Industry news

BYD’s latest model is on the cusp of landing in Australia, and it could be one of the brand’s cheapest models sold to date. A plug-in hybrid variant BYD Atto 2 small SUV has been approved for Australian sale, joining the fully-electric model already available. There is no official news on price, but we can expect it to sit under the $31,990 (before on-road costs) starting price of the cheapest electric version. This would make it the cheapest plug-in hybrid in Australia, beating the BYD Sealion 5 and Chery Tiggo 7 SHS.The fully-electric Atto 2 continues to be one of the best-selling EVs in Australia since it launched late last year.This latest move will see the Atto 2 move into competition with some of the big players of the small SUV segment. Segment leaders, the Chery Tiggo 4 and Hyundai Kona adopt petrol and plug-less hybrid set-ups, giving this new Atto 2 a point of difference.It is similarly sized to those rivals, but has potential to be offered at a cheaper price point. The Atto 2 PHEV was spotted undergoing in Sydney in late May as it edges closer to showrooms. The car will be available with a choice of two 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor set-ups, producing 122kW or 156kW.This means the base Atto 2 EV boasts more power than its PHEV sibling (130kW), with the top-grade PHEV becoming the most powerful Atto 2 in the range.BYD Australia is yet to officially confirm the Atto 2 PHEV’s arrival Down Under, but it is rare for a car to be approved for sale, then fail to make it into showrooms. There are scarce other details on the car at this stage, with more information likely to be revealed closer to the car’s impending launch. In the United Kingdom, the Atto 2 PHEV has a total driving range of nearly 1000km, with an electric-only range of 89km from its 18kWh battery. Its interior features a 12.8-inch central touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital driver display.We can expect more official details on the Australian Atto 2 PHEV towards the end of this year. 

Chery sub-brand Jetour has detailed its Chinese F700 ute, which is a spin-off from the Stockman diesel-hybrid due to launch in Australia.Sporting tough and angular styling a little different from the rounded-headlight look of the incoming Chery ute, the Jetour F700 shares the same newly-developed and hybrid-first platform and underpinnings.Unlike the Stockman, which will launch with a diesel hybrid powertrain specifically designed to set it apart in the Australian market, the F700 will use a 2.0-litre petrol plug-in set-up instead.The F700’s 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine produces 155kW/340Nm and is expected to follow in the footsteps of the G700 SUV that came before it. This means maximum combined power could be as high as 665kW/1135Nm.This could preview the future petrol plug-in hybrid version of the Stockman, which is due to launch in Australia in 2027.The space between the front and rear axles will be taken up by an Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which maximises EV range over mechanical capability. The related G700 SUV has an electronic front and rear differential, with a software-simulated centre differential.If the F700 follows in the footsteps of the G700, it will use a 34.1kWh battery pack. In the G700 this grants it a 150km EV-only driving range and a 1400km combined driving range according to the CTLC standard. Jetour confirmed via its social media that the F700 will have a 1300km driving range and a combined fuel consumption of 1.39L/100km.While it appears the F700 will also use independent coil-sprung rear suspension instead of a solid rear axle, data filings with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information technology confirm it will have a towing capacity of 3500kg.The new ute’s interior hasn't been fully revealed, but one teaser image shows a far more tech-heavy cabin than the Stockman. It features a large 15.6-inch central screen, and a second dash-topping panel which extends the entire length of the vehicle, acting as both an information screen and a digital instrument cluster.We know it will have wheel sizes of either 18- or 20-inches and an 800-volt electrical platform, which supports ultra-fast charging with confirmation of a V2L system.Jetour is expected to launch in Australia in 2027, although its range of boxy off-roaders will be distributed separately from its Chery parent company, which includes the Omoda, Jaecoo, and Lepas sub-brands.It will directly compete with GWM’s Tank and Cannon brands, with its products also squaring off against BYD’s smash-hit Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute and the related Denza B5 SUV.Stay tuned for more on Jetour as the brand gears up for an Australian launch. It has been hiring staff locally for some months.

