People Mover News

BYD's answer to the Kia Carnival is coming to Australia.The BYD M9 plug-in hybrid is due to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year as a new electrified people mover option for buyers.The M9 will directly tackle the conventional hybrid- and diesel-powered Kia Carnival ($54,560, before on-road costs), sporting very similar dimensions.The M9 is BYD’s second people mover put on sale in Australia, following the arrival of the Denza D9 from the brand’s luxury division earlier this year.The M9 name comes from BYD’s Chinese ride-sharing and taxi services sub-brand Linghui.It also shares its underpinnings with the luxury-focused Xia DM-i people mover. It will be available in ‘Dynamic’ and ‘Premium’ grades, initially as a seven-seater that includes second-row captains chairs, before an eight-seater variant arrives afterwards. The front wheels are driven by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor, but BYD has not revealed output figures yet. In China the engine produces 115kW, while an electric motor adds a further 200kW. It will be equipped with either a 20.4kWh or 36.6kWh battery, offering 145km of electric-only driving range and a total range figure of 850km, according to WLTP standards. BYD confirmed the car will have DC charging capacity and vehicle-to-load capacity so devices can be powered directly from the car. Inside the car is available with heated and ventilated front and second row seats, as well as ‘near’ zero gravity adjustability. BYD has not confirmed a specific launch date, other than it will be in the fourth quarter of this year. The brand will also reveal pricing in Q4 and it is expected to be competitive with the established pack. It will certainly be cheaper than the Denza D9 starting from $95,990, while hybrid variants of the Kia Carnival kick off from $68,540. 

Volkswagen has upgraded its pure-electric ID. Buzz people mover and light commercial van line-up for the 2027 model year.Arriving in the fourth quarter of this year, the range will feature a new Pro+ model, extra standard equipment, more options and an additional colour choice, all with no change to pricing for the entry grades.The entry-level, single-motor ID. Buzz Pro has picked up a heap of new equipment including an under-chassis stone guard, bi-directional charging, updated driver attention monitoring, a predictive speed limiter, ‘driving experience selection’ (allows switching between drive modes) and Dynamic Road Sign Display.There’s even a dual-tone horn and the new colour option is a white/red two-tone finish.Price for the five-seat short-wheelbase version stays at $75,990, before on-road costs, with the long-wheelbase seven seater at $80,990. There’s also a new Infotainment package option which includes built-in navigation.The new Pro+ variant pulls together the most popular options applied to the base Pro and packages them into a stand-alone model positioned at what VW positions as “a more attractive price.”It brings all the equipment added to the Pro, plus 20-inch alloy wheels (up from 19s), Park Assist (with memory) and built-in navigation. This grade’s Infotainment package option features high-end Harman Kardon audio and a head-up display with the price stepping up to $84,990, BOC, for the SWB five-seater and $89,990 for the seven-seat LWB version.At the top of the ID. Buzz pyramid, the dual-motor, all-wheel drive, seven-seat LWB-only GTX adds Park Assist (with memory) and built-in navigation to its included features list, only this time around the price increases by $2.0K to $106,990, BOC.And VW hasn’t forgotten the tradies with the ID. Buzz Cargo SWB three-seater picking up the Pro’s new standard inclusions as well as wireless phone charging, and built-in nav with no change to the $69,990 MSRP.

XPeng has confirmed the pricing and specifications of its next new vehicle in Australia, the X9 electric people mover, as orders open.There are two versions of the 2027 XPeng X9 available at launch, the FWD Standard Range and AWD Performance. Pricing is $89,900, before on-road costs and $109,900, before on-road costs, respectively.This sees it undercut the luxurious Zeekr 009, but it’s priced similarly to the Denza D9.The entry-level X9 FWD Standard Range is powered by a single, front-mounted electric motor that produces 235kW.It’s fed by a 94.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and offers up to 535km of WLTP-claimed range.The flagship X9 AWD Performance, on the other hand, has a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with total system outputs of 370kW and 640Nm. This allows it to travel from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds.The dual electric motors are fed by a larger 110kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery which offers up to 580km of WLTP-claimed range.AC charging across the line-up is 11kW, whereas peak DC fast-charging is up to 542kW. This allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 12 minutes.There’s also vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities at up to 6kW.As standard there is air suspension with adaptive dampers, as well as a rear-axle steering system.A seven-seat configuration is standard with second-row captain’s chairs that offer 14 ways of electric adjustment, heating, ventilation and massaging, as well as a 17.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system, a 21-inch head-up display, 21.4-inch rear touchscreen, 27-speaker sound system and a fridge/hotbox.On the safety front there are nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane centring, a semi-autonomous park assist, as well as a surround-view camera.The X9 is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, whereas the high-voltage battery is covered for eight years or 160,000km.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 20,000km, whichever comes first. Pricing will be confirmed at a later date.Beyond the updated G6 electric mid-size SUV and the X9 electric people mover, XPeng also plans to launch the L03 coupe SUV, G9L large SUV and the L05 mid-size SUV in Australia over the next six months.The Chinese carmaker has also confirmed the flagship GX SUV will launch in Australia, however it hasn’t locked in concrete launch timing yet.

