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        <atom:link href="https://www.carsguide.com.au/feed/rss/car-news" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
        <title>CarsGuide - Car News</title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.carsguide.com.au/feed/rss/car-news]]></link>
                <description>Car News Australia: Latest Motoring News from CarsGuide</description>
        <language>en-US</language>
        <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 16:13:17 +0000</pubDate>

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            <title><![CDATA[2026 Mazda CX-6e electric SUV is a big misstep for the brand as it chases Tesla Model Y, Zeekr 7X | Opinion]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2026-mazda-cx-6e-electric-suv-is-a-big-misstep-for-the-brand-as-it-chases-tesla-model-y</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Stepping into another person&rsquo;s shoes is never easy. But a motoring journo is doing that at least 90 per cent of the time.I, James Cleary, may not be in the target market for a compact electric city car, but when I&rsquo;m behind the wheel of a BYD Atto 1 or Geely EX2 I do my best to inhabit the mindset of someone who is.Similarly, a Lamborghini Temerario may be well beyond my pay grade and appear hugely expensive relative to my bank balance. But to someone lining up to add that tasty wedge of Italian exotica to their collection, it almost certainly won&rsquo;t be.And that &lsquo;getting into the customer mindset&rsquo; thing occurred to me in a slightly different way over the course of a recent week with the Mazda CX-6e Azami.Mazda has built a brilliant reputation in Australia over six decadesCareful management has helped Mazda build an enviable reputation in this country over six decades, focusing on a top-shelf, customer-focused retail network handling the sales and service of an ever-improving range of price-competitive, quality products.To the point where I&rsquo;ve attended events in other parts of the world where senior execs from rival brands have sidled up and asked me why Mazda&rsquo;s been so successful in Australia (while it hasn't always been elsewhere).Which brings us back to the CX-6e.2026 Mazda 6e sedan and CX-6e SUV mid-size siblings imported from ChinaThe 6e sedan and CX-6e SUV mid-size pure-electric siblings are the product of Mazda&rsquo;s 50:50 joint-venture with Chinese giant Changan.Imported from China, aside from anything else, they&rsquo;re an expedient, Deepal-based way to get on the EV wave and help Mazda grapple with the impacts of the federal government&rsquo;s NVES (New Vehicle Efficiency Standard) scheme.To a loyal Mazda customer, keen to go EV for the first time, either would appear to be the perfect choice.They're sleek, well equipped, sharply priced relative to alternate options like the Tesla Model 3 or Model Y and most importantly, they wear the Mazda logo on the nose.2026 Mazda CX-6e new car smell fades quicklySo, put yourself in the shoes of that Mazda loyalist. You trust the dealer because they&rsquo;ve always been good to you. You&rsquo;re happy after the routine test drive, you&rsquo;re up to speed on the whole charging thing and you decide to treat yourself by opting for the top shelf CX-6e Azami at $59,990, drive-away.The new car smell is intoxicating, as always. But once that starts to fade, the realisation hits.Despite everything that drew you to this car in the first place, it&rsquo;s not as enjoyable as you thought it would be.For a start, the ride is firm. Like, really firm. Every little imperfection in the road surface makes it through to your backside. Cresting a decent speed bump causes major upheaval.Much as you want to, you can&rsquo;t un-notice it. The suspension appears to be tuned to manage the CX-6e's just over 2.1-tonne weight without enough attention paid to compliance. The family isn&rsquo;t happy.2026 Mazda CX-6e flawsThen other niggles start to emerge. The flush door handles that pull out at a roughly 35-degree angle are an ergonomic challenge; an issue compounded by surprisingly heavy doors.The camera-based mirrors, interior and external, that seemed so novel and high-tech at first have become more trouble than they&rsquo;re worth.With no natural depth of field, the interior rearview always takes your eyes half a beat to pull focus on, while the screens in the front doors for the side views also lack depth and feel like tech for tech&rsquo;s sake.2026 Mazda CX-6e safety tech is infuriatingThe broad, offset-to-the-left multimedia screen looks impressive, but almost as soon as your eyes leave the road to focus on the in-screen ventilation controls or audio set-up you receive a curt rap over the knuckles from the car telling you to pay attention and keep your eyes on the road.That&rsquo;s annoying, so you decide you want to turn that function off, as well as the]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[James Cleary]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2026-mazda-cx-6e-electric-suv-is-a-big-misstep-for-the-brand-as-it-chases-tesla-model-y</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 15:31:28 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[2027 Toyota Celica goes official: Toyota re-boots legendary sports car as rally machine ahead of 2026 Honda Prelude and Nissan Z rival’s production debut]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-toyota-celica-goes-official-toyota-re-boots-legendary-sports-car-as-rally-machine</link>
