans in the Transit City’s segment drive under 110km per day on average.DC fast-charging is available at rates up to 67kW, allowing a 10 to 80 per cent charge to happen in 30 minutes.AC charging on the other hand is offered at rates up to 11kW, allowing a 10 to 100 per cent to take 5.2 hours.The Transit City is available in three body configurations – L1H1 Van, L2H2 Van and a cab-chassis. The latter can be used to install a box body or tray, for example.The L1H1 Van has a load length of up to 2770mm, allowing it to fit up to three Euro-sized pallets. It has a payload capacity of 1085kg.The larger L2H2 has 8.5 cubic metres of cargo space and a payload of 1275kg.As standard the Transit City comes with a 12-inch touchscreen multimedia system that offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and a heated driver’s seat. A three-person bench seat is standard.The safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, as well as a reversing camera.The Transit City is being targeted at the European market where orders will open in the second quarter of 2026, ahead of first arrivals before the end of the year.At this stage it’s unclear whether this new city- and budget-focused Ford electric van will be offered outside of Europe.“The Transit City is an exciting addition to the global Ford line-up, adding a new variant of the world’s most iconic nameplates. Ford Australia is always evaluating options to expand our line-up for customers, but we have no news to share about future products at this time," said a Ford Australia spokesperson.Ford already offers a number of electric vans in Australia – the mid-size E-Transit Custom and the larger E-Transit.