A number plate allegedly worth more than $10 million has been spotted in the wild, but you’ll never guess the car that has them on.A picture posted by a Reddit user in Victoria shows the ‘1’ plate appearing on a car worth nowhere near that value. The valuation of this plate would likely extend into the millions in today’s market. The ‘20’ number plate in Victoria was reported to have sold for $2.54 million in 2024.There are rumours the current owner of the ‘1’ plate has been offered more than $10 million, but turned it down.You’d expect a number plate worth more than every production car on the roads would be attached to something suitably exotic. It has been attached so some sought after models throughout the years, but none of them fall into the same ballpark as the potential value of the plates. They have appeared on many other vehicles since then, including a Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Carrera. It seems to have primarily been attached to several Mercedes-Benz models like the E55 and E63 sedans. Most recently the plates have been spotted on a previous generation C43 wagon that seem to have been on the car since at least since 2018.The C43 was originally priced in Australia from $104,400, just over one per cent of the $10 million value attached to the ‘1’ plates. Now you can buy many examples of that generation of the C43 from less than $40,000, which is 0.4 per cent of the plates’ valuation.The '1' number plate has an extensive history in Victoria, according to reports.It was originally produced in 1932 but was forbidden from being put on any cars, with high-ranking Victorian officials disagreeing on who should display the plates on their car. This disagreement saw the plates locked away in a vault for more than a half century. The plates reappeared for the first time in 1984 at an auction, where they were won by a retired mechanic from Ballarat, paying $165,000. The number plate market has become increasingly lucrative in Australia, with the wealthy not just showing off with what they drive, but what plates are displayed on their cars.The NSW "1" plate sold for more than $10m in 2024 at a Lloyd's auction.The Queensland number plate 'Q12020' recently sold for $1 million, even though the seller was only asking $20,000 originally, according to the site.

Polestar has updated and cut the price of its popular 4 coupe-SUV.The dynamic looking electric car has been given a refresh with some notable changes under the skin.It remains a two-tier range kicking off with the single rear motor version priced from $78,500, before on-road costs, which is the same as the outgoing version. The dual-motor grade is now $2000 cheaper starting at $86,350.The refreshed line-up is due in Australia from July/August.Polestar claims it has improved the vehicle's on road manners with tweaked suspension that includes revised high-capacity passive dampers, new spring and anti-roll bar settings and polyurethane rebound stops replacing internal rebound coil springs.This, the brand said, results in making the 4 more agile and comfortable in all driving conditions.Polestar has revised its option packs for the 2027 model year version. See table at the bottom for full detailsThe brand also said the 4 now has a reduced carbon footprint compared to previous examples.There are some simple changes inside such as the black seatbelt and rotary control for the Rear Motor version that switches to black with a gold stripe for the Dual Motor and full Gold when paired with the Performance Pack.Technical details remain the same. Rear motor versions use a single motor that makes 200kW and 343Nm. Dual motor examples up the ante with 400kW and 686Nm.At its heart the 4 has a 100kWh battery that can absorb up to 200kW via a DC fast charger, or 11kW when connected to an appropriate AC charger. AC charging can be boosted to 22kW at a price.Driving range is 620km for the Rear Motor and 590km for the Dual Motor.Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller said, “The upgraded Polestar 4 coupé is better than ever, offering a more refined ride with enhanced driving pleasure and stronger sustainability credentials. Overall, the Polestar 4 coupé delivers an even more compelling package without compromise.”Lohscheller also indicated to CarsGuide earlier this year the cost-of-entry for the more premium 3 would fall.He puts this down to production moving to the US from China, which consolidated manufacturing and reduced costs. 

