Green Cars

BYD’s latest car exposes a huge issue that is headed for Australia. Driving range is the new point of difference for Chinese carmakers, and BYD is fully participating, but it has a sinister side.The BYD Seal 08 was unveiled in China as a Mercedes S-Class size sedan, with fully-electric and plug-in hybrid set-ups.The EV offers a driving range of up to more than 900km, according to generous CLTC standards, but its PHEV sibling steals the show. Its petrol tank and 45kWh battery combine to deliver a total driving range of 1660km, with an electric-only range of 400km.This is the same size as the battery BYD puts in its fully-electric Dolphin hatchback.Big hitting electrified set-ups boasting driving ranges approaching the 2000km range mark have grown in quantity, but authorities are starting to push back, according to reports. These large range-carrying set-ups substantially increase a car's weight, with batteries accounting for the bulk of the weight. Heavier cars require more energy to run, making them less efficient. They also contribute to an increased amount of wear and tear on the roads, requiring more frequent work.The Chinese government could be about to start imposing penalties on carmakers for producing electrified cars that are more than a certain weight. The BYD Seal 08 PHEV battery weighs more than 330kg, contributing to a total weight likely to be around 2000kg, with its EV sibling exceeding that figure.Australia’s current best-selling electric car and model generally, the Tesla Model Y also weighs around the 2000kg mark.Vehicles above 4500kg incur the Heavy User Road Tax on every litre of fuel used in Australia to pay for the wear and tear caused by them.External factors such as the Iran War and subsequent fuel price increase has accelerated the uptake of electrified cars globally, including Australia. With so many heavy EVs and PHEVs hitting the roads in Australia, there could be a need to follow China’s lead to protect the country’s road network from increased damage.Innovations in technology such as solid-state batteries could provide the key to offering huge driving ranges in smaller, lighter packages.Chinese brands have driving forwards in their pursuit of such technologies, with BYD and Chery, among others working on solutions in 2027.

Geely might be about to take on the ute market, but not in the way you'd think.Geely commercial sub-brand Farizon has announced pricing for its F3E small electric truck.It will start from $48,990 (before on-road costs) for cab chassis, with a tray adding an extra $2000 at $50,990, while the enclosed cargo box pushes the price up to $53,490.It lines up as a rival to Hyundai Mighty Electric, in a diesel-dominated market, with models like the Isuzu N-Series.Geely said its new truck is designed for urban delivery, light freight and service fleets.These smaller trucks are also seen as an arguably more practical alternatives to utes like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, offering greater and more convenient carrying capacity.It also has a fully-electric set-up, with a substantial payload, something electric utes have struggled to achieve.The two-seater F3E is powered by a single electric motor, producing 110kW and 260Nm to rear wheels, with a top speed of 90km. It offers a payload of 1,705kg on the cab-chassis, which is reduced to 1440kg with the tray and 1190kg with the cargo box. The cargo box variant gains the advantage of rear barn doors to aid loading practicality. The F3E has a 73kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery from major Chinese manufacturer CATL, offering a driving range of up to 314km, according to WLTP standards.The driving range drops to 250km when the truck is fitted with the cargo box. It also offers DC fast charging capacity at 100kW, with a charge from 20 to 80 per cent taking roughly half an hour. A 240V vehicle-to-load system can power appliances and tools directly from the truck.The F3E’s interior features fabric seats that are manually adjustable, with the driver seat boasting heating and ventilating functionality.There is a heated steering wheel, with keyless entry and start also standard. It is fitted with a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and 7.0 digital driver display, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto installed. The truck gets some neat safety equipment like rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, auto emergency braking and a reversing camera. 2027 Farizon F3E pricing Australia 

