Car News

BYD is exporting its budget electric car formula globally. The brand has its sights on affordable EV markets in Europe and other markets, with technology from its Racco kei car forming the basis, according to a report in Nikkei Asia. The Racco launched in July 2026 as BYD’s first attempt to break into Japan's very popular kei car segment, and its already got strong early demand. Kei cars are common in Japan, representing an affordable and practical electric car option for compact roads with limited parking room. BYD is looking to adapt the Racco's efficient ‘X-Pack’ battery unit to tackle Europe’s new M1E mini-car segment in the next few years. The Chinese carmaker will avoid pricey development costs by adopting the Racco's technology for the new European segment.The X-Pack is made up of key electrical parts integrated into a single battery unit fitted under the car’s floor to make the unit more compact. The up to 36kWh Blade battery boasts a quoted driving range of 320km, making the Racco the first kei car with a driving range exceeding 300km. It also features 100kW fast charging, with an estimated 10 to 80 per cent charge time of roughly 20 minutes. This efficient and practical set-up makes it perfect for buyers seeking a cheap electric car for urban driving.The European Union’s ‘M1E’ electric car classification requires cars to be less than 4.2m long (compared to 3.4m with Japanese kei cars). Carmakers who build models under M1E could be eligible for subsidies, with the EU eager to combat imported competition with locally built cheap EVs.Chinese carmakers have been plagued in Europe by tariffs on imported vehicles, as the EU seeks to address alleged foreign government subsidies pricing out local brands. BYD is planning to open a manufacturing plant in Hungary before the end of the year, so building its new mini-car there could make sense.The BYD Racco was effectively ruled out for Australia by the brand’s executives, because it was solely built for the Japanese market. Kei cars usually don’t comply with Australian Design Rules (ADRs).The Racco would require extensive reengineering to achieve adequate side-impact crash protection and rectify other safety concerns.The Honda Super-One is sold in Australia, spawning out of the N-One kei car to become substantially longer, wider and taller than its sibling.It also incurs a noticeable price hike on its smaller Japanese-only inspiration, demonstrating the prohibitive nature of conversion for budget-focused manufacturers.  It is expected cars built under the M1E classification will be valid under ADRs here because Europe and Australia derive design rules from similar principles. This could open the door for a European-built BYD mini-car to hit Aussie showrooms in the future. It would need to be built in right-hand drive and satisfy the business case to be a sufficiently cheap competitor Down Under.

Nissan’s decades old rivalry with the Toyota LandCruiser has been reignited and has hit DEFCON 1.The new Y63 Nissan Patrol will arrive in Australia at the start of 2027 after a two-and-a-half-year wait since its reveal.Now the Japanese brand has confirmed prices and confirmed its beefed-up six-tier Patrol range.Customers can now put down a deposit for a specific grade with their local dealer. Nissan hasn’t set a deposit amount as it will be up to the specific dealer, but expect something in the range of $500-$1000.The big news? Nissan’s Patrol is cheaper, more powerful and better equipped than the equivalent Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.The Ti grade kicks things off at $98,990 (before on-road costs), which is $2450 more expensive than the base Y62 Patrol grade. It is also $350 cheaper than the base LandCruiser GX. Full pricing table below.The Patrol continues to undercut the equivalent LandCruiser throughout its line-up, with the new-to-Australia off-road-focused Pro-4X grade severely cheaper than the LandCruiser GR Sport.The only other carry-over grade from the Y62 range is the Ti-L, which is about $14,000 more expensive than before but is complemented by the cheaper new Ti+ grade.It’s old news now, but the outgoing Patrol’s V8 petrol engine is no more. In its place is a twin-turbo 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine that makes 317kW and 700Nm. This is matched to a nine-speed auto, and a full time 