A hybrid car has just launched in China with a battery bigger than many EVs.The Leapmotor D99’s range-extender set-up boasts a whopping 80kWh battery.This means the people mover offers a pure electric driving range of 480km, according to more generous CLTC standards.This boosts total driving range to 1160km when the battery is fully charged. The D99’s range-extender battery is bigger than what is available on most grades of the fully-electric Tesla Model Y. Its battery is almost three times the size of the standard BYD Atto 1 EV.  Don’t expect to see the D99 in Australia anytime soon, with it specifically targeting the hugely competitive Chinese people mover market.It has a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 100kW and 225Nm to charge the battery, while dual electric motors provide 300kW and 525Nm. There is also a fully-electric version of the D99 that has a 115kWh battery that offers 700km of driving range. The D99 is priced in China from 249,000 yuan, which is just over $53,000, with prices rising up to 320,000 yuan or just less than $70,000.Range-extender vehicles and people movers have become increasingly popular in China, finding the sweet spot between an electrified set-up, sufficient driving range and increased practicality. The D99 is a rival to other Chinese competitors like the Denza D9, Xpeng X9 and Zeekr 009 that also boast range-extender set-ups. The Denza D9 and Zeekr’s 009 are already on sale in Australia as EVs, with an electric version of the Xpeng X9 approved for sale as well.Range-extenders remain a rarity in Australia, with Leapmotor’s B10 and C10 SUVs the only major examples. People movers are the latest segment to see an influx of electrified options, but it still remains dominated by the Kia Carnival. 

Zeekr’s flagship family hauler is lurking on Australia’s door-step.The big and luxurious Zeekr 009 Grand people mover has been shown in right-hand drive in Hong Kong.The 009 Grand ditches the third row for a business class on wheels-like four-seat layout.Made to appeal to back-seat passengers, the 009 Grand has reclining seats wrapped in supple leather and synthetic suede. They will pamper the passengers with massage, heating and ventilation functions.A monster 43-inch LED display separates the front and rear rows, transforming the area to a boardroom on the move.There are lockable consoles in the rear, which open via a pin code, cubbyholes to put your shoes and a refrigerator. Zeekr Australia’s Managing Director Frank Li has previously confirmed to CarsGuide the 009 Grand would come Down Under later this year.“In the second half of the year, we will be welcoming a very luxurious model, the 009 four-seater.“In China this is called the 009 Grand and it will have even better features than the current car,” Li said.The 009 Grand hasn’t been updated in China like the rest of the range, which means it misses out on the brand’s new 900-volt architecture and subsequent circa-400kW DC charging speed.Instead it maintains the 800-volt set-up of the current version, which delivers a DC charging rate of about 200kW.At its heart the 009 Grand has a 108kW Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery that delivers a driving range of more than 700km via China’s more lenient test cycle. Six- and seven-seat versions with the same hardware deliver a driving range of about 560km in Australia.The 009 Grand uses a dual motor set-up, with the two powerplants combining for 580kW and 810Nm.Big, luxurious people-movers are all the rage in China and several makers are going to get in on the act here.BYD’s Denza is offerings its D9 people mover and GAC has its more affordable M8 plug-in hybrid people mover on sale now, too.

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.

