Sedan News

The spectre of the world's biggest car recall is again hanging over Australia after more than a decade since it first came to light. The Takata airbag recall, which affected millions vehicles in Australia and claimed several lives here and overseas, has resurfaced as Lexus recalls 7015 IS sedans for potentially faulty airbags. The Lexus IS vehicles were built from 31 August 2005 to 25 December 2012. Defective Takata airbags have the potential to propel shrapnel through the cabin in the event of a crash. This is caused by a faulty airbag inflator propellant that degrades over time, especially in humid weather, and could cause an explosion when the airbag is deployed. Now Lexus has recalled thousands of IS vehicles because its original Takata airbag fix for some vehicles might not solve the issue. During the first wave of recalls supplies of new airbags were tight and Lexus believed adding a desiccant to new Takata airbags would stop the propellant degrading over the life of the airbag. It is now understood this is not the case and the inflator propellant could still degrade over time. Lexus has voluntarily issued a recall. Lexus Australia said the vehicles were still fine to drive and there were no known incidents of the airbags exploding when deployed. The brand stressed this recall was done out of an abundance of caution and to fix the issue before any degradation to the airbag inflator propellant. Lexus will contact affected owners and replace the airbags free of charge. Lexus claims the repair will take approximately 4.5 hours. Owners may be required to make the vehicle available for a longer period of time. Owners can contact their local dealer or Lexus customer service for more information. Note: Although the involved vehicles are within the above VIN ranges, not all vehicles in these VIN ranges were sold in the Australian market.

The Aussie EV switch is in full swing. Electric car sales have skyrocketed in Australia in 2026, and it has seen some record-breaking figures.  Electric cars outsold petrol- and diesel-powered cars individually for the first time in a single month in August 2026. EVs repeated that success in September 2026, but only bested petrol in October after diesel surged back ahead. Plenty of EVs have jumped up the sales charts in 2026, so here is a look at the 25 best-selling EVs through 10 months of the year. The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling EV in the world, and Australia is no exception.  The mid-size SUV is approaching the 40,000 sales mark for 2026, which is nearly 5000 more than the Toyota RAV4 (35,927) has managed. The BYD Sealion 7 claimed second place on this list with more than 22,000 units sold up to October 2026.  BYD’s mid-size SUV is the brand’s most successful model and has provided competition for the Model Y, boasting year-on-year growth of almost 130 per cent.  The Geely EX5 is currently sitting in third place at more than 14,500 sales, while the Zeekr 7X rounds out the top four with 12,241. The Jaecoo J5 EV is currently occupying fifth position (10,266), while the sixth-placed BYD Atto 2 small SUV (9126) is followed by the Tesla Model 3, which is one of only three sedans in the top 25.  Kia’s EV5 (5175) and EV3 (5045) SUV duo take up eighth and 10th spot, with the BYD Atto 3 sandwiched between the pair (5070).  The EV3 and EV5 have been crucial to Kia’s increased EV presence in Australia, because the rest of its electric line-up hasn't reached 1000 units sold collectively so far in 2026. The BYD Atto 1 became Australia’s cheapest new car on sale, currently available with a drive-away deal of $19,990 until December 15, 2026.  It's sold nearly 5000 examples up to October 2026. Geely’s EX2 hatchback is another ultra-affordable EV option, and hit the Australian market in August 2026, already proving popular with Aussie buyers.  The EX2 recently surpassed one million cumulative global sales in October 2026, and it has had a similar impact in Australia, already registering more than 4300 sales.  The MG4 Urban also joined the Australian market early in 2026 as a cheaper, front-wheel drive alternative to the MG4. MG has shifted 4233 examples of the MG4 Urban in 2026 so far, which is more than the BYD Dolphin (3894).  The BYD Seal is another electric sedan putting up competitive sales numbers, registering 4167 sales, as one of few sedan models to experience growth in 2026. Further down the list is Toyota’s bZ4X (3333), followed by the MG4 (2711), with the MG S5 next up (2670).  Chery’s E5 has managed 2056 sales, while the XPeng G6 (1673) is doing better under the brand’s new factory-backed operation Down Under.  Zeekr dropped the price of its X small SUV in April 2026, and it has seen a strong sales response, with 1635 units sold, equating to a 167.6 per cent increase year-on-year compared to October 2025. Hyundai’s Kona EV has shifted 1567 examples, while the European-built Volvo EX30 (1558) and Volkswagen ID.4 (1440) also sneak into the top 25.  The Mazda 6e has been the 25th best-selling car so far in 2026, with 1390 sales, as the Japanese brand looks to turn around impending fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard.   

