Green Cars

Hyundai has pulled the plug on its latest critical hit out of Europe, and at the 11 hour it seems. On course for a local launch early next year, the all-new Ioniq 3 electric vehicle (EV) has been sidelined due to the cost of sourcing the vehicle out of Türkiye. According to Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) Product Development Manager, Tim Rodgers, the project priced itself out of contention for our market. “The reality is, the last few years, we've been studying what Ioniq 3 could look like in our market,” he explained. “(But) the global landscape has changed quite a lot, not just the market, but even just logistics and transport. Lots of things have changed, and that's kind of dictated the decision for us in a lot of ways.” Unveiled in April at Milan Design Week in Italy, the Ioniq 3 is about the size of a Toyota Yaris, but with the interior space of a Toyota Corolla due to the packaging advantages of EVs. This fact would have given HMCA the opportunity to pitch the five-door supermini as a de facto replacement for the i30, especially as both vehicles were designed and engineered expressly to appeal to European consumers. The Ioniq 3 is also the fraternal twin to the Kia EV2, and shares variations of the same E-GMP 400-volt architecture, though finding two hatchbacks from the same DNA pool that look so different from each other would be a challenge. Broadly stepping into the shoes of the now-discontinued Rio hatchback, the EV2 is also a non-starter for Australia, as a result of its manufacturing base being in Slovenia. The company has indicated in the past that the successful EV3 small SUV is more 'right-sized' for this market. With the initial launch drives recently completed in Europe, the Hyundai has been positively received by the European press, with many reports praising the Ioniq 3’s comparatively keen pricing (for an EV), distinctive styling and or solid dynamic characteristics. If you like what you see, there is still a glimmer of hope, however. Though off the table for now, the striking Hyundai electric hatchback may eventually get a reprieve in Australia, should our currency strengthen, exchange rates improve and the geo-political climate settle down a bit in the Middle East. Watch this space.

The S grade opens the 2026 Kia Seltos family, and it shares its hybrid powertrain with the rest of the family – a 1.6-litre petrol engine, a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, and a front-mounted electric motor. It’s front-wheel drive and its outputs are a not-very-exciting 112KW and 265Nm. It’s yours for $37,990 before on-road costs, or you can add the Safety Pack, which ups the active safety suite, and ups the price to $40,150. Standard equipment in the S includes: 16-inch alloy wheels Roof rails Flush door handles and LED lighting Two-tone seats are fabric Dual-zone climate control Smart key for remote engine start Twin 12.3-inch screens 5.0-inch climate panel in the middle Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s no wireless charge pad, however, which kind of defeats the purpose of the latter.

Australia could welcome not one but two new electrified dual-cab ute options in 2028, with Hyundai's first proper ute seemingly firming to join a hybrid Kia Tasman 2.0 in Australia.  Both Korean brands have remained relatively tight-lipped on their ute ambitions, but Hyundai has confirmed that sharing its dual-cab with Kia is back on the table, after it was largely ruled out last year. Then, the brand looked likely to share development of an all-new dual-cab with Hyundai in America — a product that would also likely be built there to dodge tariffs. But the brand acknowledges business case challenges, and has already opted to not import products from Europe owing to large shipping costs and unfavourable exchange rates. Whatever the reason, the brand is now more open to sharing with Kia. "If we wanted to bring the speed to market, there's probably only one other option," said Hyundai Australia COO, Gavin Donaldson, before joking about shipping costs from "Tasmania". "We've kept two options open because we think both could technically work," he said. "While we can't confirm, we would probably say if they're looking at something in the States we'd still consider that one because that's definitely on the drawing board. And then the other ones." The timing is perfect, because this week a leaked document confirmed work would begin on a new Kia Tasman in 2028. The documents come from Kia’s Employment Stability Committee – the body is responsible for negotiating factory allocation, Korean factory investments and more. The documents claim the Hwaseong factory, which is responsible for building the Tasman, is slated to review the new Tasman and its derivatives in 2028. That update is tipped to review all aspects of the Tasman, from its design to its powertrain, and even potentially introduce hybrid-petrol power for the first time. In fact, parts of the new update are already being evaluated in Australia. "That's part of the process. There's a normal Product Enhancement process applied to it like any other car. So that's happening now, if you like," Kia Australia’s Chief Ride and Handling Engineer Graeme Gambold recently told CarsGuide.  "And that's not just facelifted exterior styling. That's also different shock absorber technology, probably powertrain options, and a whole lot of things." A hybrid powertrain would make a brand-share arrangement even more appealing to Hyundai, with executives repeatedly stating that electrification was a non-negotiable. That stance has softened slightly, with the brand now favouring speed to market, but a hybrid powertrain remains a key focus. "We'll never say never to a new powertrain at the end of the day because if something means it can come a lot quicker with a different powertrain, then we would say yes. But for us, we think a hybrid powertrain is what we're going to do," Mr Donaldson says. 