We’re missing out on some of Toyota’s best vehicles.Toyota is the world’s biggest carmaker and the best-selling brand in Australia by a country mile.One of the reasons for its success is its vast range that covers more buyer types than any other brand.That doesn’t mean it has a car for everyone, there are still models in its global range that would be a hit Down Under if they ever arrived.Here are three of the must-have Toyota models for Australia.Toyota FJ LandCruiserLast year Toyota broke the internet when it revealed its sub-$45,000 mini FJ LandCruiser.It is the size of a RAV4, but with the off-road ability of a HiLux. Australians would love it.Unfortunately, the FJ LandCruiser has been ruled out as it is fitted with a petrol engine that does not meet our emissions regulations, according to former Toyota Australia VP of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley.“It’s just about regulations,” he said.“We’re moving to Euro 6 emissions standards. That’s the reality.”The door has been left ajar for the FJ to head our way in the future, though.Hybrid versions are to be built in India for domestic and export markets later this decade, according to reports.Petrol-electric power would put it back on the menu for Australia, and Indian production would likely keep the price below $50,000.Toyota AlphardThe people-mover segment isn’t dead, it's just completely dominated by the Kia Carnival.But you don’t have to look far to see a grey imported Toyota people-mover humming around the suburbs of Australia’s big cities.The Alphard is already made in right-hand drive for Japan and other South East Asian markets. Not to mention, its luxury Lexus LM sibling is also on sale in Australia.The Alphard is a big, boxy-styled, roomy and luxurious hybrid-powered family-hauler that would appeal to big suburban families looking to tap into Toyota's reliability and low running costs.The Alphard is a bit premium, but there is the sportier looking Vellfire and the smaller Voxy and Noah people-movers that could also work well.Your move Toyota.Toyota's mini uteThis one is hot off the presses.A little Corolla Cross-based ute has been spotted testing in Brazil.The company has been linked to a new SUV-based ute for some years now, with some suggesting it could be based on the Corolla Cross or even the bigger RAV4.This model is Corolla Cross sized, uses hybrid power and is a lifestyle-focused ute in the same mould as the Ford Falcon and Commodore utes of the past.So think suburban workhorse rather than weekend adventurer.For now it is expected to be a Latin America model, but North American executives have also hinted at a SUV-based ute to battle the Ford Maverick. This would likely be bigger than the one spotted and based on the RAV4 instead.

Kia’s head of global product planning has fired a cheeky shot at rival brands, said he believes no brand is as well-prepared as Kia for the world’s unpredictable automotive market.Spencer Cho, Kia’s Senior Vice President and Head of the Global Business Planning Subdivision, said it’s impossible to know what the industry might look like in the future, but being prepared for as many possibilities as reasonable is the best answer.Speaking with Australian media at the launch of the new-generation 2026 Kia Seltos, Cho said that he thinks no one can know how global events will affect the industry.Trying to predict the events that might change the way brands need to operate is impossible, he said, but understanding what needs to be done to respond can’t be known until after the fact.“Let me put it this way. If I can say that I can expect everything… that's not possible,” Cho said.The US-Israel war in Iran and the effects it has had on global oil shipping is front-of-mind for Cho.“No one can expect this kind of war will happen, and also a couple years ago for Russia and Ukraine, no one can expect that kind of thing.”"But what we are doing is we carefully monitor the market demand or market changes. And development of product takes quite some time. We should create very sound product strategies, and we have to maintain those strategies in a consistent manner.”Rather than scrambling to respond to changes in the industry, Cho said Kia has built enough options to be able to react quickly in a ‘here’s one we prepared earlier’ manner.“Thankfully, we studied the EV transition quite earlier than any other brand. There are also some ups and downs, but the transition and the trend stays the same, just the differences are a little bit of this slow down. So speed might be the difference.”He says the key is not drastically changing for short-term gain, rather slightly adjusting without removing options for the future. Essentially, giving EVs a boost shouldn’t mean forgetting to continue ICE development, he said.“But we stay in the course to maintain the development of the planned EV models entering each global market, step by step. Yet we're still developing the all new ICE models as well as you see in the new Seltos. “So one of the key strengths we have is all the technologies, the diesel or gasoline or hybrid and plug-ins and EVs.”“So we have all the options in our hands. “Certain market ups and downs… hybrid is rising, we can provide hybrid models. If EV is coming, we can provide EVs. So thankfully, we have all the technologies in our hands, and we have the all the product lineup as well.”Cho took a cheeky swipe at rivals, too, rare for a senior executive. He said Kia’s strength globally is its range of cars available from the budget end, Picanto for example, through to hybrids, plug-ins, and more expensive performance cars or large electric SUVS.“So that's probably one of the strengths Kia has compared to other brands. I don't know whether you can name any other OEMs better than us in the case of the product line-up as of today.”