4WD set-up that has low and high gears.The Patrol has an electronic locking rear differential and eight different drive modes.All grades also have some hi-tech off-roading features such as an invisible bonnet view, which gives drivers an idea of what is beneath them as they cross rough terrain.Nissan also promotes a scavenger oil pump, which helps keep lubrication on steep or off-camber climbs.Nissan has confirmed towing capacity is 3700kg, and trailer blind spot warning is fitted standard across the range. Higher grades build on the towing prowess with trailer docking support and electric brake controller.Payload, fuel use and details won’t be known until closer to the vehicle’s launch date.The addition of the Pro-4X grade also puts into doubt the potential for a locally tuned Warrior version.The Pro-4X is the brand’s new off-road hero with adaptive air suspension and auto damper control that reads the road ahead and adjusts suspension accordingly.It has all-terrain tyres, unique front bumper, trailer docking support and electric trailer brake controller.There is no locally tuned Patrol Warrior grade for now, with the brand stating it is actively investigating a Warrior, but it wouldn’t commit to the rugged 4WD.One of Nissan’s biggest selling points over the LandCruiser is its service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km, compared to six months or 10,000km. Nissan charges $499 per visit for the first five scheduled workshop appointments, which costs about $2000 less than the LandCruiser over the first five years.Nissan also backs its cars with a 10 year/300,000km conditional warranty, which requires owners to service their vehicle at a Nissan dealership or it reverts to a five year/unlimited km guarantee.All grades come with dual 12.3-inch displays, one for the multimedia the other for the driver’s instruments, Google built-in, which includes Google Maps, and Gemini AI assistant that can control certain car functions.The base Ti grade has:18-inch alloy wheels 360-degree cameraThree-zone climate controlSynthetic leather seats and leather Synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheelStepping up to the Ti+ gets you:Panoramic sunroofPrivacy glassPower tailgateRoof railsRain-sensing wipersDigital rear-view mirrorTi-L buyers can expect all that and more, including:14.3-inch dual screens12-speaker Klipsch stereoHead-up displayIntelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper) suspension, which continuously adjusts suspension to driving and road conditions20-inch alloy wheelsRotating view 360-degree cameraTi-L+ grade adds:Leather and synthetic leather seat upholsteryHeated and ventilated front seatsMassage driver’s seatHeated steering wheelCentre console cool boxBiometric Cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filterMulti-colour ambient interior illuminationPro-4X builds on the Ti-L grade with:Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper)20-inch black-painted alloy wheelsAll-terrain tyresPRO-4X unique off-road front bumper fasciaCentre console cool boxHeated and ventilated front row seatsHeated steering wheelTrailer docking supportElectric trailer brake controllerBiometric Cooling with in-built pollen and particulate filterRange-topping Ti-L Reserve boasts the Ti-L+’s kit and:Adaptive Air Suspension with Intelligent Dynamic Damping (e-Damper)22-inch step-machined alloy wheelsTrailer docking supportElectric trailer brake controllerDual 12.8-inch second-row entertainment screensDriver and front passenger massage seats

Audi has introduced a series of updates for model year 2026 (MY26) to the A5 and S5 liftback and wagon, as well as the Q5 and Q6 e-tron SUVs.All models now receive physical scroll wheels on the steering wheel with haptic feedback. These replace the touch-sensitive sliders.Additionally there’s a new-generation multimedia software with new digital instrument cluster views and enhanced functionality thanks to an app store, upgraded USBs, as well as the capability to connect to headsets and game controllers via bluetooth.On the safety front, all MY26 Audi A5, S5, Q5 and Q6 e-tron variants receive a new long-range radar, as well as the inclusion of active lane-keep assist and a lane-change assist. Audi claims this has been optimised for Australian conditions.Audi S5 variants also receive a new ‘dynamic plus’ drive mode that allows for controlled oversteering by altering the stability control, torque distribution, brake torque vectoring, and the engine and transmission calibration.The S5 also receives a factory-fitted dashcam, as well as enhanced parking features including trained parking, a reverse assistant, kerb protection and a car wash mode.The 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen is now added via the optional Premium package for the A5 e-hybrid. It was previously a standalone optional extra.