            <description><![CDATA[The new Toyota Celica has been confirmed by Toyota&rsquo;s racing division ahead of an anticipated production car debut for the re-booted nameplate.Toyota Racing announced it would enter two teams and two cars in next year&rsquo;s FIA World Rally Championship, including the GR Celica Rally1.Confirmation of the existence of the Celica comes after months of speculation and several production mules spotted testing in the wild.No details were confirmed for the new car, other than the version entered into the WRC would comply with the latest regulations.Toyota Racing simply said &ldquo;drivers will be entrusted with the new GR Celica Rally1 car, returning one of the most iconic names in Toyota rally history to the WRC.&rdquo;2026 Toyota Celica details and pictures yet to be revealedThe brand also refrained from sharing images of its new Rally1 machine, leaving us to rely on existing images of the test mule that have been spotted in the wild.This has taken the form of a mysterious camouflaged sports coupe spotted testing in Portugal last year, adopting what appears to be a Yaris front-end with a coupe-style rear.Other prototypes recently seen in Japan also show a long-suspected mid-engine test mule on a test track.It follows on from the official GR Yaris M concept car, which Toyota showed at the Super Taikyu race series.While this car took the form of a race-ready GR Yaris from the outside, it featured a mid-mounted 2.0-litre engine producing up to 450kW in race form.At the time Toyota said the Yaris M concept was designed to remove the weaknesses of front-engined cars in &ldquo;concentrating the load on the front tires during all driving operations.&ldquo;In circuit environments this significantly affects tire wear and leads to a tendency to understeer.&rdquo;Toyota GR sports car line-up to expandWhether these are all Toyota developing the same car in a different form, or a Celica and long-rumored re-booted MR2 as separate vehicles is yet to be determined. Toyota is remaining tight-lipped.Regardless, while the latest WRC rules allow Toyota to move beyond the usual hatchback body style, it still requires the engine to be in the front.Toyota&rsquo;s Gazoo Racing President Tomoya Takahashi has alluded to the production version of the sports car not materialising until closer to the end of the decade.All efforts are part of Toyota moving away from its &lsquo;boring&rsquo; image and promising to continue to invest in &ldquo;motorsport-bred&rdquo; sports cars.This has meant continued investment in the 86, proper GR Yaris and GR Corolla hot hatchbacks, and the GR GT flagship.2026 Toyota Supra discontinued, GR 86 set to evolveToyota is also on the cusp of something fresh in its sports car department, as the Supra, which shared its platform with the BMW Z4 has been discontinued.The GR 86 will also evolve or morph for its next-generation, with the brand saying it will not continue the partnership with Subaru which lends the current car its flat four engine.Will Toyota really have room in its line-up for an 86, Celica, and an MR2? The company has the resources, but whether that makes commercial sense remains to be seen.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tom White]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-toyota-celica-goes-official-toyota-re-boots-legendary-sports-car-as-rally-machine</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 15:10:56 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[Top ute gets $5000 price cut: 2025 Kia Tasman SX and SX+ variants score big discounts to battle 2026 Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/top-ute-gets-5000-price-cut-2025-kia-tasman-sx-and-sx-variants-score-big-discounts-to</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Australia is officially a buyers market for new ute shoppers.Carmakers of all shapes and sizes are delivering outstanding deals on new vehicles, as an increasing number of brands fight over a pool of buyers that isn&rsquo;t growing at the same rate.Kia is now the latest to offer sharp deals, with its Tasman dual-cab ute the pick of the litter.Kia Tasman dealsKia has wiped $5000 off the price of the Tasman SX four-wheel drive variant, which is now available for $49,990 drive-away down from $54,490 (before on-road costs).Higher grade SX+ 4WD variants can be had for $54,990 drive-away, compared to $62,390 (before on-road costs), which is a whopping saving of more than $10,000.ABN holders can access the $5000 discount on single- and dual-cab-chassis S and SX versions with an alloy tray, too.It is only available on 2025 model year examples and it must be ordered and delivered in November.The controversially-styled Tasman has been a slow seller for Kia, with less than 400 sold through the first nine months of this year. Kia initially expected to move 20,000 Tasmans annually.&nbsp;It has all the things a ute owner needs, though.Power comes from a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine making 154kW and 440Nm, which is paired to an eight-speed auto driving all four wheels.It has high and low gears, can tow up to 3500kg and - depending on variant - has a one tonne payload.Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger dealsUte deals used to be rare, and mostly locked in for the End of Financial Year. Not anymore, with even the mighty Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux resorting to deals to entice customers.Toyota is chucking in a $4000 deposit bonus on new mid-range HiLux SR5 variants.There are a few caveats, with it purchased with at least $10,000 financed through Toyota and it excludes the electric version.Ford is giving new customers of the Ranger XLT, Wildtrak and Tremor variants a $4000 fuel card.Mitsubishi is also giving customers a $3000 fuel card with Triton purchases and LDV has permanently wiped thousands off the price of a T60 workhorse.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dom Tripolone]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/top-ute-gets-5000-price-cut-2025-kia-tasman-sx-and-sx-variants-score-big-discounts-to</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 11:38:53 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[Tough luck haters: 2026 Ferrari Luce a massive hit as EV boosts the brand with Aston Martin and Lamborghini struggling to keep up]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/tough-luck-haters-2026-ferrari-luce-a-massive-hit-as-ev-boosts-the-brand-with-aston-martin</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Ferrari&rsquo;s ultra-controversial first electric car - the Luce - is a massive hit for the brand, according to its third quarter financial results.While the electric four-door GT is much maligned by combustion enthusiasts who see Ferrari&rsquo;s lineage tarnished by a car with no enormously complex running gear, the brand literally can&rsquo;t build enough Luces to meet demand.It is sold out for all of 2027 and the order book now extends into 2028, with the brand&rsquo;s CEO saying current &ldquo;geopolitical tensions&rdquo; were not affecting Ferrari&rsquo;s order book.Demand for the Luce is boosting revenues alongside Ferrari&rsquo;s