Things are about to get interesting in Australia as rising superstar Chinese brand, Xiaomi, prepares to launch locally, and if early indicators are anything to go by the newcomer could blow Zeekr, Chery and BYD away. Much like other Chinese brands that started off as a tech company only to switch to EVs, Xiaomi is new to building vehicles, but that inexperience hasn’t stopped it from impressing those who have mastered cars. Despite Xiaomi having never built a car before 2024, it’s making arguably the most desirable cars in China. This is down to the design of the cars - which look frankly beautiful - along with the affordable pricing and the high performance appeal of the vehicles. Xiaomi is known as the “Apple of China” due to its enormous presence in consumer electronics, but in October this year the brand entered its homeland’s top 10 best selling carmakers. The company’s CEO Lei Jun has the approachable geekiness of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs. He has taken a very high profile approach to the automotive side of the business, leading keynote addresses and live streams talking directly to customers. With Xiaomi’s electric cars getting such attention Ford’s global boss Jim Farley imported one of the brand's vehicles - an SU7 - to drive back in 2024 so he could see what the hype was all about. Farley was so taken by the car he was reluctant to hand it back. “I don’t like talking about the competition so much but I drive the Xiaomi – we flew one from Shanghai to Chicago and I’ve been driving it for six months now and I don’t want to give it up,” Farley said on the Everything Electric show podcast. Now Xiaomi is poised to take the next step - the world. First Xiaomi will launch in Europe next year. Then in 2028 it will likely be Australia’s turn. Xiaomi hasn’t officially confirmed the Aussie arrival, the signs are clear. CarsGuide recently reported Xiaomi was hiring in Australia, with advertisements appearing for a financial product manager and legal counsel. That not only indicates Xiaomi is assembling a local team, but that it plans to handle business in Australia itself rather than through a separate distributor. Xiaomi’s most popular car is the SU7 sedan followed by the YU7 mid-sized SUV. The SU7 is a rival to the Tesla Model 3, but more luxurious and with an enormous range. We’re talking up to a claimed 900km (CLTC) depending on the battery and the grade. The SU7 Ultra has a ‘shorter’ 620km range, but that’s because its energy priorities are performance focussed, with this grade about to sprint from 0-100km/h in less than two seconds. Only a handful of production cars in the world can boast this kind of rapid acceleration. The vehicle the brand is likely to lead with is the YU7 SUV, which will rival the Tesla Model Y, Zeekr 7X and BYD Sealion 7. In China the YU7 comes in several grades, with ranges of up to 835km (CLTC), and of course there’s a GT performance grade as well that can sprint from 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds. Australia has become a lucrative market for Chinese carmakers thanks to the country’s lack of tariffs and buyers willing to try a new brand in order to own an affordable EV. When it comes to year to date sales in Australia four of the top 10 brands are now Chinese - those being BYD, GWM, Chery and MG. All will be watching Xiaomi’s European entry carefully and preparing for the brand’s Australian arrival. It can really only mean good news for Australian car buyers - not only are Xiaomi’s vehicles cutting edge and stylish but the affordable pricing that will likely be offered will see the rivals try to tempt you away with better deals.