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi A5/S5 line-up is as follows:A5 Sedan e-hybrid quattro 270kW S line: $89,900A5 Sedan TFSI 150kW S line: $81,127A5 Avant e-hybrid quattro 270kW S line: $92,818A5 Sedan TFSI quattro 200kW S line: $89,827A5 Avant TFSI quattro 200kW S line: $92,827S5 Sedan: $116,827S5 Avant: $119,827After an initial batch of MY25 Q5 e-hybrid plug-in hybrid (PHEV) examples arriving in Australia, supply of the updated MY26 examples are now fully on tap.The Q5 is still available in TFSI 150kW, TDI 150kW quattro, TFSI 200kW quattro, e-hybrid 270kW, as well as the flagship SQ5 variants. Both SUV and Sportback ‘coupe’ SUV body styles remain on offer.Beyond the new multimedia and active safety updates, the optional 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen has been moved from the Tech Pro to the Premium package.Additionally, the Tech Pro package gains additional parking functions like trained parking, a reverse assistant, kerb protection and a car wash mode.A dashcam now comes standard on SQ5 variants.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi Q5/SQ5 line-up is as follows:Q5 SUV TFSI 150kW: $83,627Q5 Sportback TFSI 150kW: $87,127Q5 SUV TDI 150kW quattro: $89,727Q5 SUV TDI 150kW quattro sport: $96,227Q5 SUV e-hybrid 270kW: $98,018Q5 SUV TFSI 200kW quattro sport: $98,027Q5 Sportback TDI 150kW quattro sport: $99,727Q5 Sportback TFSI 200kW quattro sport: $101,527SQ5 SUV sport: $110,027SQ5 Sportback sport: $113,527SQ5 SUV: $126,027SQ5 Sportback: $129,527For MY26 Audi has discontinued the mid-spec Q6 e-tron Performance trim, leaving only the entry-level Q6 e-tron and flagship SQ6 e-tron variants. Both are offered in SUV and Sportback ‘coupe’ SUV body styles.Range is claimed to have been "optimised" for all variants, plus there’s "optimised" regenerative braking, the addition of one-pedal driving, as well as additional charging information.The entry-level Q6 e-tron trims now get frequency selective comfort suspension as standard. This car previously had passive dampers.A dashcam comes as standard on all variants, plus there are additional modes for the augmented reality head-up display.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi Q6 e-tron/SQ6 e-tron line-up is as follows:Q6 e-tron SUV: $101,017Q6 e-tron Sportback: $101,017SQ6 e-tron SUV: $152,517.81SQ6 e-tron Sportback: $157,517

Volkswagen has used this year’s Peon Festival, Brazil’s largest agricultural fair to unveil a camouflaged version of its all-new South American Amarok, pointing to a long-suspected under-the-skin connection to Chinese giant SAIC’s Maxus Interstellar X, MG U9 and LDV Terron 9 dual cab ute siblings.SAIC Volkswagen is one of the longest established automotive joint ventures in China and has clearly played a significant role in the development of the new pick-up which replaces the 16-year old original ‘2H’ series-based Amarok, still in production in Argentina for the South American market. The outgoing ute was last facelifted in 2024.At the high-profile preview Volkswagen said, “The presentation of the new Amarok is part of (its) pickup truck offensive strategy in Brazil and South America, a region that is playing an increasingly important role in the development of the brand's new generation of pickups, with active participation in design, engineering, testing, and validation.