A popular family SUV has just been subject to an urgent recall in Australia for a potential brake issue. There have been 5556 Chery Tiggo 8 units from the 2023 to 2026 model years recalled, according to a notice from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. "Due to a manufacturing defect, the brake pipe may chafe against the engine and become damaged. This could lead to a brake fluid leak resulting in reduced braking performance,” the notice read. “A reduction in braking performance could increase the risk of an accident, causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.”A spokesperson for Chery Australia said the brand was not aware of any reported incidents of the issue occurring in AustraliaThe brand will contact owners of recall-affected vehicles to schedule an appointment with a dealer to have the vehicle inspected and repair work carried out for free. The Tiggo 8 competes in the busy large SUV segment, priced from $41,990 (drive-away).It is available with petrol and plug-in hybrid set-ups.

Ford’s utes are about to undergo one of the biggest changes ever with the brand’s boss turning to Formula 1 for help in competing with Chinese rivals. Ford’s global boss Jim Farley believes the key to his company's success lies in Formula 1 know-how, according to an interview with British motoring publication Autocar.“One of the biggest gifts that Formula 1 ever gave Ford was our skunkworks team in California. Almost every one of them either comes from Formula 1 or is a huge F1 fan," Farely told Autocar. Ford made a return to F1 in 2026 with a technical collaboration with Red Bull racing. The partnerships sees Ford co-develop hybrid powertrains for both the primary Red Bull and junior Racing Bulls teams.  That gives Ford access to the experience and know-how of the pinnacle of motorsport, and this has led to the formation of Ford's top-secret skunkworks - Universal EV.Based in California’s Silicon Valley, Universal EV has developed an electric vehicle platform that can be fitted into a range of vehicles from pick-ups to sedans, hatches and vans.While Ford hasn't confirmed all of the vehicles that will use the Universal EV platform, yet, it has released a teaser video of its design and engineering teams working on sketches of its upcoming small pick-up that’s expected to revive the Ranchero name.The missing piece of the puzzle, according to Farley, is aerodynamics which will allow smaller batteries to be used. And this is where he wants more F1 input into the skunkworks program. But, it's not proving easy."It turns out that finding people who love motorsport who want to 'build a buffet in Vegas' – a $30,000 EV that's nice-looking and fun to drive - is hard," he told Autocar."A lot of people want to stay in F1 and the challenge is picking people from motorsport who can actually design a breakthrough product. But when people see what we did with this skunkworks, they will say: 'Wow, that's cooler engineering than a hypercar. They will be shocked."The reference to a $30,000 EV by Farley hints at the small pick-up which Ford says it hopes to sell for the same price.The pick-up will be a smaller sibling to the F-150 Lightning Ford and will likely use the Universal EV platform, with a possible 2027 launch.Whether it makes it to Australia is another question. That might only be possible if the vehicle is produced in right-hand drive for markets such as the United Kingdom.We might not see the Ranchero arrive in Australia anytime soon but the Universal EV platform will likely underpin other Ford models to be sold locally.This is not the first time Farley has pivoted Ford's direction in the hope of surviving the threat posed by the popularity of affordable and high-tech Chinese vehicles.In 2024, Farley declared to British publication Car Magazine that Ford was ”getting out of the boring car business and into the iconic-vehicle business”.Although in the same year he also told the Guardian, “We have to start to get back in love with smaller vehicles. It’s super important for our society and for EV adoption.”In 2025 Farley announced that he wanted Ford to be "the Porsche of off-road”, referencing the brand's involvement with off-road racing and applying that skill and engineering to its adventurous vehicles.Currently Ford has a limited number of models in its Australian range, with the Mustang sports car, Ranger ute and Everest SUV bringing in the lion's share of sales.