Electric vehicles are hot. Last month, almost one in four registrations were EVs. That’s more than three times the rate from the previous October. Whether it is because of soaring fuel prices, more government incentives, greater choice or better charging infrastructure, Australia currently sits in seventh place for EV sales, up from 19 last year. But not everybody wants a BYD Atto 1 Essential, even at $19,990 drive-away. And not everybody can afford (or wants) a Tesla Model Y (from $59,000), Zeekr 7X (from $58,000), BYD Sealion 7 (from $55,000) or Geely EX5 (from $42,000). Luckily, the early adopters from the first half of this decade that took the plunge when sales of EVs were just a trickle have moved to newer pastures, presumably with bigger batteries and better range. Here are our top six cheap used EV buys under $25,000. Note that while all can be had with fewer than 80,000km, none come with a spare wheel. Boo! Don’t laugh. The MX-30 makes a great used-car buy, especially if you’re seeking something different, refined and luxurious. Revealed in 2019, the MX-30 was essentially a coupe version of the far-more successful CX-30 small SUV. The thinking behind the E35 EV version was sound: a small, “right-sized” battery that traded long-distance range for faster charging, lighter weight for optimised efficiency and better driveability. With just 200km of WLTP range as a result, buyers stayed away. Barely more than 100 units were said to be sold in Australia. Low-range aside, the Mazda stands out with off-beat styling, featuring clap-hand doors, RX-8 sports car style. With a motor up front driving the front wheels, the MX-30 EV’s performance is modest but ultra-smooth, the steering’s sweet and the ride is supple. And there’s even decent practicality in the beautifully crafted interior, once you get past the fiddly rear-hinged back doors and hemmed-in (though sufficiently spacious) back seat. The boot is reasonably roomy, too. All local MX-30 E35 models are in Astina specification, meaning high equipment levels, including Bose audio, sat-nav, a leatherette/suede-like upholstery with beautiful textile trim, a head-up display, sunroof and a full suite of driver-assist safety for a five-star crash-test rating. Most people bought the far-cheaper G20e instead, with fewer frills and a conventional 2.0-litre four-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine version. Today, with a $25,000 budget able to secure a clean, fairly low-kilometre example of Mazda’s first global EV, the smart money’s on the MX-30 E35. A quality, quirky curio whose time has finally come. Still arguably one of China’s most accomplished cars, the MG4 was designed and engineered in the UK for European tastes, and it shows. Leagues ahead of the brand’s awful original ZS EV SUV, this small five-door hatch isn’t just about sleek good looks. Underneath is a sophisticated, dedicated EV architecture, with the electric motor over the back axle, driving the rear wheels. At our price point, battery sizes will be either the base 51kWh (350km WLTP) or mid-spec 64kWh (452km WLTP). Clever aerodynamics really help with efficiency here. In keeping with the MG’s sporty past, acceleration is punchy, the steering sharp, the handling direct and the ride firm but forgiving. This is a spirited car to chuck around. The big interior is pared back but functional, though the climate control’s lack of physical buttons is frustrating, while the back seat is fairly basic. Yet, falling within our budget, the MG4 is a smart, fun drive that has yet to be matched by newer Chinese alternatives. Great value from about $22,000. Sadly not the ground-breaking Ioniq 5, but the earlier, five-door hatchback series that looked like a 2010s Toyota Prius. Available in a hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and Electric guises, the original Ioniq was a taster of the formidable global presence that the Hyundai Motor Group would become heading into this decade. Though the Series 1 Electric was only launched in Australia in late 2018 (two years after the rest of the world), we’re only interested in the Series II facelift from late 2019, since it gained substantial improvements, including a water-cooled battery pack than the earlier air-cooled item, promising dramatically better longevity. Range from a larger battery (up from 28kWh to 38.3kWh) jumped up from 204km to 311km WLTP, aided by single-pedal regenerative braking driving, whilst performance aspects were also updated, along with a now far-more modern interior. Unexciting to look at and smooth but dull to drive, the AE2 Ioniq Electric nonetheless makes for an accessible, versatile, dependable and low-cost EV runabout. Prices start from about $20,000. Much the same applies to the related first-gen Kona Electric small SUV of the same era. However, the small SUV brought a larger, 64kWh extended range battery option, which pushed the WLTP figure out to a 449km in the first versions and a handy 484km in the facelifted Series II models from mid-2021. That typically adds about 20 per cent to the price, just making our budget cap. Cheaper as a used car nowadays than the older BMW i3 that donated some of its progressive EV technology, the Cooper SE is a cracker of a runabout. A gutsy (135kW) electric motor delivers plenty of power to the front wheels, while the terrific little chassis (derived from the petrol previous-gen Mini) is tuned for zippy agility and fun. Underneath is a compact 32.6kWh battery, providing a sufficient 233km of WLTP range. As with all BMW-era Mini three-door hatchbacks, the Cooper SE’s snug four-person interior is a mish-mash of ‘60s-era retro pastiche and high-tech luxury, with bucket seats up front, a tight second row and tiny boot area. This is about as enjoyable as EVs get at our price point, starting from about $23,000 nowadays. Building on from the historic ZE0 original that became history’s first modern production EV (as well as its best-ever seller until the Tesla Model 3 usurped it by the end of last decade), the second-gen Leaf drives better than its homely styling suggests. Nissan’s experience and smarts translates to an easy, friendly and likeable EV. WLTP range is reasonable at 270km, but the sportier and better equipped Leaf e+ ratchets that up to 385km. It’s a shame that the battery remained air-cooled, meaning it may suffer from premature degradation in hot climates. Yet, from comfortably under $20,000 for a low-kilometre example, the Japanese EV deserves a look-in if it’s a cheap EV you seek.