“South America is no longer just a consumer market; it’s helping to define the future of Volkswagen pickups,” it said.Despite its heavy camouflage wrap, the new dual cab bears an obvious resemblance to the Maxus, MG and LDV utes, specifically its bluff, squared-off nose, high bonnet and broad C-pillar panels.If the Latin Amarok adopts the MG/LDV’s powertrains in base versions it will likely centre on a variation of their 163kW/520Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission and 4WD systems. That said, VW has said the new-generation model will also be electrified, supporting earlier reporting from Motor1 Brazil on a plug-in hybrid Amarok 800 TSI version expected to produce around 350kW/800Nm. Rear suspension will likely lean towards the Maxus and MG’s independent set-up rather than the LDV’s leaf-spring, live axle arrangement.Interestingly, Motor1 Brazil has also quoted internal sources confirming the ‘Atacama Project’, a three-row, seven-seat SUV version of the Latin Amarok.Commenting on the upcoming Amarok, Volkswagen South America Executive Chairman Alexander Seitz said, “The future Amarok is being developed based on the needs of South American customers, for one of the most demanding environments in the world.”With the new Amarok’s release scheduled for the second quarter of 2027, Volkswagen is investing over A$800 million in its General Pacheco plant in Buenos Aires, the Amarok production hub for Latin America and Mexico which has just reached the 800,000 unit milestone.Of that total, more than 465,000 units were exported to more than 100 markets.Could Australia be one of them in future?Aside from the no right-hand drive factor VW has already played down that idea, saying in a statement, “While the new Amarok will be developed in South America and produced for the local markets, the existing partnerships for the production of the Amarok in South Africa will remain in place.”The (NF) Amarok currently sold in Australia was developed in parallel with the T6.2 Ford Ranger and is built in South Africa. VW positions it as a premium vehicle for global consumption.

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. 

Genesis has just revealed its most luxurious car yet and it has used it as a statement to show it’s a cut above Chinese carmakers.Speaking with CarsGuide, Genesis Australia Head of Sales Operations Lachlan McColl explained that the South Korean carmaker is a closer rival to Range Rover and Rolls-Royce than Chinese luxury brands like XPeng or Zeekr.“Chinese manufacturers have made a significant impact on the Australian … in the last three, four or five years really since it started to come on quite significantly.”“When I do look at that, it’s one of the more mainstream cars.“If you look at a vehicle in isolation, then I think maybe you could potentially compare vehicles together. I think we offer so much more than that, though.“It’s not just about a piece of metal. It’s about we know our customers like cars that say certain things about them. It’s about achieving certain statuses in life stages.“At the moment, I don’t feel that the Chinese are quite there with having that brand perception. I think that’s one of the challenges that we’ve had as well.“If we look at those, the Europeans and the British, for example, that have up to 100 years of brand history and credibility and reliability and equity that they’ve built, we are in the process of building that.“I think the Chinese have started with that,” added McColl.McColl also noted that while the Chinese luxury carmakers offer a more compelling value proposition, the Genesis brand attracts a different type of customer.They are the type of people that are moving from brands like Bentley, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce and Porsche.The Genesis GV90 is the South Korean carmaker’s new flagship and is an all-electric rival to the Mercedes-Maybach EQS and the forthcoming Range Rover Electric.It will launch in Australia in the first half of 2027 and while official details are yet to be finalised, it’s understood that the flagship Neolun version may cost around $250,000, making it the most expensive Genesis model yet.The GV90 features two new world-first features: coach doors with a hidden B-pillar that allow for one large opening when the front and rear doors are open, as well as a roof airbag that’s designed to deploy during roll-over accidents and protect occupants from being ejected through the sunroof.Two versions are set to be available – the GV90 and GV90 Neolun – both powered by a dual-electric motor set-up with total system outputs of 490kW and 800Nm.The electric motors are fed by a 123.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is the largest fitted to any Hyundai Motor Group EV to date. It allows for up to 500km of range, depending on the configuration, according to internal testing.