The winds of change are blowing a gale through the Australian car industry, as new brands and vehicles whizz past old favourites on the sales charts.Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries boss Tony Weber said the June result was a paradigm shift for the new vehicle market. “The Australian automotive market has shifted on its axis during the first months of 2026. This year is likely to represent a significant turning point for the Australian automotive industry,” said Weber.BYD is officially a category five storm blowing in the direction of Toyota, Ford, Mazda and others that have dominated the top five selling brands for the past decade.BYD sold 18,881 new cars in June, all of them either electric or plug-in hybrids. This brought its three month total to 34,794 after its much ballyhooed effort to send its own ships packed to the gills with cars to Australia.Toyota had battened down the hatches in June and fortified itself against the fierce onslaught of BYD. It managed 19,124 sales in the past month to hold on to first place.It is understood that Toyota has increased supply going forward and is planning a monster second half of the year.Ford bounced back to third place with 9181 sales. Tesla came roaring up behind the Blue Oval with 8670 sales in June, which is impressive considering it only sells two vehicles.The Tesla Model Y was the best selling vehicle in the country with 8072 examples finding a home in the past month.Stablemates Kia (8005) and Hyundai (7480) held firm in fifth and sixth spots, while Mazda slid down to seventh (7278).Chinese brands finished out the top 10 with GWM (6104), MG (5001) and Chery (4505) muscling out old favourites Mitsubishi (4150), Subaru (2902) and Nissan (2337).A few other Chinese brands are lurking outside the top 10, with Geely 13th with 3507 sales and Chery’s Omoda Jaecoo sub brand 15th after moving 2541 units.Utes still delivered strong results, which is typical for the End of Financial Year period.The Toyota HiLux was the Japanese brand’s best selling model with 5175 sales, and Ford’s Ranger was the second best selling model overall with 5999 sales. BYD’s plug-in hybrid Sark 6 ute was its second best selling model, with 3398 sales.Top 10 selling car brands, June 2026 Top 10 selling vehicles, June 2026  

XPeng has detailed and priced its Mona L03 in China. The keenly-priced new mid-size coupe SUV will rival the Geely EX5 and BYD Atto 3 when it arrives in Australia.The L03 is available with both hybrid range-extender and fully electric powertrains in China, and it sits below the G6 SUV in its line-up.It features a coupe roof profile, similar to the Tesla Model Y rather than the traditional SUV shape of the Geely EX5 or BYD Atto 3.Its interior design typical of Chinese SUVs, with a minimalistic dash layout, a large 15.6-inch central touchscreen devoid of buttons and dials, a floating centre console with dual phone pads and an oval-shaped steering wheel.It features a panoramic glass roof, a 102-litre additional storage frunk and large alloy wheel choices, but unlike some it swaps a digital instrument cluster for a 26.8-inch head-up display.Both the range-extender hybrid and fully electric versions share a 183kW/280Nm rear-mounted electric motor. The electric version is capable of the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.6 seconds, while the range extender can complete it in 6.8 seconds.The electric version is backed by either 56kWh or 69kWh LFP battery, which offer either 525km or 625km of range (although this is according to the more lenient CLTC procedure). The range extender is equipped with a 1.5-litre engine producing 70kW.XPeng says the range extender can travel up to 315km in pure electric mode on its 37.2kWh battery and has a 5.2L/100km fuel consumption when the battery is depleted. Its official combined range comes in at 1330km, according to Chinese standards.The electric version has a claimed energy consumption of 11.9kWh/100km and can charge from 10 - 80 per cent in roughly 19 minutes.Some variants will be have adaptive damping shock absorbers, while all versions will get the brand’s full semi-autonomous active safety suite.The Mona L03 is priced from between the equivalent of $31,000 to $34,000 in electric form, which when the usual import premium is added for the Australian market will place it in competition with the Geely EX5 (from $41,990), BYD Atto 3 (from $39,990) and GAC Aion V (from $42,590).Right hand-drive versions are yet to be revealed, and more is expected to be learned about the model when it makes its international debut later in 2026.XPeng’s new factory-backed division in Australia has been approached for comment about the L03, although CarsGuide understands it is not due on our shores until 2027.The factory-backed operation is expected to deliver on the facelifted mid-sized G6 imminently, and has said previously it will also make good on the previously-expected X9 people mover and G9 large SUV.XPeng has made waves with its much-hyped halo models, including the new P7 sedan and GX flagship SUV in China.