The Skoda Peaq has just been announced as Europe’s latest electric family SUV rival.The big seven-seat electric SUV is expected to land in Australia in 2027, where it would complement the mid-size Enyaq and compact Elroq electric SUVs in Skoda's expanding EV range in Australia. It would pose a challenge to other electric three-row SUVs, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 ($119,750, before on-road costs) and Kia EV9 ($97,000).There is no news on how much the Skoda Peaq will cost in Australia, but Skoda has confirmed it will have a starting price of below 50,000 euros in Europe (about $80,000). Cars from Europe usually carry a sizeable premium when put on sale in Australia, so expect it to sit above that $80,000 mark.The car will be available with a single rear electric motor, producing 150kW and 350Nm, while a dual motor all-wheel drive wheel layout boosts power up to 220kW and 545Nm. The Peaq will be fitted with either a 63kWh battery offering a driving range of 459km (WLTP), or a 91kWh unit offers 647km or 613km, depending on it being RWD or AWD. The car has both AC and DC charging capabilities, with a 10-80 per cent charge at 160kW, taking 27 minutes for the smaller battery, while the larger battery takes 28 minutes at 199kW. The car has a sleek overall presence, measuring at 4874mm long, which makes it shorter than the EV9 and Ioniq 9. It will also be the first Skoda model to feature flush door handles. On the inside, there is a 13.6-inch vertical central touchscreen using a Google Android software system, along with a digital driver display. There is also a 16-speaker audio system, pumping out 755W. The car has a large panoramic sunroof spanning most of the roof space.The Peaq will launch with a Sportline variant that gives the car a sharper look, along with optional two-tone paint.

Chinese carmakers are leading the way went it comes to EVs, but this one brand is flipping the script.Every car in the top 10 best-selling EVs for May 2026 was built in China, including the Jaecoo J5 EV.The J5 EV claimed the title for the best-selling small SUV in May 2026. Omoda Jaecoo’s Australian Chief Commercial Officer Roy Munoz said the brand is not classed as a specialist electric carmaker, despite this result.The J5 EV was one of Chery Group’s first fully-electric models put on sale Down Under, with much of its range adopting petrol or hybrid set-ups. It was the group’s most successful model in May, but Munoz said it is doing so while tackling more EV-specific competition.“Being that Omoda Jaecoo, and I guess Chery as a wider group, is not just an EV brand. We are a traditional car company,” Munoz on CarsGuide.  “It also proves that we are a technology company where an EV is within our capability as well. “To be able to achieve that, not being known as an EV brand is a true testament to the capabilities of Omoda Jaecoo and Chery as a group.”A petrol variant of the J5 recently launched in Australia, with Omoda Jaecoo still eager to cater for an internal combustion engine consumer base. This approach contrasts many of Chery’s key rivals, such as BYD, that does not offer any petrol-only models in Australia. It demonstrates Omoda Jaecoo trying to cover all bases. A plug-less version of the J5 is also due in showrooms before the end of the year. It comes as many legacy brands also phase out petrol-only options for key models. One of the J5’s rivals the Kia Seltos will launch for its new generation with a hybrid offering, ditching its popular pure petrol variant. It will become more difficult for brands to have pure internal combustion engines in their lineups with Australian emissions regulations becoming more stringent in the coming years. Munoz said Omoda Jaecoo is aware of the potential impacts of New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) fines on a strong sales return for the petrol J5. He said the brand would balance to ensure it meets its NVES obligations, with J5 EV acting as a shield to provide credits at this stage. 