Sourcing models from Audi’s two joint-venture operations in China for Australian consumption is an “active discussion” at the German brand’s local subsidiary and Ingolstadt HQ. In line with global VW Group strategy to become more competitive and increase speed to market, Audi Australia has a careful eye on the output of the Chinese ‘AUDI’ sub-brand produced in collaboration with industry giant SAIC and the more traditional ICE, hybrid and electric Audi variants it has developed with the equally imposing FAW Group. Asked whether Audi Australia was looking at the brand’s Chinese portfolio to fine-tune its offering, Director Jeff Mannering told CarsGuide, “The current joint ventures, the strategy is currently that it's done for the (Chinese) domestic market.” “But I'm sure with what's happening in the world and the speed at which they're bringing new models out, there is some discussion.” “I think it's more a group topic on where do we have any alternative options to either get more competitive or to get a little bit faster. “And it could be multiple places around the world, but China is probably the hot topic at the moment and they’ve just done the E5,” he said. The AUDI E5 Sportback is a pure-electric “executive shooting brake” which deletes Audi’s traditional four-ring logo in favour of an illuminated AUDI ‘wordmark’ designed for the Chinese market. Underpinned by the Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP), developed specifically for AUDI, it features an 800-volt architecture as well as 220kW single-motor rear-wheel drive or 579kW dual-motor quattro all-wheel drive powertrains. Measuring close to 4.9m long, just under 2.0m wide and a little under 1.5m tall, the five-door, five-seater offers up to 770km of CLTC range thanks to a 100kWh NMC battery. The flagship dual-motor quattro is claimed to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds. Also underpinned by the ADP, the AUDI E7X (the sub-brand’s first model, unveiled in May this year) is a large pure-electric SUV with system outputs of 300 to 500kW, quattro all-wheel drive and a large battery option up to 109kWh delivering over 750km of (CLTC) range. Established close to 40 years ago, FAW-Audi produces mainly long-wheelbase versions of the A3, A4, A5 and A6 sedans as well as the Q2 and Q5 SUVs. At the same time, the Chinese range includes the Q4 e-tron, plus the Q3 and Q3 Sportback. Confirming the potential for Audi’s Chinese-focused models to escape their home market, Mannering alludes to active HQ boardroom discussions. “Yeah, I'm pretty sure they would be talking about how do we get in the game,” he said.

Honda says it wants to grow its sales by nearly 50 per cent in Australia despite its local boss saying “business as usual” is dead in our market’s extremely competitive environment. The brand’s CEO Jay Joseph told CarsGuide Honda plans to hit 20,000 units a year, declaring that is a “healthier place” for the brand to be in the long run. Honda sold 15,383 units in Australia in 2025. Joseph earmarked an evolved product portfolio as an opportunity to grow sales, as the brand had done with its recently-launched Super One city hatchback, which he added had exceeded expectations. Honda has expanded its line-up recently by re-introducing the Prelude sports car, after spending years with a largely SUV-only line-up of the HR-V, ZR-V and CR-V alongside the expensive Civic hatch and Accord sedan. In the future, this expanding line-up may include next-generation products from America, with Joseph earmarking Honda’s next-generation large vehicle platform which underpins the Ridgeline ute and Pilot SUV as possibly being built in right-hand drive. Ironically given the changing market, this may also mean sourcing cars from Honda’s Chinese joint venture, which the company recently re-committed to at a global level. “When I say ‘scan the globe’ I really mean scan the globe,” he said of sourcing Hondas from China, “the economics of that are of course a little different, because for every car maker, except Tesla, the products which come out of China are developed with a joint-venture partner and the best we could do is reap half the profits of that, so we have to be careful about it.” His comments are in stark contrast to some brands that have been