Hyundai’s Staria people mover seemed destined to live in the shadow of its segment-dominating cousin, the Kia Carnival.Now though, Hyundai is rolling out a serious overhaul to the Staria van range, including the long-awaited introduction of fuel-sipping hybrid variants.The new Lounge grade we’re looking at seems expressly targeted at Carnival buyers. But in a people-mover segment that's suddenly been re-invigorated by a range of options from new brands, does the Staria have what it takes to stand out?Let’s take a look.First and foremost - pricing. While you can get a hybrid version of the cargo-hauling Staria Load delivery van at an appealing price point compared to some rivals, the people-mover version is only offered in this new top-spec Lounge variant, for now.A higher trim level than ever before, the Lounge moves the Staria into previously unseen levels of luxury, but it comes at a steep price.At $73,740 before on-road costs, the Lounge is nearly a $20,000 jump over the base people mover, making it a tall order not just to justify the leap to hybrid, but also among its core rivals.This is especially true since Kia has rolled out its version of the same hybrid technology to its Carnival, and you can now get into a base Carnival S HEV from just $56,310.Like-for-like when it comes to spec though, you’d be looking at a Carnival GT-Line, which costs $76,840.If you’re keen on what this taller and in some ways more spacious Hyundai offers, it might be worth waiting for more affordable versions. Hyundai will need a wider range of hybrids at more affordable price points imminently as it's facing tough fines under Australia’s recently implemented New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).Standard kit on this new Lounge grade includes refreshed LED headlights with an integrated light bar across the front and unique 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside it scores Nappa leather seat trim, heating, ventilation, and power adjustment for the first two seating rows, near fold-flat relaxation mode for the second row, suede headlining, privacy glass, acoustic lamination for the windscreen, and integrated sunshades for the windows in the rear rows.It’s a lovely place to be, and that’s before we mention the overhauls to the dash design. The pre-update Staria was already ahead of the pack, but the new version takes it to new heights with a fresh sporty steering wheel, a bigger digital dash, the re-introduction of physical buttons for the multimedia and climate controls (previously they were touch-capacitive), a stalk-mounted gear shifter from the brand’s EV range, and an update to the all-new software suite.The Lounge also gets a few extra bits of the interior clad with soft-touch finishes compared to the cargo van, particularly in the door cards, although this comes at the cost of dash topping and overhead storage areas.On the practical side, the Staria Lounge and its high roof and seven-seat layout (2 + 2 + 3) means access to the third row is one of the easiest of its contemporaries. You can just stroll between the second-row captains' chairs and room in all three seating positions is more than generous, with all three rows on rails for adjustability.The boot, as is the case with many van-based people movers, is not long, but it is tall and wide. This can be a challenge with baggage when all three rows are in use, as you’ll need to stack upward, but more room can also be found in the cabin behind the front seats. Some brands offer a shelf accessory for the boot to help with this. Hyundai does not.The Lounge only offers a tailgate rear. It provides nice shelter in the rain, but it's sheer size means there are limits as to where you can open it.One dire cost of the hybrid powertrain is its lack of any kind of tow rating.On the road, the Staria Lounge is unmistakably a van, missing out on the passenger-car feel of its Carnival cousin, but it’s still by far one of the best vans to drive.Visibility is commanding from the front two positions, while the inputs come with all the panache of other Hyundai vehicles. There’s nice organic steering and good feedback from the pedals, making it surprisingly confident on curvy stuff. The suspension, specifically improved for this version of the Staria, improves ride quality all-round, and the front-drive hybrid powertrain (180kW/304Nm) offers both strong electric torque and whisper-quiet operation at commuter speeds.Like other plugless hybrid systems though, the 1.6-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder engine can be noisy under load, at freeway speeds, and when travelling up steeper hills.It’s certainly more refined than any diesel offering though, and significantly more convenient than having to plug in as you do with rivals from China like the GAC M8.Fuel consumption isn’t as low as some hybrid SUVs, rated officially at 6.5L/100km. It’s a huge improvement on the 10.5L/100km of the previous V6 petrol version, but only a little better than the diesel (7.2L/100km), which can also tow. If you’re spending a lot of time on the freeway, the diesel may actually be better. Something to ponder.A boost to ownership costs, the hybrid costs an average of $487.80 per year under the five-year service schedule, which is slightly more affordable than the petrol or diesel.The warranty is seven years or unlimited kilometres, unless used for a commercial purpose, then it reverts to five years or 160,000km.Hyundai is conducting testing for the hybrid version with the hope it will be covered by the Staria’s maximum five-star ANCAP rating. It comes packed with all the expected safety gear at this price.