booming personalisation business. The company said over 21 per cent of its cars are now personalised, significantly boosting profit margins.Ferrari sales past previous revenue estimatesAs a result the brand has sailed past its previous forecasts now estimating its earnings (EBITDA) for the year to exceed three billion euros (A$4.8 billion).The company also pointed to its regular new model release cycle as a factor for its ongoing revenues, with 23 new models or editions added to the range since 2015, and two more new cars coming in 2027.On the flip side, the brand said its bottom line was hit by lower F1 revenues.The Luce also attracted commentary for its design, which strayed far from Ferrari&rsquo;s usual offerings.Design elements a lightning rod for criticismThe car was styled by LoveFrom - a creative agency founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive.This manifested in an avant-garde look, with integrated functional aero alongside rounded rear tail lights, which invoke past Ferrari models.Inside, the car featured an &lsquo;industrial-inspired&rsquo; look, blending classic Ferrari motifs with modern, functionality-focused design and an array of high-quality materials to set it apart from the crowd.The car made an impact, but for what many consider to be the wrong reasons, with it featuring unconventional proportions as part of its two-part look with the colour-over-contrast finish and giant wheels.The whole design flies largely in the face of previous designs in being form following function rather than the other way around.Some saw the car as a reset for Ferrari in a stagnant supercar environment where the usual eye-popping performance numbers have been made redundant by the advent of fully electric passenger cars at mainstream pricing with supercar performance figures.Regardless, the Luce is an undeniable hit, with the initial allocation of units selling out instantly in the highly competitive Chinese market, which is a conquest arena for the Italian sports car marque.Ferrari contrasts Luce with more traditional offerings across its rangeAt the same time, it&rsquo;s not as though Ferrari isn&rsquo;t abandoning its core audience, with the sculpted Amalfi having its drop-top Spider version being phased in as a classic Italian tourer, and the 12 Cilindri receiving a limited-run Manuale edition which features a simulated six-speed gated manual gearbox to match with its raucous V12 engine.Locally, Ferrari is performing decently, ahead of Aston Martin and arch-rival Lamborghini so far in 2026, although it is slightly behind on its tally this time last year.It is worth noting that the Luce is yet to officially launch in Australia, with the first deliveries not due until late 2027. It is priced at $991,446 before on-roads.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tom White]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/tough-luck-haters-2026-ferrari-luce-a-massive-hit-as-ev-boosts-the-brand-with-aston-martin</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 11:07:35 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA['Flipped the script': Real reason sales of 2026 Tesla Model Y, Zeekr 7X, Geely EX5 have skyrocketed]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/flipped-the-script-real-reason-sales-of-2026-tesla-model-y-zeekr-7x-geely-ex5-have</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Many Aussie have bought their first ever EV in 2026 and it&rsquo;s changed the new car market forever.The Iran war's impact on fuel prices is often put forward as a key reason why more people than ever are making the electric car switch, but that's not the full story.Ed Harvey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Australasian home EV charger manufacturer Evnex, told CarsGuide it was fuel security that started to sway buyers.&ldquo;It flipped the argument,&rdquo; Harvey said.&ldquo;The fuel prices have not just really strengthened the cost-saving argument, but also I think it's the first time that people really started talking about energy security or transport security.&rdquo;Fuel insecurity as a driver of EV uptakeRange anxiety has put many buyers off EVs.&nbsp; It combines a fear of running out of charge with having nowhere to charge it.Harvey said the fuel crisis brought about by the Iran war and the closing of the integral Strait of Hormuz in March 2026 started to change buyer perception.Buyers can now save as much as $3600 a year in just fuel costs by making the EV switch, according to Evnex's research, but Harvey said fuel security also started to cause anxiety with panic fuel buying leading to localised shortages.The federal government relaxed fuel standards and released reserves, while launching a $20 million &ldquo;Every little bit helps&rdquo; fuel conservation advertising campaign.Harvey said it was fuel availability not fuel prices that "flipped the script" for many buyers.Drivers worried about where they could fill up as opposed to where they could charge up, for the first time.&ldquo;I think that really changed how people thought about energy security and our reliance on imported fossil fuels,&rdquo; Harvey said.&ldquo;I knew some people with petrol or diesel vehicles that were asking friends to borrow electric vehicles for the holiday period because they were nervous they might not be able to get where they needed to go.&rdquo;BYD Australia&rsquo;s Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins told CarsGuide higher fuel prices and fuel shortages contributed to exponential EV uptake earlier in 2026.Collins described the early stages of the fuel crisis period as a &ldquo;pivotal point&rdquo; and an &ldquo;unprecedented time&rdquo;.&ldquo;That March, early April period - I think it was genuinely only a four-week period where we saw a big spike in orders,&rdquo; Collins said.&ldquo;I think there were a lot of people that were on the cusp of buying an EV and that tipped a lot of people into &lsquo;I&rsquo;ll just make the decision now&rsquo;.&ldquo;It was a pretty tumultuous time, so I think there&rsquo;s some truth to that.&rdquo;What fuel insecurity means for the future of EVs in AustraliaThe Electric Vehicle Council&rsquo;s (EVC) 2026 &lsquo;State of EVs&rsquo; report found buyers purchased one EV every 100 seconds in the first half of 2026.Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales contributed to more than a quarter of all new car sales in the first half of the year, compared to roughly one in every 10 in the first half of 2025.Where there are competitive EV choices, buyers are making the switch, such as the mid-size SUV segment.The BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5 and Tesla Model Y have consistently featured among the best-selling cars in Australia in 2026, and have experienced unprecedented growth.There hasn&rsquo;t been the same growth in some other large segments of the market, and this is because competitive EV choices are still emerging, according to Electric Vehicle Council Chair and Origin Energy E-mobility GM Chau Le.&ldquo;In each of these segments, EVs are becoming competitive, but we're not quite there yet in some of the segments,&rdquo; Le told CarsGuide.&ldquo;We're still a bit out, but with more EV models coming in and improvement in battery technology, it's only a matter of time until we're competitive across all segments.&rdquo;There are no electrified utes that reach the balance of affordability,]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/flipped-the-script-real-reason-sales-of-2026-tesla-model-y-zeekr-7x-geely-ex5-have</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 03:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[2027 Kia EV5 receives more power to rival 2026 Hyundai Elexio, Tesla Model Y electric mid-size SUVs]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-kia-ev5-receives-more-power-to-rival-2026-hyundai-elexio-tesla-model-y-electric-mid</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Kia&rsquo;s EV5 electric mid-size SUV is about to get a major update in Australia.&nbsp;A facelifted EV5 has just appeared in Australian sales approval documents for the first time.The EV5 is Kia&rsquo;s best-selling fully-electric model on sale in 2026, edging out the smaller EV3 for the title.It tackles the Toyota bZ4X ($55,990) as well as hugely popular rivals the BYD Sealion 7 ($54,990) and Tesla Model Y ($58,900), all before on-road costs.The new EV5 should arrive in showrooms in mid-2027.More power and a new look for the 2027 Kia EV5The EV5 will receive a minor power boost for its updated model.The two-wheel drive variant&rsquo;s single electric motor now produces 175kW instead of 160kW, while the dual motors in the all-wheel drive make 249kW, up from 230kW.Kia will continue to equip the EV5 with either a 64kWh or 88kWh battery, but we don't know if they will provide greater driving range.&nbsp;The current EV5 offers between 400km and 555km of driving range, depending on the variant, according to WLTP standards.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s rumoured the EV5 will feature an updated ride and handling tune for Aussie roads in line with other models in Kia&rsquo;s line-up.&nbsp;The 2027 EV5 has some subtle styling tweaks for its mid-life update, with some new body creases and a sharper design.&nbsp;It also features what looks to be a front camera bar fixed to the grille area.The car is basically dimensionally identical to its soon-to-be predecessor, measuring 4613mm long, 1875mm wide, 1715mm tall, with a 2750mm wheelbase.&nbsp;2027 Kia EV5 launch timing and pricing&nbsp;The EV5 is scheduled to launch in mid-2027, but it&rsquo;s unclear exactly when it will hit showrooms.&nbsp;Buyers can expect more official news on the updated EV5 before the end of 2026.Kia will reveal pricing closer to the new EV5&rsquo;s arrival, with a firm price yet to be confirmed.&nbsp;&nbsp;The EV5 range currently kicks off from $56,770, with prices rising up to $71,770 for the top-spec car (before on-road costs).&nbsp;]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-kia-ev5-receives-more-power-to-rival-2026-hyundai-elexio-tesla-model-y-electric-mid</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:51:40 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[2027 Honda Ridgeline: Honda Australia is plotting to ‘get in early’ on new ute to rival 2026 BYD Shark 6 and Toyota HiLux]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-honda-ridgeline-honda-australia-is-plotting-to-get-in-early-on-new-ute-to-rival-2026</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Honda Australia is aware of the ongoing demand for its Rigeline ute, which is currently only built in left-hand drive for markets like the USA.With a new-generation version confirmed to be the works, the CEO of Honda Australia, Jay Joseph, told CarsGuide how the local division was putting its hand up for right-hand drive development early in the process in order to increase its chances of an Australian debut.&ldquo;There hasn&rsquo;t been a dealer visit yet anywhere where that didn&rsquo;t come up,&rdquo; he said.&ldquo;The best time to think about homologating a vehicle for right-hand drive is at the inception of design,&rdquo; he explained.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s something we&rsquo;re looking at and we&rsquo;re in conversations about. Where that will lead, I can't say for now. It takes time, and we&rsquo;ve got to do the math and it has to make sense.&rdquo;Australia can't be the only export market for RidgelineJoseph, who spent much of his career working on Honda&rsquo;s North American business and spent significant time in Japan understanding the company&rsquo;s global footprint, was also upfront about the challenges facing the sought-after Ridgeline badge for our market.&ldquo;There has to be sufficient volume, so it can&rsquo;t be dependent on Australia alone. There would have to be enough right-hand drive markets raising their hands with similar development needs.&ldquo;The key factor in that is when we look across all of the certification items, is there enough compatibility that we&rsquo;re not doubling down on development? If we can keep that pretty simple, then it has a chance.&rdquo;The Ridgeline, which has existed since 2005 and is currently in its second-generation, doesn&rsquo;t ride on a ladder frame like rival dual-cabs. Instead, it sits on a large vehicle monocoque platform, which also underpins other US-developed left-hand drive vehicles, including the Pilot and Passport.