far faster to accept Chinese joint-venture models into their line-ups, such as Mazda (6e, CX-6e), Kia (EV5) and Nissan (Navara Pro PHEV). “They start off with a disadvantage, but I would never say never either,” continued Joseph. “If we have the opportunity to bring the right product, which meets customer’s needs, we’d certainly consider it.” “We’ve already done it in Japan, the new Honda Insight is China-sourced, so we’re not opposed to it as a company.” Other automakers turning to Chinese-built low-emissions vehicles is no accident. In the case of Nissan and Mazda in particular, there is an urgent need to bring down their emissions footprint thanks to Australia’s recently implemented New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). It’s proving prohibitively expensive to solve with models built in Japan or South East Asia where emissions laws are comparatively lax. It also exposes a glaring hole in Honda Australia’s current line-up, a fully electric mid-size SUV, which could only be filled by the Chinese-built Honda P7. The P7, which is built alongside joint-venture partner GAC, has struggled for market share in China, with some speculating the tie-up wouldn’t be renewed past its expiry date. Honda re-committed to the deal earlier this year. It also partners with Dongfeng on the similar S7, as well as the more mainstream and affordable e:NS2 crossover. Honda’s own in-house plans also feature electric vehicles too, despite its widely-reported cancellation of three new models, which were planned for a US market entry. The brand said its Alpha 0 concept, which adopts the company’s “Thin, Light, and Wise” design philosophy would still go to production, with the concept appearing as a small SUV and electric alternative to the current HR-V. Interestingly it will be built in India (a fellow right-hand drive market) and exported for a global audience to keep costs low. The new model is expected to be revealed early next year. Joseph also earmarked the CR-V in particular as a model he thinks should be performing better in the sales charts. “For the life of me I can’t understand how that isn’t a top-10 vehicle in its segment,” he said. “The product is absolutely as good if not better than the competition so there has to be something else. We’ve got to tell more people about it. We’ve got to win that upper funnel of awareness and consideration better than we have been. “Because, we convert really well. Every Honda dealer tells me the same thing: Once we get buyers into a test-drive, we win. Once they drive the Honda, they like it better, but it’s a matter of getting them into that test drive.”

Hyundai has increased the pricing of many of its combustion-powered models in Australia as CO2 emissions regulations continue to crunch. Pricing for the pure combustion-powered Hyundai i30, Sonata, Venue, Kona, Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles increased by up to $500 as of October 1, 2026. “The price increases are due to global economic factors, manufacturing, logistics and local policy,” said a Hyundai Australia spokesperson. Many of the affected Hyundai models also feature electrified powertrains and with the price rise for the petrol versions, this narrows the price difference. Not every pure combustion-powered Hyundai model received a price rise. All versions of the Staria, Staria Load, as well as the new Palisade XRT Pro aren’t affected. Pricing for the affected Hyundai vehicles is now as follows: Going back to Hyundai Australia’s statement, there’s a clear link to what “local policy” is causing the price rise of the pure combustion-powered models. The Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) has been in effect now for almost two years and the CO2 emissions targets are continuing to clamp down each year. In 2025 Hyundai Motor Company Australia (inclusive of Hyundai and Genesis) generated a fine amount of $4.2 million for going above its fleet CO2 emissions target. It was the fourth worst-performing brand, behind Mazda, Nissan and Subaru. With tougher CO2 emissions targets this year and even harder ones coming into effect in 2027, Hyundai may be at risk of accruing more fines, unless it can import more zero- to low-emissions vehicles (ZLEVs) or purchase credits from other carmakers.