Tesla has reasserted itself as the electric car king of Australia.The American EV maker sold 8670 vehicles in June, its biggest month ever, according to data released by the Electric Vehicle Council. It was so big that it beat the previous best month, which was May, by 26 per cent.It will be in the running to beat all other carmakers in June except for Toyota.Leading the charge was the Model Y SUV, which recorded 8072 of those sales. This will likely make it the best-selling vehicle in the nation when the full sales data gets released tomorrow, as no vehicle in recent memory has hit that figure.The Model 3 sedan chipped in with roughly 600 sales in June.Tesla has asserted its dominance as the premier electric vehicle brand in the country, with a total of 23,588 sales through the first six months. This is equal to a 66 per cent increase through June.Electric vehicle sales have experienced strong growth this year, especially since the Iran war and the resulting high fuel prices.What makes Tesla’s June result even more impressive is that fuel prices across the country had moderated and were effectively back to normal by the end of the month.Tesla has a healthy supply pipeline, with the brand’s local website quoting delivery times for the standard Model Y in July to August. The three-row Model Y L appears to be more in demand with expected delivery times between August and September. The more niche five-seat Model Y Performance won’t land in your driveway until September or October if ordered today.Tesla would be one of the main beneficiaries of the federal government’s Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for electric vehicles.This FBT exemption allows buyers to pay for the vehicle pre-tax and to side-step the 47 per cent FBT rate.The tax break has been a huge hit, with the scheme costing more than 10 times what the government had forecasted. There were calls for the scheme to be axed to help alleviate the predicted budget deficit, and it is perceived to help a greater proportion of well-off Australians.The federal government announced earlier this year it would be walking back the plan, with it to end by March, 2029.

BYD’s latest luxury hybrid SUV could have one trick up its sleeve its rivals don’t.The incoming FangChengBao Titanium 9, or BYD Ti9 as it is likely to be known in export markets, is a three-row plug-in hybrid SUV that is a size-up on family favourites like the Toyota Kluger.It is 5300mm long and has a wheelbase of 3120mm, so it will be a shape up in the increasingly popular large SUV segment in China.It will be similarly sized to the Zeekr 9X which is due in Australia in the next 18 months,.AutoHome has reported the Ti9 will boast a driving range of more than 2300km, substantially more than most cars on the market.There is no news on how big the fuel tank and battery will be to achieve this, but expect it to be a cut above many of its rivals. Chinese media has been suggesting it will be powered by a dual electric motor plug-in hybrid set-up, with power and torque figures still to be revealed, but possibly shared with other recent BYD models. Its smaller Ti7 sibling has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors, producing 358 kW and 630 Nm.This could provide an indication for what powers the Ti9. It will be available in six-seat and seven-seat configurations, and is designed for urban and light off-roading environments.The large SUV is likely to be be unveiled in the second half of this year, and go on sale early next year.There is potential for this model to come to Australia, with its smaller Titanium 7 (or Ti7) sibling going on sale in the United Kingdom soon.FangChengBao, or Formula Leopard, is one of BYD’s off-roading sub-brands, but its models do not fall under that name overseas.The Ti7 in the UK will have a BYD badge on it, as might be the case in Australia, while its larger Leopard 5 is sold locally as the Denza B5.There is no official news on whether models like the Ti7 and Ti9 will launch Down Under.The UK launch means they are being built in right-hand drive, so there is a good chance they will eventually make their way over here, as almost every BYD product available in the UK has come to Australia.BYD Australia has previously told CarsGuide the Ti7 is not on its radar, but the brand has demonstrated previously that plans can change quickly. 