&ldquo;These vehicles have a much more capable rear differential [and] some really cool features which we haven&rsquo;t brought to market yet, using forward radar for some really interesting things when off-roading,&rdquo; Joseph said.He said Honda had been holding these more rugged models from our market for some time.Honda won't 'take shortcuts' on ute plans&ldquo;Moving a steering wheel from one side to another in a unibody construction vehicle is a heavy undertaking, and as a company, we just don&rsquo;t take shortcuts on things like that," he added.&ldquo;The best time to plant a tree is 40 years ago; the second best time is today, and we didn&rsquo;t plant that tree on those vehicles 40 years ago so we need to start thinking about it now.&rdquo;The recently confirmed third-generation Ridgeline is promised to gain even more rugged design and capabilities, although the brand said earlier this year that it would continue to be built exclusively at the company&rsquo;s Alabama factory.Joseph pointed to the Honda MDX large SUV, which was briefly sold in Australia between 2003 and 2006 as proof that the brand could source cars from the USA if needed.Re-badged Triton could also be a shoo-in for AustraliaThe elephant in the room for Honda&rsquo;s ute aspirations is a hot-off-the-press memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi on use of its Triton ladder frame as Honda looks to expand into South East Asian markets with a more robust commercial offering.The team-up between Japanese stalwarts is understood to produce a Honda-badged version of the Mitsubishi ute.Joseph said this was a &ldquo;could-be&rdquo; solution for Australia in the short term.&ldquo;Exactly what form that takes, we&rsquo;ll see. It&rsquo;s too early for us to confirm anything, but there&rsquo;s a possibility there,&rdquo; he said of a re-badged Triton. &ldquo;I suppose its more of a statement of intent that it&rsquo;s the vehicle missing from the portfolio in this region particularly.&rdquo;Honda ute would be a perfect lifestyle match for other Honda productsInterestingly,]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tom White]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-honda-ridgeline-honda-australia-is-plotting-to-get-in-early-on-new-ute-to-rival-2026</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:10:09 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[2027 Volkswagen T-Roc confirmed to launch in Australia as new hybrid-only rival to Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos small SUVs]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-volkswagen-t-roc-confirmed-to-launch-in-australia-as-new-hybrid-only-rival-to-hyundai</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Aussie buyers have a new hybrid compact SUV from Europe to consider.Volkswagen has just confirmed its next-generation T-Roc will launch in Australia with a mild-hybrid set-up.&nbsp;The T-Roc will rival the full-hybrid Hyundai Kona ($33,700, before on-road costs) and Kia Seltos ($39,990, drive-away).The brand says the new T-Roc will arrive in Aussie showrooms in early 2027.Hybrid power for 2027 Volkswagen T-RocThe next-generation T-Roc will feature a mild-hybrid set-up in Australia at this stage.Volkswagen said the new set-up will contribute to lower fuel consumption and provide a responsive performance.&nbsp;VW has not confirmed yet whether the full-hybrid variants of the T-Roc will land Down Under.&nbsp;"We&rsquo;re continuing to evaluate opportunities for the T-Roc range in Australia and will share further details as they become available," a spokesperson for VW Australia told CarsGuide."At this stage, we have no additional variants to announce."The fully-hybrid T-Roc uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors to produce either 100kW/288Nm or 125kW/310Nm.Power has dropped slightly across both grades compared to the outgoing petrol line-up (previously 110kW/250Nm and 140kW/320Nm).However, the new entry-level hybrid gains a noticeable torque bump to 288Nm, while the up-spec grade delivers 310Nm.The full-hybrid T-Roc is equipped with a 1.6kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery, which enables the car to drive on electric-only power at speeds less than 60km/h without heavy acceleration.&nbsp;2027 Volkswagen T-Roc gets new designThe T-Roc boasts a more rounded overall design, with sharp creases either side of the bonnet.It has a sleek headlight design and single daytime running strip with black cladding on the grille, air intakes and wheel arches, as well as on the roof rails.Volkswagen is promising more interior space and increased practicality as well as better technology, safety and convenience features.VW has moved the gear selector to a steering column stalk, freeing up more centre console space.Inside, there&rsquo;s a rectangular digital driver display and central multimedia screen, along with plenty of physical buttons on the steering wheel.The German brand said the car will have its latest software system, which has new driver assistance technologies and comfort-focused features.2027 Volkswagen T-Roc pricing AustraliaVolkswagen will reveal pricing for the new T-Roc close to its early 2027 arrival date.The current generation T-Roc kicks off from $38,990, with prices rising up to $49,990, before on-road costs.Buyers can expect an increase on those prices for the T-Roc&rsquo;s new generation, with it likely to kick off from over $40,000 when it arrives.This will place it in a similar bracket to other conventional hybrid rivals, including the Toyota Corolla Cross (from $37,440), Hyundai Kona (from $36,950) and incoming Kia Seltos (from $37,990).]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-volkswagen-t-roc-confirmed-to-launch-in-australia-as-new-hybrid-only-rival-to-hyundai</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[VW's iconic car on life support: Volkswagen ID.Golf electric car paused as brand runs out of money for 2026 Kia EV4, Leapmotor B05 rival]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/vws-iconic-car-on-life-support-volkswagen-idgolf-electric-car-paused-as-brand-runs-out-of</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Volkswagen is officially in trouble, as the German giant pauses work on its new electric ID.Golf.The Volkswagen Golf was once the brand&rsquo;s bread and butter, but changing buyer tastes and rising prices has pushed the hatchback into the background."We simply can't afford this work right now," said Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schaefer, according to Reuters."I know what the Golf means for Volkswagen and for Wolfsburg. That's &#8203;why this decision was really not an easy one for us,&rdquo; said Schaefer.He said the ID.Golf isn&rsquo;t cancelled, just postponed, but if the situation doesn&rsquo;t improve it might be the end of the road for the famous Golf.