Many Aussie have bought their first ever EV in 2026 and it’s changed the new car market forever. The Iran war's impact on fuel prices is often put forward as a key reason why more people than ever are making the electric car switch, but that's not the full story. Ed Harvey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Australasian home EV charger manufacturer Evnex, told CarsGuide it was fuel security that started to sway buyers. “It flipped the argument,” Harvey said. “The fuel prices have not just really strengthened the cost-saving argument, but also I think it's the first time that people really started talking about energy security or transport security.” Range anxiety has put many buyers off EVs.  It combines a fear of running out of charge with having nowhere to charge it. Harvey said the fuel crisis brought about by the Iran war and the closing of the integral Strait of Hormuz in March 2026 started to change buyer perception. Buyers can now save as much as $3600 a year in just fuel costs by making the EV switch, according to Evnex's research, but Harvey said fuel security also started to cause anxiety with panic fuel buying leading to localised shortages. The federal government relaxed fuel standards and released reserves, while launching a $20 million “Every little bit helps” fuel conservation advertising campaign. Harvey said it was fuel availability not fuel prices that "flipped the script" for many buyers. Drivers worried about where they could fill up as opposed to where they could charge up, for the first time. “I think that really changed how people thought about energy security and our reliance on imported fossil fuels,” Harvey said. “I knew some people with petrol or diesel vehicles that were asking friends to borrow electric vehicles for the holiday period because they were nervous they might not be able to get where they needed to go.” BYD Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins told CarsGuide higher fuel prices and fuel shortages contributed to exponential EV uptake earlier in 2026. Collins described the early stages of the fuel crisis period as a “pivotal point” and an “unprecedented time”. “That March, early April period - I think it was genuinely only a four-week period where we saw a big spike in orders,” Collins said. “I think there were a lot of people that were on the cusp of buying an EV and that tipped a lot of people into ‘I’ll just make the decision now’. “It was a pretty tumultuous time, so I think there’s some truth to that.” The Electric Vehicle Council’s (EVC) 2026 ‘State of EVs’ report found buyers purchased one EV every 100 seconds in the first half of 2026. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales contributed to more than a quarter of all new car sales in the first half of the year, compared to roughly one in every 10 in the first half of 2025. Where there are competitive EV choices, buyers are making the switch, such as the mid-size SUV segment. The BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5 and Tesla Model Y have consistently featured among the best-selling cars in Australia in 2026, and have experienced unprecedented growth. There hasn’t been the same growth in some other large segments of the market, and this is because competitive EV choices are still emerging, according to Electric Vehicle Council Chair and Origin Energy E-mobility GM Chau Le. “In each of these segments, EVs are becoming competitive, but we're not quite there yet in some of the segments,” Le told CarsGuide. “We're still a bit out, but with more EV models coming in and improvement in battery technology, it's only a matter of time until we're competitive across all segments.” There are no electrified utes that reach the balance of affordability, capability and driveability that their diesel counterparts have yet. Diesel-powered utes like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux continue to be a significant component of the new car market. Once competitive electric ute choices emerge, the ute segment will likely follow a similar transformation to the rest of the new car market. New car buyers' priorities have shifted permanently, and there's nothing fuel prices or supplies can do to change it.