The all-new Seltos is a big deal for Kia, with this all-hybrid small SUV expected to be the brand's second-best seller in Australia. That's what they think, but what really matters is what you - the buyer - thinks. So should you choose this over a Toyota Corolla Cross or any of the other army of small SUVs on sale in Australia? We put the new Seltos to the test to find out.

Kia’s big plans have just been exposed.  Korean Car Blog has just revealed key details about Kia’s upcoming product line-up, with some of these models expected to land Down Under before 2030.  The leaked roadmap shows an all-new Kia EV7 electric mid-size SUV as well as a next-generation Sorento large SUV and Carnival people mover, among other models.  These models are all anticipated to hit showrooms globally from 2028 to 2029.  The document is from the Kia Employment Stability Committee, which is a body that negotiates and approves production investments and factory volumes.  The document shows Kia will begin production of an electric mid-size SUV called the EV7.  Details are scarce, but logically, it would sit between the EV6 and EV9 SUVs.  This could put it into competition with the very popular BYD Sealion 7 ($54,990) and the luxury-pitched BMW iX3 ($89,900), both before on-road costs.  The EV7 is likely to have a similar footprint to the Kia Sorento, meaning it could even be a three-row SUV.  We don't know whether the EV7 is related to the Hyundai Ioniq 7 that is rumoured to arrive in the United Kingdom in 2027. Production on the EV7 could begin as early as 2028.  Kia is also planning to overhaul its Carnival people mover. Leaked documents confirmed a “completely redesigned” Carnival hybrid is on the way and will launch in 2028.  The Carnival is the runaway sales leader of the people mover segment in Australia, available in diesel- and conventional-hybrid-powered set-ups.  It comfortably outsells the Hyundai Staria as well as the BYD M9 and Denza D9.  The first hybrid Carnival launched in mid-2024 as an electrified alternative to the diesel-powered variant.  Kia isn’t just stopping at a new-generation Carnival, with the Korean brand also rumoured to be pursuing a hydrogen fuel cell variant by 2029.  This would be Kia’s first hydrogen-powered production model, and it’s likely to lean on fuel cell technology from sister brand Hyundai.  It’s unclear whether the local branch would consider bringing a hydrogen Carnival to Australia, given the lack of usable infrastructure.  Plans show Kia is working on a new hybrid Sorento that will begin production in 2028.  The Sorento remains an important model for Kia in Australia, sitting below the brand’s best seller the Sportage.  It currently has a very broad set of variants in Australia, featuring petrol, diesel, conventional hybrid and plug-in hybrid choices.  It’s possible Kia will go hybrid-only Down Under as it has done with the Seltos, and is expected to do with the larger Sportage when it arrives in 2027.  Kia is preparing to give the Tasman ute a major makeover. Production will begin in 2028 and will spawn derivatives, including a ladder-frame SUV to compete with the Toyota LandCruiser Prado.  There’s also potential for a plug-in hybrid or even fully electric variants of the Tasman to launch in the coming years. 