China’s GWM has revealed more details and imagery of its updated Tank 300 for the domestic market.As reported by Car News China, a highlight of this update is a longer wheelbase that was previewed by the Tank 300 Hooke Edition prototype that was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai motor show.The location of the front axle has been moved forwards, plus the front overhang has been trimmed, improving the approach angle.According to Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) filings, this updated Tank 300 measures in at 4886mm long, 1984mm wide and 1927mm tall, with a 3010mm wheelbase.This makes it 126mm longer, 54mm wider and 24mm taller than the current model.Unlike the Hooke Edition prototype, which had a solid front axle, it’s understood the production version of this updated Tank 300 retains a front double wishbone and a rear multi-link suspension set-up.Another major change is the powertrain options. In addition to the Hi-4T plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option that retains a mechanical four-wheel drive system, a new Hi-4Z PHEV option, which is more electric-centric, is being introduced with this update.Full details haven’t been confirmed yet, but GWM claims it has a 60kWh battery allowing up to 200km electric range, according to an undisclosed testing cycle.For reference, the current Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV has a 37.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which offers up to 115km of electric range, according to NEDC testing.It’s understood this new Tank 300 Hi4-Z PHEV will share a lot of its componentry with the Tank 400 Hi-4Z PHEV.It has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and dual electric motors with a total system output of 635kW and 1195Nm, along with a 60kWh battery pack offering up to 200km of electric range.It’s expected the rest of the current powertrains will carry over. These include a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, as well as a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol.In Australia only the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engines are offered, in addition to the Hi4-T PHEV powertrain.A change the imagery reveals is an altered front fascia. There’s a new grille with Tank lettering, as well as more pronounced recovery points, though it’s unclear if they’re functional.A LiDAR pod can be seen on the roof, indicating that semi-autonomous driving technology may be coming.We're yet to see any imagery of the interior, so it's unclear if there have been any changes.It’s understood this updated Tank 300 will be going on sale in China on July 6 and it’s unclear if or when it will be available to export markets, including Australia.

Volkswagen, for decades one of the world’s largest and most successful vehicle manufacturers, appears to be facing an uncertain future, with one of the key emerging Chinese brands challenging its once invincible position now putting bold shots across the German giant’s bow.At the company’s Annual General Meeting last month VW Group Chairman of the Board of Management Dr. Oliver Blume told shareholders significant job cuts are coming in the face of “conflict in the Middle East, shrinking market volumes and increasingly intense competition”.Not to mention US tariffs costing the group a reported €5 billion annually because VW Group built factories in Mexico (for export to the U.S, built to take advantage of the free-trade agreement between the US, Mexico and Canada) have become uneconomic.“We don’t earn enough money with our products. Developing a world car in Germany, producing it in Europe and selling it globally – our business model that was successful for decades – no longer works today.”At that stage Blume said, “For Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and our software subsidiary CARIAD we have agreed to cut the number of jobs in Germany by some 50,000 by 2030.”And now Automotive News Europe has reported Blume is expected to ask the group’s supervisory board this month to approve cutting 100,000 jobs (15 percent of the current workforce), in what is potentially the biggest restructuring in modern German corporate history.In response to the cost-cutting measures, BYD's special advisor for Europe Alfredo Altavilla has publicly commented on VW's potential job cuts and subsequent restructuring (including the likely closure of four factories in Germany).“It’s the first real wake-up call for the European industry,” Altavilla told the Reuters Automotive Europe conference in Frankfurt overnight.He expressed doubts over the competitiveness of German manufacturing sites, as BYD, the world’s largest EV manufacturer, looks for a second production site in Europe, supporting its new facility in Szeged, Hungary, scheduled to begin operations before the end of this year. To counter Altavilla’s position, Oliver Blume is already on the record in pushing VW’s evolving approach to the Chinese market challenge, having told shareholders last month that, “Our ‘In China, for China’ strategy is gaining traction.”“We have built our largest research and development centre outside Germany in Hefei, reduced our vehicle development times by 30% and cut our material costs by as much as 50%. “In terms of technologies and costs we are on par with Chinese competitors – are adding to our traditional strengths of brand, design, quality, driving characteristics, safety and services and turning them into a clear market benefit. “As the traditional market leader for combustion engine vehicles, we are gaining a foothold in the hard-fought and fast-growing segment for NEVs – for new electric vehicles. We are in the game. But we still have plenty of work to do,” he said.And VW isn’t alone in grappling with global export challenges. According to German VDA data quoted by Automotive News Europe, exports of passenger cars from Germany peaked at 4.4 million units in 2016, just after the VW Group’s diesel-emissions scandal was exposed.Following the COVID-19 pandemic, vehicle exports plunged and have not recovered with Germany's vehicle exports coming in at around 3.2 million units last year. And German exports of passenger cars to China fell 45 per cent in 2025.