Xiaomi, the tech giant turned car manufacturer, has quietly gone official in Australia as hiring has begun for positions in its automotive division, laying the groundwork for a future launch. The brand, made famous for its smash-hit-in-China SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV, is still thought to be years away from a local debut, with the new positions in legal and automotive financing early steps in its local arrival. Despite its overwhelming success in China, which has seen models with hundreds of thousands of units on back-order as its Beijing factory struggles to keep up with demand, Xiaomi is seeking export markets to make its business sustainable into the future as the Chinese new car market faces a contraction after years of explosive growth. The two new positions available on LinkedIn are located in Sydney, and come shortly after the brand announced its roll-out plans across continental Europe. Xiaomi is yet to lock in firm plans for right-hand drive markets, despite eyeing a Japanese debut. The news of local position hiring seems to confirm this will be part of the company’s future direction. Xiaomi currently offers the SU7 four-door coupe and YU7 mid-size SUV both as performance-oriented fully electric cars. It also recently launched its SkyNomad range of large hybrid SUVs, consisting of the two-row N70 and three-row N90, both use a 1.5-litre range-extender hybrid set-up. Xiaomi is positioned as a tech-luxury marque in China, and competes directly with the likes of Zeekr, XPeng, and the also-yet-to-arrive-in-Australia Nio. Xiaomi will face some tough barriers to entry. It will be comparatively late to the Australian market compared to its Chinese rivals, and is only just overcoming a production bottleneck at its Beijing factory ahead of its European debut. Wait times for the YU7 at its launch in China extended beyond a year, although this has now been brought down to just a handful of weeks. The YU7 was moving 40,000 units a month in its peak in December 2025, according to figures reported by Chinese media. The much-hyped SUV, which has styling and performance features influenced by everything from the Tesla Model Y to the Ferrari Purosangue, amassed 240,000 orders within 18 hours of going on sale. The success of Xiaomi’s automotive division has caused rivals to respond by launching similar performance-oriented models, like Geely’s Galaxy TT, MG’s MG07 and the Luxeed RX from Chery’s joint-venture with Huawei. Xiaomi’s take on the explosively popular large SUV segment goes in a different direction to its rivals with its Range-Rover inspired new products betting more on adventure than straight-up luxury, featuring a pop-up roof tent version from launch. Other expansion plans from Xiaomi recently include its acquisition of a large ownership stake in battery supplier Sunwoda, and the establishment of a research and development centre in Munich, Germany. The brand has also been spotted testing an updated version of its SU7 Ultra high-performance model at the Nurburgring featuring a new aero package. The company also hasn’t been without its dramas, from delivery bottlenecks frustrating customers in China to various quality issues and several fatal crashes whilst vehicles were being operated under self-driving software. All of which the brand is rapidly addressing ahead of its international debut. Regardless, expect to learn more about Xiaomi’s future automotive plans in Australia imminently.

Honda Australia is going big on its end-of-year plate clearance campaign, with an offer for free servicing to eligible customers announced today. From November 2026 to the end of January 2027, new customers of 2026 Honda ZR-Vs, HR-Vs, CR-Vs, Civics and Accords can claim free servicing for the first five scheduled services with Honda dealers. In addition, the brand is offering gift cards up to $3000 to eligible customers until stock runs out “to celebrate their new car purchase”. Some models aren't included, such as the Civic Type R, MY27 Civic, MY27 Prelude and the Honda Super-One electric car. Honda Australia, while behind the curve in offering only a five-year warranty when many brands are shifting to seven or more, already has a pretty tempting servicing plan for customers. Honda’s standard $279 capped price for the first five services (every 10,000km or 12 months) is excellent, and applies across the range. That means even a Honda Civic Type R’s servicing costs less than many mass-market models. For Honda to offer free servicing is notably bold. On top of this, Honda is extending its usual five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and its five years of premium roadside assistance to eight years each as part of the offer, as long as cars are serviced at a Honda Centre. Honda Australia’s General Manager of Automotive Nick Parkington spoke to the weight the company is hoping customers will see the offer with. "We take pride in delivering an ownership experience that is every bit as rewarding as the vehicles we build," said Mr Parkington. "This offer makes it even easier to get behind the wheel of one of our  vehicles while enjoying the confidence and peace of mind that comes with five free scheduled services.”