Is Range Rover planning to go even more upmarket and price out a big chunk of its current buyers? It sure seems that way, with Range Rover’s global boss announcing the removal of the brand’s most affordable models - the Evoque and Velar - from its line-up. Welcome to a new era where high end vehicles could become even more out of reach for most. The news of the Range Rover Evoque and Velar’s end came during an interview Range Rover boss Martin Limpert was giving to British motoring publication Autocar. “The Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Velar will not be replaced when production of the pair ends later this decade,” Limpert confirmed to Autocar. Not replacing them is a seriously strong clue as to Range Rover’s business model for the coming decade. The 2010s and 2020s saw luxury brands such Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and even Range Rover offer affordable entry models into their ranges. For Mercedes-Benz it was models like the CLA small sedan and GLA small SUV for about $60K - expensive for a small car, cheap for a Benz. It was a great way to top up the brand’s annual takings, with the larger more expensive models bringing home the big bucks. Range Rover did the same with the Evoque and Velar. It was a prestige badge on a budget - in this case less than $100K, which is lots, but compared to the $300K starting price of a full-fat Range Rover, it’s nothing. Sales of the Evoque and Velar, which launched in 2014 and 2017 respectively, have tanked in recent years.   The Evoque’s sales fell 78 per cent from a peak of 2732 in 2016 to 614 in 2025. Why did this happen? I think you know why. Well, I think I know why, and it starts with BYD and ends in Zeekr. Yep, one of the common bits of the feedback we’re getting from our readers is that the most desirable cars now for those looking to spend $50-60K are models such as the BYD Sealion 7 and Zeekr 7X.  Chinese cars are not only fitted with the best electric vehicle tech but they’re now among the most beautifully styled high ending things on the road. The upcoming Range Rover GT is a low-slung-wagon-styled SUV and it will be fully electric, but at an expected $175,000 and an arrival date of 2028, it’s probably too much and too late for previous Evoque buyers who are now in a Zeekr. It’s not like Range Rover should care. The strategy of having a car for (almost) everyone is dead - the Chinese have thwarted that plan, so the way forward is to go where those brands can’t - stratospherically high end. Range Rover knows this and will retreat to make big money through the models its core base is buying. Range Rover’s rugged sister brand Land Rover will offer some affordability with models like the Defender Sport. That’s because the off-road niche of Defender is protected by a whole lot of iconic nostalgia that Evoque and Velar don’t have, plus there aren’t any Chinese models that can do what a Defender can with the iconography to go with it. So it’s a strategic retreat by Range Rover out of an area it can’t compete in and doubling down in the places the Chinese brands can’t get them. What will happen to the Land Rover Discovery model? Sales for this once hugely popular model started at a peak of 2470 in 2016 when the new-generation model launched in Australia and fell by 83.3 per cent in a decade with just 413 sales in 2025. The result is worse than Evoque’s numbers for the same period and yet JLR has confirmed work is underway on a new-gen Discovery. Discovery is also a separate sub brand along with Range Rover and Defender. So along with Discovery there’s also the smaller Discovery Sport.  JLR obviously still thinks there’s a place for the Discovery brand, which it presumably sees filling the role of more family focussed suburban duties, while Range Rover fulfils the glamorous high society ones and Land Rover is for the muddy fields. And that leaves no place for an Evoque or Velar, and not really any budget focussed entry point into what will become a more exclusive group. But that’s probably exactly what JLR wants - exclusivity. For now other prestige brands are still selling more affordable models but as consumers migrate to new brands from China they may follow JLR’s move to higher priced ground to save themselves.

The numbers for October 2026 are in, and electric vehicles have officially outsold utes, marking a change in climate for the Australian new car market. A total of 24,845 electric vehicles were sold in October, eclipsing the total ute segment, which accounted for 19,431 units across 4x2, 4x4 and those costing in excess of $100,000. Of those 19,431 utes sold, 327 of them were also fully electric, up 330 per cent from the prior year. There were 6040 electric cars and 19,478 electric SUVs sold in the same period. Electric is now the leading fuel type for cars, and the second best selling fuel type for SUVs after petrol. Electric vehicles are the second best selling fuel type in October, even eclipsing petrol and hybrids for the month, landing within 1000 units of diesel. Year-to-date the Australian market has eclipsed 1 million units, with nearly 1/3rd of them still being petrol (293,298 units) and over a quarter being diesel (258,361 units). Electric vehicles so far account for 205,436 sales, but the fuel type has grown over 175 per cent for the year, where diesel has fallen 16.3 per cent and petrol has fallen 27.6 per cent. The biggest winners in October for electric cars are the Tesla Model Y (3105 units), BYD Sealion 7 (2524 units), Geely EX5 (1789 units) and