Renault has introduced an updated version of its pure-electric Megane E-Tech SUV with the aim of delivering “more character, dynamism and technology”.Launched globally in 2022, the Megane EV didn’t hit the local market until early 2024, so while it may feel early for an upgrade of the first-generation model, this is in fact a mid-life facelift.While the 160kW/300Nm synchronous motor is unchanged (as is the car’s 7.6sec 0-100km/h time) the updated Megane is 20 mm taller, in part to accommodate a bigger 67kWh LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery (up from 60kWh), with a WLTP range of up to 500km (up from 454km).DC fast-charging speed has also increased to 165kW (+35kW) with a 15-80 per cent charge claimed to now take 24 minutes, down from 30min.The previous base 7.4kW AC charge capacity (as specified in Australia) has been boosted to 11kW, with a 22kW bidirectional charger (enabling vehicle-to-load discharge) optional in Europe.Springs and dampers have been retuned in light of the larger battery and the steering has been recalibrated to “deliver a more direct response and greater precision at the wheel, for a more natural feel”.Cosmetic changes include a redesigned front end with only the headlights untouched. A more prominent body-coloured bumper section sits between new light graphics in the form of eight diamond-shaped elements in a chequerboard pattern (replacing previous side intakes). The gloss black grille also incorporates a diamond pattern and repositioned brand logo while at the rear the tail-lights remain full-width but have been given a 3D treatment with no covering lens.Inside, on the entry Techno trim, the dash is trimmed in a textured TEP (Thermo-Expandable Polyolefin) material with trim elements on the doors and dash in wood or a grey patterned finish.The top-spec Esprit Alpine picks up new Spectral Grey door panel trim and LED adaptive mood lighting.In terms of tech, the updated Megane E-Tech now features the openR link system with Google built-in.A dual-screen layout combines a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12-inch multimedia screen in a single seamless display.The system includes Google Assistant for voice control of the main in-car functions and Google Maps for navigation.Renault has also claimed early-adopter status in introducing a wireless charger meeting the Qi2 standard (Magsafe on iPhone) for new-gen smartphones, using a magnetic ring to deliver maximum charging power without overheating.Introducing the updated Scenic, Chief Growth Officer & CEO Renault Brand Fabrice Cambolive said, ”As more and more customers turn to electric vehicles our priority is to make this transition simple and attractive. The new Megane E-Tech electric is fully in line with this dynamic.“The introduction of a new LFP battery plays a key role in this evolution, improving range and charging performance,” he said.CarsGuide contacted Renault Australia for comment on the updated Scenic E-Tech's potential for local launch and a spokesperson told us, "The Renault Megane E-Tech facelift is due in Australian showrooms in the first half of 2027. Prices and specifications will be announced closer to showroom arrivals."

First there was the Toyota LandCruiser 300, now there’s the Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700 - a large off-road plug-in hybrid SUV from the Chinese giant that could monster its old school rivals with leading edge tech, comfort and all-out grunt - oh, and it has an amphibious mode, too.We saw the Galaxy Cruiser 700 (sometimes called the Battleship 700) in concept form in 2025 at the Shanghai motor show and now the hybrid LandCruiser rival has had its final design, which doesn't stray far from the previous concepts, revealed in new images.It will launch domestically this year and it could be on its way to Australia in 2027.Big, boxy and with more than a hint of Land Rover Defender about it, the Galaxy Cruiser 700’s dimensions are almost identical to the LandCruiser 300 at 4893mm long, 2028mm wide and 1957mm tall.The big difference is in the wheelbase with the The Galaxy Cruiser almost 100mm longer at 2930mm - how this affects the vehicle’s all important breakover angle is yet to be seen.The Galaxy Cruiser 700 does have an impressive 300mm of ground clearance, a wading depth of 800mm and an amphibious mode allowing it to float.A plug-in hybrid powertrain will produce a colossal combined 830kW and feature two motors on the rear axle and one on the front.The Galaxy Cruiser 700 is also likely to feature Geely’s latest self-driving tech allowing it to pilot itself autonomously on urban roads and motorways. CarsGuide has asked Geely Australia if the vehicle is being considered for a local launch and will update this story if more details come to light.If the large SUV does come to Australia, it will likely be sold as the Geely Cruiser 700. The Galaxy badge is only used in China to denote a separate sub-brand of Geely.Geely is currently experiencing a boom in popularity in Australia with its affordable electric and hybrid vehicles. The brand sold 2636 vehicles in May this year, an increase of 416 per cent on the same month last year. Year to date sales for the brand in Australia have already reached 6440 units, exceeding its total 2025 result of 5010 sales.Geely’s fully electric EX5 mid-sized SUV has been one of the brand’s hits with 1814 sales in May. It has become one of the top-selling electric cars in the country in 2026.The brand currently has only one other model on sale - the related Starray EM-i, a plug-in hybrid that’s selling well too, with 822 sales for May.A smaller EX2 hatchback to rival the BYD Atto 1 will arrive later this year.