It’s 60 years since Nissan of Japan set up shop in Australia, initially assembling the Pininfarina-penned 410 Bluebird in Sydney. A huge success, that came after third-party distributor, and key figure in the creation of Holden, Lawrence Hartnett, started importing Datsun 310 Bluebirds here from 1959. The popular 510 Bluebird (badged 1600 here) really hit big from 1968, and was joined by the pretty B10 Sunny (or 1000) soon after. The following years were Datsun’s halcyon days, with the 810 Bluebird (180B from 1972, when manufacturing moved to Melbourne) and B210 Sunny (120Y from 1974) helping Datsun beat Toyota in Australia. But fierce competition, including from Mazda, Honda and later Mitsubishi, and some poor product choices dragged Nissan down, with only a few bright spots into the ‘80s. By 1992, Nissan ended local manufacturing, leading to further ups and downs that, if nothing else, prove how supremely resilient the brand is. Today it is the only carmaker still with an Australian manufacturing presence here, albeit as a supplier of original equipment mechanical parts exported to other factories globally. Never underestimate Nissan. To celebrate its 60 anniversary, here are the best and worst models that Nissan officially sold in Australia. These are the Datsuns and Nissans that were the best in their class, pushed boundaries out for the betterment of automotive kind, or are/were critically acclaimed. They needn’t have commercially succeeded to be on this list. And if you’re reading this from outside of Australia, sadly we never officially saw the S13 Silvia, R34 Skyline GT-R, Primera or any of the Pike cars like the influential Be-1 or S Cargo in Australia. The 12 Skyline since 1957, the V36 from 2007 was the last of the analogue models, before fly-by-wire electronics ruined its successor. Combining Nissan’s thunderous V6, sat behind the front axle for a front mid-engined rear-drive layout dubbed the FM platform, with an elegant 2+2-seater body, created Japan’s true BMW 3 Series alternative in the opulent Infiniti G37 – the sole version we saw in Australia. A short-lived masterpiece. Seven years before Ford stepped up with the Australian designed and engineered T6 Ranger of 2011, the third-gen Navara, the D40, created the blueprint of the modern mid-sized ute. Modern and car-like inside and out, the D40 drove, steered and rode far better than any previous body-on-frame ute, while still providing the rugged solidity required from a workhorse. The fact that this series lived on essentially unchanged until 2021 in North America as the Frontier is proof of how ahead of its time the D40 was. Teased for half a decade before finally breaking cover in 2002, the 350Z was the much-anticipated back-to-basics two-seater grand touring coupe in the style of the original Datsun 240Z, and it did not disappoint. This was a blunt, boisterous and bombastic American-style hairy chested muscle car on one hand, and – thanks to Nissan’s ubiquitous FM platform – an involving and rewarding sports car on the other. A true modern classic. The first modern electric vehicle – and history’s best-selling EV until swiftly overtaken by the Tesla Model 3 – the original Leaf was proof of concept, in a soft, dorky and easy package. High prices and cheap petrol meant only a few hundred made it to Australia, and battery degradation has tarnished the model’s reputation ever since. But the Leaf was a true Ford Model T moment. It started the EV revolution. It’s just a pity Nissan could not capitalise on such momentum, though today’s Ariya is a fine electric SUV. Nissan’s innovative e-Power EV-first petrol range-extender powertrain had been a success in other models elsewhere prior to the current X-Trail launching with it in Australia back in 2022, so we’re late to the party. In dual-motor all-wheel drive "e4orce" guise, this handsome largish mid-sized family SUV transforms into a frugal yet fast grand tourer, bringing sophistication and refinement, in an electrified package with no range anxiety issues. Along with the related Qashqai e-Power, today’s electrified X-Trail is the perfect middle ground between hybrid and EV. This year’s fabulous Honda Prelude hybrid is a stunning revival of the genre. We’d love Nissan to do the same. Its last effort, the stunning S15 200SX, capped off six generations of wildly differing rear-drive 2+2 sporty coupes, melding sensual design and thrilling performance, at an attainable price. Highly collectable nowadays. The Micra started life as a timid city car way back in 1982, but then blossomed into a bold, Euro-focused supermini for its second outing a decade later, blending advanced engineering with daring, original design. In an era where Nissan seemed hellbent on taking over the world, this version helped it succeed, becoming the first Japanese car to win European Car of the Year, and remained a class leader for most of its production run. However, sourced from the UK for Australia, the K11 Micra was too expensive to succeed here, but people who know ‘em love ‘em. Such a brilliant little baby. It seems amazing that Nissan in Japan allowed its Skyline sports sedan to be manufactured in Australia as a rival to the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, but that’s exactly what the boxy seventh iteration became. While we missed out on the high-performance versions of Nissan’s feted RB30 series engines, including the turbo version that helped make Holden’s unrelated VL Commodore an instant legend, the Skyline brought a mix of performance, refinement and class lacking from its local rivals. Plus, fun fact, the wagon was designed and