Jaecoo, Chery’s premium sub-brand, has announced the arrival of a much-anticipated seven-seat version of its J8 large SUV, which will also feature a plug-in hybrid set-up for the first time. There is no news yet on the pricing for this latest J8 variant, but expect it to be above the $54,990 (drive-away) price tag attached to the all-wheel drive five-seater petrol model currently on sale.The J8 will go into direct competition with the closely-related Chery Tiggo 8 all-wheel drive PHEV and the BYD Sealion 8, which both sit around $50K-$60K bracket.There are limited details available on the new J8, but it will use the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up found on the Omoda 9, which is on sale in Australia. The Omoda 9’s three electric motor set-up produces 395kW, so expect a similar figure on the J8 PHEV.Jaecoo has also confirmed the car will have an all-wheel drive system. This will be the first electrified J8 model, with the only other two models being front-wheel and all-wheel drive petrol units.Competing in the large SUV segment, the J8 is approaching one year on the Aussie market, but trails the likes of the Tiggo 8 and the Sealion 8 on sales charts.It has sold less than 200 units this year, compared to the Sealion 8’s more than 1500 and the Tiggo 8’s more than 1000. The brand has decided to bring across a seven-seater J8 due to popular demand for a full-size family car in the lineup. The J8’s announcement comes with the brand continuing to expand its range Down Under, following the well-received J5 EV at the start of 2026, and the soon-launching petrol variant of that car. It is expected the J8 PHEV will launch in Australia in the third quarter of 2026, along with a hybrid version of the J5. 

Hyundai Australia has detailed some major additions to its Staria people mover and Staria Load commercial van line-ups.Highlighting the changes is a new hybrid powertrain that will be offered across both the Staria Load line-up, as well as the new Staria Lounge seven-seat flagship people mover.The Staria Load Hybrid is the first series-parallel hybrid commercial van offered in Australia, overlooking the Transit Custom PHEV which, as the name suggests, is a plug-in hybrid.Power comes from a familiar set-up combining a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, like the Carnival Hybrid and Santa Fe Hybrid, but has a higher total system output of 180kW.Hybrid versions of the Staria Load and Staria Lounge are due to launch in Australia in June.The 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine still feature in the entry-level Staria people mover, which is due at dealers this month, but the latter engine option is front-wheel drive, rather than all-wheel drive.Additionally, an electric version of the Staria Load is due to launch in Australia in the second half of 2026. It has a single, front-mounted electric motor producing 160kW and is fed by a 84kWh lithium-ion battery pack.Other changes made to the Staria and Staria Load line-up with this model year 2027 (MY27) update include a new front fascia with a different lighting signature, plus vertical side-mounted tail-lights.All versions of the Staria Load have a two-seat configuration, with the pre-update five-seat variant being discontinued.2027 Hyundai Staria and Staria Load Australia pricing:2027 Hyundai Staria and Staria Load Australia powertrain and efficiency:2027 Hyundai Staria and Staria Load Australia dimensions:2027 Hyundai Staria and Staria Load Australia standard equipment:Staria Load highlights:Two-seat configuration17-inch steel wheelsFull-size spare wheelLiftback rear tailgate (rear barn doors available)Halogen headlights4.2-inch digital instrument cluster12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system (NEW)Apple CarPlay and Android AutoOver-the-air updates (NEW)Keyless entry and push-button start (NEW)Electric park brakeLeather-wrapped steering wheelCloth upholsteryStaria Load Hybrid adds:Single-zone climate controlStaria Load Electric adds:12.3-inch digital instrument clusterBattery heating systemShift-by-wire gear selectorSatellite navigationStaria Load Premium adds:17-inch alloy wheelsLED headlightsPower tailgateElectrochromic rear-view mirrorHeated steering wheelHeated front seatsStaria highlights:Eight-seat configuration18-inch alloy wheelsFull-size spare wheelLED headlights4.2-inch digital instrument cluster12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system (NEW)Over-the-air updates (NEW)Front single-zone climate controlRear manual climate controlKeyless entry and push-button start (NEW)Cloth upholsteryStaria Lounge adds:Seven-seat configurationProjector LED headlightsSatin chrome door handlesDeluxe door scuff platesPrivacy glassDual power-sliding side doorsDual sunroofsPower tailgate12.3-inch digital instrument clusterInterior ambient lightingSuede rooflinerMetal pedalsRear single-zone climate controlNappa leather upholsteryHeated front and rear seats2027 Hyundai Staria and Staria Load Australia safety:The Hyundai Staria received a five-star ANCAP safety rating back in 2021, whereas the Staria Load received a Platinum collision avoidance rating based on testing in 2022.Standard safety highlights include:Seven airbagsAutonomous emergency braking (AEB)Blind-spot monitoringRear cross-traffic alertLane-keep assistLane centringIntelligent speed limit assistAdaptive cruise controlFront and rear parking sensorsReversing cameraA surround-view camera is now only offered on the Staria Load Premium and Staria Lounge.2027 Hyundai Staria and Staria Load Australia warranty and servicing:Like all Hyundais, the Staria and Staria Load are now covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, whereas the high-voltage battery in the hybrid and electric models are covered for eight years or 160,000km.Logbook servicing and pricing hasn’t been detailed yet.