Tesla has recalled nearly three million cars in China in the country's biggest recall ever.This recall impacts flush door handles on more than four million cars from not just Tesla but Geely, Xiaomi and XPeng, too.Flush door handles became popular in part thanks to Tesla. Some only pop out when required, as opposed to conventional handles, which can always be used.The trend took off in China, and features on many cars built in the country now.They have now been found to be a serious safety concern following several incidents globally, with this recall the latest step to curb risk.This recall has been brought about by two fatal Xiaomi crashes in China, among many other incidents.The two Xiaomi incidents are suspected to have been caused by power failures preventing car doors from being able to be opened.Tesla accepted in a statement that interior door handles are “difficult to identify and operate because their colour is similar to the interior trim.”“In extreme situations such as a severe collision causing the vehicle's low-voltage system to fail, this could hinder occupants from quickly opening the doors to escape and impede rescue efforts by those outside the vehicle, posing a safety hazard,” the statement continued.Recalled vehicles will be fitted with a physical warning label on the interior door and receive a software update to automatically lower the windows in a crash.The Chinese government passed legislation to ban flush door handles earlier this year that will kick in from 1 January 2027. Cars will only be allowed to be sold in China if they have a mechanical release inside and outside. It’s not just China where flush door handles are of concern. The BBC reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States have anecdotes of the door handles not working and leaving children trapped in cars. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is Australia's vehicle safety watchdog.ANCAP’s Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg told CarsGuide earlier this year the body would stick with its current review cycle, but still monitor design developments across all markets. ANCAP recently introduced its 2026 protocols with a bigger focus on preventing crashes rather than just impact testing.The banning of flush door handles will be felt around the world, including Australia, where many cars built in China are sold, both from Chinese and international brands.New cars imported from China to Australia will no longer feature flush door handles from 2027.

XPeng has confirmed it will not only honour all offers made by previous importer TrueEV, but it will also extend its warranty to every G6 already sold into the Australian market.The factory-backed XPeng entity, which has been involved in a legal stoush with TrueEV for some time, has now made the commitment to existing owners to address ‘uncertainty’ created from its legal proceedings.XPeng says it will review documents surrounding various promotional offers made by True EV prior to the discontinuation of its distribution agreement and subsequent legal proceedings.This includes the much-reported $5000 cashback promotional offer, which many G6 buyers have yet to receive, a confirmation of an extended promotional 10-year warranty offering, complementary scheduled maintenance offers, as well as other “miscellaneous promotional and campaign offers”.The brand encourages any existing XPeng owners to contact it directly. It says cases will be reviewed individually and the company will “work with customers to reach an appropriate outcome”.The company says it has expanded its customer support team to handle enquiries “promptly”.XPeng says it will extend its factory-backed seven-year and unlimited kilometre warranty to all existing G6 vehicles purchased through TrueEV or any of its authorised dealers. The warranty will be as per the new factory-backed operation’s warranty documentation.The seven-year warranty is limited to 160,000km for commercial use, while the high-voltage battery, battery management system and drive motor unit is covered by a separate eight-year and 160,000km warranty.The paint is covered for five years and unlimited kilometres and the anti-corrosion and rust warranty is seven years and unlimited kilometres.XPeng also added it was formalising its participation in the motor vehicle service and repair information sharing scheme, “supporting customer choice in where and how vehicles are serviced”.XPeng is expanding its factory-backed dealer network so that new and existing owners can service their vehicles at genuine workshops. The brand has 25 showrooms but plans to double this network to 50 in six months.During its stoush with its previous importer TrueEV, XPeng has come under criticism for leaving existing G5 owners in the lurch when it comes to parts, servicing, warranty claims, and promotional offers offered under the TrueEV arrangement.The new announcement should come as a relief to existing owners waiting for cashback, parts, or servicing, although the reality of XPeng’s roll-out of these promises remains to be seen.The company is forging ahead with a renewed plan for model launches, announcing it will add the L03 coupe small SUV to the range before the end of the year, alongside plans to launch the L05 mid-sizer as a more affordable alternative to the G6 and the G9L large SUV seemingly in place of previous plans to launch the standard G9 under the previous importer.The company also said it will launch range-extended models in 2027, and its new flagship GX large SUV will arrive at a later date.