engineered in Australia. But the four-cylinder R31, badged Pintara, wasn't so feted. The fourth-gen Patrol pretty much ushered in the modern big 4x4, with its chunky proportions, independent coil-spring suspension that allowed for more car-like driving dynamics, and civilised interior. The GQ was a rude wake-up call for arch rival Toyota. Better still, none of that progress diminished the nameplate’s hard-won reputation for toughness and capability. The gentrification of the 4WD but still with a punk attitude, for many fans, no Patrol is more beloved today than the GQ. Small hatchbacks were big business the moment the original Volkswagen Golf popularised the concept in the mid 1970s, with Nissan trying but not-quite-succeeding with two generations of Pulsar from 1980 (N11) and 1983 (N12) respectively. But third time’s the charm, it seems, with the N13 benefitting from a larger and stronger architecture, pleasing Euro design and a pair of gutsy powertrains, shared with the Holden Camira. The Holden connection came about as part of the government’s move to make Australian vehicle manufacturing more efficient, under the controversial "Button Plan". This was one of its few commercial successes, and helped make the N13 Pulsar – along with its Holden LD Astra twin – a uniquely Australianised small car. Meanwhile, the N13’s replacement stepped up big time in technology and sophistication, gaining a European feel and look, thanks to Saab-esque styling. But while these elevated the Pulsar to a new benchmark for small cars in Australia, the N14 failed to save Nissan manufacturing from ceasing locally in late 1992. An elegant, understated twin-turbo all-wheel drive powerhouse developed primarily for Group A motorsport, the R32 GT-R of the early 1990s was Nissan in full flight, developed during Japan’s bubble economy, to beat Porsche and others at their own game. An instant legend, nearly 44,000 GT-Rs were built, but only 100 came to a recession-ravaged Australia in 1991. Whichever badge you know Datsun’s first superstar by – Fairlady Z, 240Z, 260Z or (not for Australia) 280Z – the S30 series killed off the ruling British two-seater roadster market worldwide, defined by the MGB, Triumph TR6 and Austin Healey, in one fell swoop. But it meant much more than that. Desirable to drive and drop-dead gorgeous to behold, the original Z was the first mainstream Japanese car to really rise above being merely cheap and economical. It became the world’s best-selling sports car, until the Mazda MX-5 came along two decades later. Japanese cars were already popular before the 510 Bluebird/1600 arrived in Australia in early 1968, but the Datsun became that country’s first great mainstream family car. Along with being well made, low priced and highly equipped, the boxy rear-drive sedan brought an exhilarating change to its class, with sophisticated engineering matching the crisp styling and willing performance. A glittering career in motorsport quickly followed. So good was the 1600 that, from a critical and commercial perspective, every subsequent Nissan family car has lived in its shadow. While the R32 GT-R was inspired by the seminal Audi Quattro and Porsche 959 of the 1980s, the R35 from 2008 was its own supercar phenomenon. An incredible technological powerhouse, with forceful performance topping off outstanding dynamic capabilities, it looked and went like nothing before or since. The GT-R seemed to inhabit its own, timeless, eccentric orbit. Given the sheer mediocrity of most other Nissans sold alongside it on the showroom floor, it’s as if all of the company’s finest resources were poured directly into this one transcendental car. A towering achievement. Nissan’s answer to the Toyota Crown was meant to be a dignified and conservative luxury sedan. But the third-gen series from 1975 reflected its American influences by being an over-styled and under-performing barge. Garish and tasteless, it struggled to find an audience in Australia. Two years late and with dated styling and coarse engine choices, the second Pintara was based on the 11-gen Bluebird, which had switched to front-drive by then. It wasn’t bad, just terminally dull – though the glassy five-door liftback version was unique to Australia and briefly exported to Japan as the Bluebird Aussie. Under the Button Plan, there was also a Ford Corsair version. Both were massive flops, with their failure contributing to Nissan’s manufacturing shutdown in 1992. As a follow up to the phenomenal 1600, the 180B oozed early ‘70s chic, and sold up a storm, but lacked its predecessor’s style and verve. Yet the 200B of 1977 was worse, with a vocal drivetrain, dreary handling and a cramped, dated interior. Nissan even swapped out the sedan’s independent rear suspension for a more basic set-up. Buyers abandoned Datsun in droves, many buying the Chrysler Sigma instead. Marketed as the spiritual successor to the much-missed 1600, the Stanza looked only vaguely similar. But it was anything but to drive, with inferior engineering negatively impacting performance, dynamics and refinement. Creaky and outclassed, the Stanza as sold in Australia was crude and uncomfortably noisy, at a time when Honda was showing the way with the original Accord that seemed infinitely superior. Everything about the K13 Micra-based Almera sedan felt cheap, from its nasty plastics and coarse driveability to the bloated styling and fixed rear backrest that wouldn’t even fold to allow embarrassed passengers to escape into the oversized caboose of a boot. Ugly and shamefully awful. How did Nissan's global boss, Carlos Ghosn, allow such garbage to happen?