&nbsp;Volkswagen&rsquo;s financial woesThe German carmaker is undergoing one of the biggest restructures in its history, with it likely to cut up to 100,000 jobs, close four factories and slice vehicle variants by up to 75 per cent in an attempt to make it leaner and more agile.Volkswagen posted a &euro;5.9 billion ($9.43B) loss in the past three months, its largest quarterly loss in more than a decade. The problem is new ultra-affordable brands from China hitting Europe with incredible force.The German giant&rsquo;s business model is to sell volume at low margin in Europe."This business model is &#8288;under &#8203;enormous pressure in Europe," said Volkswagen Group boss Oliver Blume.Industry analysts have crunched the numbers and said Chinese makers can produce an equivalent electric vehicle for $11,000 less than a European maker.&nbsp;Volkswagen&rsquo;s software problemsThe ID.Golf was expected to be based on the company&rsquo;s new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP).This is an 800-volt EV platform that puts software at the heart of the car. Audi, Porsche and then VW were to get vehicles made on this platform.Software has been the thorn in Volkswagen's side. The company&rsquo;s Cariad software division has been bleeding money and has not been delivering on its investment.Volkswagen has been forced to invest in US start-up Rivian to gain access to its software. Volkswagen also has a joint-venture with Chinese brand XPeng, which has spawned several vehicles in China. It also gives the brand access to XPeng&rsquo;s software knowledge.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dom Tripolone]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/vws-iconic-car-on-life-support-volkswagen-idgolf-electric-car-paused-as-brand-runs-out-of</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2026 11:38:37 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[LandCruiser leaves Patrol in its dust: 2026 Toyota LandCruiser outsells Nissan Y62 Patrol, but moderate sale for hybrid version ]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/landcruiser-leaves-patrol-in-its-dust-2026-toyota-landcruiser-outsells-nissan-y62-patrol</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Toyota launched the Performance Hybrid version of its LandCruiser 300 Series in Australia earlier this year and it&rsquo;s claimed to only be making up a small portion of overall sales.So far diesel versions of the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series are claimed to be outselling the petrol-electric Performance Hybrid trims almost seven-to-one.Toyota says the amount of LandCruiser 300 Series Performance Hybrid sales is what it expected.&ldquo;Yeah, it&rsquo;s going well,&rdquo; said Toyota Australia Vice President national sales, marketing and franchise operations John Pappas to CarsGuide.&ldquo;The Performance Hybrid is sitting where we thought it would be, which is roughly at around 15 per cent of our sales of the overall LandCruiser [300 Series line-up].&rdquo;Toyota LandCruiser sales up in AustraliaToyota sold a total of 9787 LandCruiser wagons through the first nine months of this year, which is up 10.1 per cent year-on-year.A small portion of these sales include the LandCruiser 70 Series wagon and troop carrier. Toyota doesn&rsquo;t split out sales and instead only reports it as LandCruiser wagon and LandCruiser pick-up/cab-chassis.Part of the LandCruiser wagon&rsquo;s recent sales success is due to the runout of the Y62-generation Nissan Patrol. The new Y63 Patrol is due to launch in early 2027.This improvement in LandCruiser wagon sales defies Toyota&rsquo;s overall sales so far in 2026. It sold a total of 152,944 vehicles until the end of September, which is down 15.9 per cent year-on-year.Toyota is still on track to be the best-selling carmaker in Australia in 2026. This will make it the 31st consecutive year.CO2 targets may cause LandCruiser price risesAs it stands, both the diesel and Performance Hybrid versions of the LandCruiser 300 Series are above the threshold for &lsquo;Type 2&rsquo; vehicles under the Australian Government&rsquo;s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).The threshold for &lsquo;Type 2&rsquo; vehicles in 2026 is 180g/km and the LC300 diesel and Performance Hybrid are claimed to emit 235g/km and 220g/km, respectively.This theoretically means each LC300 imported into Australia attracts an NVES fine of $2750 and $2000, respectively this year. Toyota may not need to pay this fine if it can import other vehicles under the CO2 thresholds, or purchase credits from other carmakers.Toyota has previously warned that price rises may occur, especially on models that are high-emitting.&ldquo;Due to the challenging NVES targets for commercial vehicles from 2027 onwards, we cannot rule out price increases,&rdquo; said Pappas.2026 Toyota LandCruiser Performance Hybrid Australian detailsThe LandCruiser 300 Series Performance Hybrid is dubbed the most powerful LandCruiser sold to date in Australia.It has a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine with an electric motor for total system outputs of 341kW and 790Nm. This is 114kW and 90Nm more than the 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel.Only two versions of the LC300 Performance Hybrid are offered in Australia - Sahara ZX and GR Sport. They&rsquo;re priced from $156,740 and $156,990, before on-road costs, respectively. This is roughly $9000 more than the equivalent diesel-powered version.While the LC300 Performance Hybrid can still tow 3500kg, it only offers five seats and is claimed to consume more fuel than the diesel.