When is a car no longer a car?That’s a good question, as you’d initially think that a car needs four wheels, some seats and a steering wheel.Dig deeper and a car may only require three wheels, one seat and perhaps no steering wheel whatsoever. There’s a lot of flux to the definition of a car.The steering wheel point is particularly controversial as if there is no steering wheel, you’re technically not driving anymore and are a passenger. Therefore I’d argue this isn’t necessarily a car anymore and merely a shuttle for transportation.This feeling arose when I experienced Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software for the first time late last year.This was in a Model 3 electric sedan which can be fundamentally defined as a car. It has four wheels, five seats and a steering wheel.You’re also able to drive the Model 3 like a regular car, but with the push of a button it drives itself. Sure, you need to supervise it and take back control if it starts heading in the wrong direction, but for the most part you aren’t touching the steering wheel or pedals.It’s a bizarre sensation handing over all the driving inputs, especially when it can tackle complex scenarios like roundabouts, traffic lights and the infamous hook turns in Melbourne.The technology will likely reach a point where a steering wheel is no longer needed. Tesla is already planning for this with its Cybercab autonomous vehicle.Although production versions of the Cybercab have already started to be produced, they are in small numbers for testing purposes. It’s unclear when they’ll be publicly available for purchase.Tesla is far from the only company developing autonomous driving technology. I was recently a passenger in an autonomously driven Nissan Ariya in Japan. The technology to allow this has been developed in partnership with Wayve, which also has a partnership with Stellantis.Nissan is currently aiming to begin a robotaxi service with these autonomous vehicles in Japan by the end of 2026. It’s also eventually aiming to roll the technology out to customer vehicles as an optional extra.Additionally, Waymo is already operating an autonomous robotaxi service in select cities in the US. There are also plans to introduce it in the UK and Japan.Ultimately the goal with this kind of autonomous or self-driving technology is to have a lounge room on wheels. In some respects we are already there.In the era of software-defined vehicles, many cars now revolve around the central touchscreen multimedia system and the experience they provide. Arguably for some carmakers there is more emphasis on this and the actual driving experience is secondary.In some respects this is warranted as in electric vehicles (EVs) you may be spending your time in the car while it’s charging at a public charger but at the end of the day it’s a car, not a lounge room.Going back to Tesla, the main interface in its current vehicle line-up is the central touchscreen. It dominates the dashboard and you’re required to use it to adjust virtually function.There are also so many novelty and convenience features that span beyond the driving experience. Think of the games you can play while you’re parked, the light show and the comical fart noises you can get the car to play.The list goes on and for many carmakers, especially newer Chinese ones, it seems like a heavier focus is being put on features like this, or services relating to the touchscreen, than the overall driving experience.As a result, it feels like some cars are more glorified iPads with flashy lights on wheels.I know that many people can’t function without technology now and in many respects it’s critical to many areas of cars, particularly safety, however at the end of the day a car is meant to be driven.It would be lovely to see a renewed interest in how a car actually is to drive compared to how flashy and cool its technology is. I’d argue this is wishful thinking though, especially given autonomous vehicles appear closer on the horizon every day.