Zeekr’s 7X (1441 units). Other popular options in the market include the Geely EX2 hatchback (1350 units), Jaecoo J5 EV (1117 units) and Tesla’s Model 3 (945 units). Meanwhile the ute segment is in the midst of a downturn after years of record popularity. Winners for October include the HiLux (5954 units), Ford Ranger (4841 units), BYD Shark 6 (1843 units), Isuzu D-Max (1599 units) and Mitsubishi Triton (1056 units). In total (including 4x4 and 4x2 models) the segment is down 11.42 per cent to 176,240 units from nearly 200,000 units this time last year. The numbers make sense. Diesel has been hit particularly hard by the impact of the war in Iran, which has caused a 94 cent price rise per litre from this time last year. The average price per litre for diesel in Australia is now $2.63, a 55.6 per cent increase on the year prior. This is due to inelastic demand for the fuel type, with private and small business utes competing with the wider commercial sector for the fuel. Meanwhile petrol is currently averaging $2.35 per litre, a more modest 72 cent increase from this time last year. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, this means Australians, on average, are paying $546 more per year for fuel than they were in 2025. Combine this with the government’s current FBT exemption program and New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) forcing an influx of pure electric options to the market, and it’s a potent cocktail for automakers with competitive electric car line-ups. This has benefitted Tesla and newer Chinese brands, which largely have managed to meet the market with hybrid and fully electric vehicles that are at or near price parity with their combustion counterparts from so-called ‘legacy’ brands. A prime example is BYD’s fully electric Atto 1 city car becoming Australia’s most affordable new car earlier this year. For the ute segment specifically, BYD’s PHEV-only Shark 6 and GWM’s Cannon and Cannon Alpha which offer PHEV variants have received significant buyer attention, up 1.6 and 9.2 per cent respectively in a market which has otherwise significantly shrunk.

Australia’s new car market is at a “crisis point”, according to the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA).  The AADA has warned dealers are losing money due to the influx of new car brands. AADA Chief Executive Officer James Voortman said Australia needs to stop letting new car brands launch here. “Dealers are facing intense competition, relentless pressure to take more stock and rising business costs. Too often, they are left to absorb the financial consequences of decisions made elsewhere in the supply chain,” Voortman said.  “There are simply too many manufacturers operating in this market and we need a pause on further car brands entering this market. At a time when other countries are trying to slow the rate of change and number of brands, Australia is allowing unfettered access to this market.” New car brands continue to launch in Australia, growing from 39 in 2021 to 67 in 2026, with more on the way in the coming months.  AADA has set out a 10-point plan, with recommendations for the government, suppliers and manufacturers.  The association wants the government to consider a capped licensing regime and pause the entry of any new brands into Australia.  It has called for the implementation of proposed dealer protections to be fast-tracked and liability of Australian Consumer Law breaches to be repositioned onto manufacturers, with new brand entries paused until this has been achieved.  It also wants at least a 12-month price freeze to guard against “severe pressure” on dealer profitability.  Among the changes for manufacturers is the agreement of realistic sales targets, allowing dealers to decline excess stock without facing commercial penalties.  AADA has previously raised concerns around long car repair and refund wait times in Australia as well as a "wave of litigation" when EV batteries need replacement outside of warranty. Australia’s market provides a near-perfect environment for new car brands to launch, because they are not subjected to major tariffs or prohibitive fees. It’s seen brands from around the world, especially China, flood into Aussie showrooms offering buyers very competitive prices.  Many Chinese brands operate with extensive sub-brand networks. There could be as many as nine Chery sub-brands in Australia by the end of 2027, while BYD and GWM also continue to actively add to their line-ups. These brands have capacity to produce copious amounts of stock, but selling them isn’t as simple a task, according to Voortman.  “Pushing excessive stock onto dealers is fuelling a race to the bottom. Aggressive discounting erodes margins and devalues vehicles while dealers carry the financing costs and risk of unsold vehicles,” Voortman said. “Strong headline vehicle sales can conceal serious financial distress at the businesses making those sales. Dealers cannot keep absorbing higher costs, lower margins and greater stock risk indefinitely.” This news follows reports that some Chinese brands are losing money on cars sold. Hyundai Australia Chief Executive Officer and President Don Romano told CarsGuide in July 2026 BYD’s approach to the Australian market wasn’t sustainable.  "I think if I were to lose money and dump cars, and if my stock price was down 40 per cent, I could do the same," Romano said.  "I think there's a big difference between growth at any cost and growth organically, so I'm not surprised. I would be if it was sustainable.”