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Quick]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/landcruiser-leaves-patrol-in-its-dust-2026-toyota-landcruiser-outsells-nissan-y62-patrol</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2026 03:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[Hyundai's double ute and 4WD plan revealed: 2026 BYD Shark 6, Toyota HiLux, Mitsubishi Pajero rivals on the way]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/hyundais-double-ute-and-4wd-plan-revealed-2026-byd-shark-6-toyota-hilux-mitsubishi-pajero</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Fresh updates have emerged about Hyundai&rsquo;s long-awaited ute for Australia.Last week, the brand revealed the as-yet unnamed answer to the Ford Ranger, BYD Shark 6, Toyota HiLux and Chery Stockman has been whittled down to a choice of two upcoming global models.Both options may end up coming to Australia, serving two different ends of the segment, with the more-premium entrant also including a 4WD wagon to take on the new Mitsubishi Pajero, Toyota Prado and Ford Everest.Hyundai's two ute planAccording to Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) Chief Operating Officer Gavin Donaldson the ute (and likely any SUV offshoot) could be either the American proposal as loosely previewed by the Boulder SUV concept&hellip; or something based upon something else."There is a lot of discussion," he told CarsGuide."We've kept two options open, because we think both could technically work. We won't shut the door on one and then maybe (want the other). We've maintained two options that we have kept it open for."Asked if the Boulder Concept is the front runner, Donaldson said it is in with a strong chance.&ldquo;Whilst we can't confirm, we will probably say if (Hyundai internationally) is looking at something from the (United) States, we could still consider that one, because that's definitely on the drawing board," he revealed."And then there&rsquo;s other one. I would just say the only other option is if we wanted to bring speed to market quicker&hellip; there's probably only one other option.&rdquo;While Donaldson declined to elaborate on that, it is believed that he is referring to an updated version based on the Kia Tasman.He also hinted that Australia is having input into development.&ldquo;There's a lot of discussions, a lot of recommendations,&rdquo; he said.&ldquo;We're putting through all the different style of pickup we would want. We've made it very clear what we want.&ldquo;We make it very clear what powertrain want, and now we're just working through the process of what's achievable and what&rsquo;s not.&rdquo;Kia Tasman-based ute could come firstThis could mean that the Tasman would come first to speed things up, as the Boulder concept-derived ute and SUV will not likely arrive until near the end of the decade at the earliest.Fuelling this speculation is Donaldson&rsquo;s comments about having to settle for something other than the preferred petrol-electric hybrid powertrain &ndash; which immediately puts to mind the Hyundai Motor Group&rsquo;s long-lived 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine as found in the Tasman.&ldquo;Ultimately, we're saying we think we probably need a hybrid engine of some sort,&rdquo; he said.&ldquo;But we'll never say never to any powertrain at the end of the day, because if something means it can come along quicker with a different powertrain, then we would say yes.&ldquo;But for us, we think it's a hybrid powertrain is what we need.&rdquo;Whichever ute comes first to Australia, it is clear that HMCA is considering a two-pronged attack on the market.&ldquo;(With the Boulder Concept-based ute), we're trying to simplify a very complex internal business discussion,&rdquo; according to HMCA product planning manager, Tim Rodgers.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s got multiple layers and paths and options&hellip;&rdquo;Watch this space.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Byron Mathioudakis]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/hyundais-double-ute-and-4wd-plan-revealed-2026-byd-shark-6-toyota-hilux-mitsubishi-pajero</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[2026 Jaecoo J7 Black Edition priced in Australia to rival BYD Sealion 6, Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid mid-size SUVs]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2026-jaecoo-j7-black-edition-priced-in-australia-to-rival-byd-sealion-6-toyota-rav4-plug</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Jaecoo has just given its Toyota RAV4 competitor some special flair.&nbsp;The brand has unveiled the Jaecoo J7 Black Edition as the range-topping grade for the mid-size SUV, starting from $49,990 (drive-away).&nbsp;It&rsquo;s $2000 more expensive than the plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive grade of the J7 ($47,990) and is $10,000 more expensive than the base PHEV grade of the car ($39,990).&nbsp;The new sleek and blacked-out J7 is much cheaper than the bigger BYD Sealion 6 AWD ($52,990) and AWD PHEV grades of the Toyota RAV4 ($64,015), both before on-road costs.The Black Edition will arrive in Aussie dealerships in November 2026 as a permanent fixture, with no scheduled departure date.Blacked out elements inside and outThe car features a suite of blacked out exterior finishes that replace chrome details, including on the vertical grille, wheels, mirrors and roof rails.&nbsp;Inside the cabin, there&rsquo;s a dark headliner and pillar trims, while the car keeps its 14.8-inch central multimedia screen and its 10.25-inch digital driver display.&nbsp;Seats are wrapped in a synthetic black leather, with heating and ventilating functionality in the front ones.&nbsp;Omoda Jaecoo said the new look is designed to provide a more striking presence on the road.&nbsp;A plug-in hybrid set-up with 260kW of powerThe Black Edition&rsquo;s PHEV set-up is the same one found in the J7 Summit AWD grade, which combines a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors to make 260kW and 490Nm.&nbsp;This means it also has the same AWD system that has an electric motor on each axle.This is more power than AWD grades of the Toyota RAV4 that only produce 227kW, with the Japanese brand not quoting a combined torque figure for the car.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s a minor step up on power over the most powerful BYD Sealion 6 example that has 253kW and 550Nm.&nbsp;The car can DC charge from 30 to 80 per cent in about 20 minutes.&nbsp;Omoda Jaecoo in AustraliaThe J7 is one of three models sold under the Jaecoo name, joined by the J5 small SUV and J8 large SUV.The J5 small SUV launched in January 2026, with its EV variant surging to become the brand&rsquo;s best-selling model.&nbsp;The J7 is the second-best selling model in the line-up, followed by the J8 and the Omoda 9.The Omoda 9 three-row SUV is currently the only Omoda-badged model remaining on sale, but buyers can expect two new models from next year.&nbsp;The Omoda 4 small SUV and the Omoda 7 mid-size SUV are both scheduled to arrive in the first half of 2027.&nbsp;]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2026-jaecoo-j7-black-edition-priced-in-australia-to-rival-byd-sealion-6-toyota-rav4-plug</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 15:39:01 +1100</pubDate>