Buyers will get their first official look at the much-anticipated Pajero 4WD next week. Mitsubishi has confirmed it will reveal the Pajero on the 2nd of September 2026. It comes after Japanese magazine BestCar exposed the reveal date late last month via a dealer source.Mitsubishi is expected to release more details about the Pajero at the reveal, including potentially initial pricing for the car.  The returning Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser competitor is scheduled to arrive in Australia later this year. Next week’s announcement will give buyers more information about what to expect. The Pajero will be primarily based on Mitsubishi’s Triton ute, riding on a sturdy ladder frame chassis.It is thought to also employ a 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 150kW and 470Nm in the Triton.This could be matched with a six-speed automatic transmission and will be supported by a rugged 'S-AWC' four-wheel drive system. The off-road ready S-AWC system also found on the Outlander PHEV includes four-wheel braking and torque vectoring.The Pajero will be offered in the same four trim levels as the Triton, which are the GLX, GLS, Exceed and GSR. Mitsubishi has further revealed a digital revision of its iconic triple analogue instrument meters found on previous generations of the Pajero.CarsGuide spied the Pajero undergoing testing in December last year, with the prototype showing off a blocky exterior and horizontal front grille design. Mitsubishi has not locked in an official launch date for the Pajero in Australia, but next week’s reveal will provide more clues. The new Pajero was approved for sale in Australia earlier this year, and is expected to arrive Down Under by November. Buyers can expect firm launch information in the next few weeks. 

Nowadays, Australia may host more car brands than ever before, but we miss out on some very cool models.That’s because of a uniquely regional Australian Design Rule (ADR) requirement that can cost upwards of $5 million to implement for each series.Known as ADR 34/03, it stipulates that three top tether anchorage points must be fitted across each rear-seat position. But it can also create years of delays and blow out business cases due to the subsequent expenses involved.Probably the most disappointing recent example has been the Renault 5 E-Tech.Wooing buyers and critics alike, this award-winning electric vehicle (EV) hatchback has been a smash hit in Europe, melding desirable retro design with cutting-edge yet affordable tech.However, as CarsGuide outlined earlier this year, Renault importer Ateco Automotive may not even bother releasing the 5 E-Tech into Australia because it cannot afford the extra millions necessary for it to comply with ADR 34/03. The maths just doesn’t add up. Such a pity.The same also applies to the Renault 4 E-Tech, a larger and more crossover-style EV wagon that, though not as racy as its closely related 5 E-Tech sibling, possesses family friendly packaging that might make it a more-practical proposition.But all is not lost.Unlike the 5 E-Tech which, despite its diminutive supermini proportions, is only available as a full-fledged five-seater hatch, the 4 E-Tech can be ordered as a two-seater panel van dubbed the Société Van that ditches the back row.Since this eliminates the need to comply with ADR 34/03, it begs the question: why can’t Ateco simply import the 4 E-Tech Société as a commercial vehicle? Post-sale, owners could then add a rear seat if desired, fitted to specification by a vehicle engineering firm in Australia.This was widely done in the 1980s, notably with smaller Japanese cars like the Suzuki 800 hatch (1980), Daihatsu Handivan (1981) and Honda City (1984). Each one was only officially imported as a two-seater van.However, according to Renault Australia General Manager, Glen Sealey, importing the 4 E-Tech Société is unlikely, given the extreme niche that passenger-car-based vans would occupy, adding that the Kangoo commercial vehicle broadly fills a similar role.“We haven't looked at that as a solution, because for us, we've got the Kangoo,” he told CarsGuide at the Renault Master large van launch in Sydney last month.“And that small panel van passenger car market is negligible (in size) … it would be higher cost, for low reward.”This is in spite of the wider Renault brand portfolio actually already offering a number of car-based panel vans in right-hand-drive (RHD) Ireland.“That RHD European market does utilise a typical passenger vehicle for (small panel van) commercial use,” Sealey said.“They do it in the Duster (small SUV). They do with the Sandero (small car). They do it with Megane E-Tech.”Sealey added that companies, not individuals, are buying electric vans in Australia, and they would not go for passenger-car-derived alternatives, that tend to attract individuals running small businesses.“The tradie is not buying electric,” he said. The corporate market is, and the corporate market is buying a larger van.”