BYD has smashed through a sales milestone. The brand said it has made more than 50 per cent of its total revenue from export markets, rather than from its domestic sales in the Chinese market. This is due to BYD’s efforts in the last several years growing both its exports and its overseas manufacturing efforts in order to escape a stagnant Chinese new car market, which has contracted after a long period of explosive growth. The brand’s sales in China declined by 12 per cent, but it grew its exports by a whopping 137 per cent, to well over half a million units, according to BYD’s third quarter numbers for 2026. The Chinese market has reached a level of saturation and stagnation after several years of a bruising price war, which many competitors have pointed the finger at BYD’s aggressive domestic pricing strategy, overseas markets have become a crucial battleground for their future growth aspirations. Profit margins on vehicles sold in Australia, Europe and South America are exponentially higher than cars sold domestically in China. This is part of the reason sticker prices in the Chinese market are significantly lower than those we see in other markets. Price tags for the Australian vehicles generally attract a 15 - 20 per cent premium over the equivalent spec offered in China. Part of this will be down to right-hand drive conversion costs, and higher compliance costs for vehicles to meet Australia’s notoriously strict design standards and high bar for a maximum five-star ANCAP score. One analyst, as quoted in Nikkei Asia’s analysis of BYD’s latest sales numbers, said the company earns “roughly 10 times more profit per vehicle abroad than in China”. A part of this is vehicles sold in developed markets like Australia are offered in higher trim levels than they are in the Chinese domestic market, although the slew of larger, more expensive 4WDs and growth of luxury sub-brands like BYD’s Denza or Geely’s Zeekr are also massively helping to buff profit margins. GWM proclaims that it has doubled its average sale price in the last seven years in Australia as it has introduced pricier, better-featured vehicles, both from its Haval SUV brand and its Tank off-road brand further up the price scale. “The year-on-year increase in volume has also come with new cars at more expensive price points. If we can do that at the same time as showing customers value no matter the price then we’re on the right track." the brand’s Executive General Manager of Marketing and Communications Steve Maciver told CarsGuide recently. GWM is set to introduce its dedicated luxury arm Wey into Australia before the end of 2026. While Chinese brands continue to dominate the sales charts in Australia, where the barrier to entry is significantly lower, automakers like BYD, Geely, and Chery are facing tariffs in Europe and the USA as those jurisdictions move to protect their own domestic automaking capabilities. This is putting a cap on their respective ambitions, but each brand is also moving to diversify and acquire manufacturing capacity not only across Europe, but also in other strategic markets like South Korea and closer to home in South East Asia. Legacy automakers are feeling the crunch. Domestically this means household names like Subaru and Nissan dropping out of the race to be a top-10 automaker by sales, but internationally it means a massive squeeze in profit margins, big expenditure in research and development, and a large reduction in market share. This has resulted in many large international brands like Volkswagen and Nissan resorting to closing factories or cutting jobs by the thousands, with some brands needing to embrace Chinese joint-venture partnerships more closely to build more competitive models for export. Nissan, for example, shut down its historic Oppama factory in Japan as part of its Re:Nissan business overhaul, as it looks to reduce its capacity by a million units. As of the end of September 2026, the top-10 rankings in Australia are: Toyota (152,944 units) BYD (76614 units) Ford (61104 units) Kia (60800 units) Mazda (58865 units) Hyundai (56009 units) GWM (44959 units) Tesla (41705 units) Chery (38022 units) MG (36832 units)