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            <title><![CDATA[The V8-powered 4WD you can still buy: 2026 Defender Classic V8 now available in Australia to trump Nissan Patrol, Toyota LandCruiser]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/the-v8-powered-4wd-you-can-still-buy-2026-defender-classic-v8-now-available-in-australia</link>
            <description><![CDATA[The current, cool and confident Land Rover Defender has been a big success for the iconic British brand. But for some, its shift to monocoque construction took away an element of ultimate toughness inherent in a body-on-frame four-wheel drive.So, if you're hankering for the good old days of a ladder-chassis Defender, complete with the boxy, upright design made famous over close to 80 years, your (nearly) new car has arrived.The Defender Classic V8, hand&#8209;built using re-engineered and upgraded original Solihull&#8209;produced 2012-2016 donor vehicles, is now available for commission in Australia.The ultimate expression of customisationDefender Classic is an official factory division of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), housing expert craftspeople with the restoration knowledge and skills required to deliver what the brand said is &ldquo;the ultimate expression of customisation&rdquo; with every vehicle made to an individual specification.Powered by a genuine 298kW/515Nm 5.0&#8209;litre naturally aspirated Land Rover V8 with eight&#8209;speed automatic transmission, the Classic V8 is available in a range of 90 and 110 body styles, priced from &pound;209,000 (~A$398,000), plus &ldquo;applicable delivery and local taxes.&rdquo;Three body styles - 90 Station Wagon, 90 Soft Top and 110 Station Wagon - will be followed by more variants soon with extensive customisation available, including &ldquo;exterior colour palettes, hood colours and styles, interior materials and lifestyle accessories.&rdquo;Options include Heritage, Standard or Adventure grille designs, black or silver exterior packs, 16-inch &lsquo;Wolf&rsquo; steel wheels (finished in Black or Limestone) or 18-inch &lsquo;Sawtooth&rsquo; alloy wheels (in Gloss Black or Diamond-turned with Black contrast finish).Defender Classic V8 features multiple upgradesThe Defender Classic V8 features upgrades including LED headlights, four-piston Alcon brakes, pistol shifter gear selector as well as premium leather across the dashboard, seats, door panels and roof lining.Subtly integrated modern tech includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation and digital radio managed through a 4.8-inch multimedia touchscreen.Options include Premium seats (with performance-focused Recaros available on certain models), a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen system (integrated within a custom fascia), an Explorer Pack (including a Ply Guys Camper Conversion) and a Suspension Upgrade Kit with revised Eibach coil spring rates and anti-roll bars and Bilstein dampers.Extraordinary levels of craftsmanship, creativity and attention to detailIntroducing Australian availability of the Defender Classic V8, Defender Classic Director Dominic Elms said, &ldquo;Since its introduction, our Works Bespoke program has become the ultimate expression of Defender Classic ownership, with clients commissioning highly individual vehicles tailored to their personal tastes and lifestyles.&nbsp;&ldquo;The program has enabled our teams to showcase extraordinary levels of craftsmanship, creativity and attention to detail, with every Defender Classic V8 handcrafted to an individual&rsquo;s specification.&nbsp;&ldquo;As we expand into new markets, we look forward to helping new clients bring their vision to life through a truly custom commissioning experience,&rdquo; he said.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[James Cleary]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/the-v8-powered-4wd-you-can-still-buy-2026-defender-classic-v8-now-available-in-australia</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:45:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[2027 Xiaomi YU7: China’s most hyped new car brand is coming to Australia as local hiring begins for brand behind top-selling SU7 and SkyNomad N70 ]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-xiaomi-yu7-chinas-most-hyped-new-car-brand-is-coming-to-australia-as-local-hiring</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Xiaomi, the tech giant turned car manufacturer, has quietly gone official in Australia as hiring has begun for positions in its automotive division, laying the groundwork for a future launch.The brand, made famous for its smash-hit-in-China SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV, is still thought to be years away from a local debut, with the new positions in legal and automotive financing early steps in its local arrival.Despite its overwhelming success in China, which has seen models with hundreds of thousands of units on back-order as its Beijing factory struggles to keep up with demand, Xiaomi is seeking export markets to make its business sustainable into the future as the Chinese new car market faces a contraction after years of explosive growth.The two new positions available on LinkedIn are located in Sydney, and come shortly after the brand announced its roll-out plans across continental Europe.Xiaomi is yet to lock in firm plans for right-hand drive markets, despite eyeing a Japanese debut. The news of local position hiring seems to confirm this will be part of the company&rsquo;s future direction.Xiaomi's vehiclesXiaomi currently offers the SU7 four-door coupe and YU7 mid-size SUV both as performance-oriented fully electric cars. It also recently launched its SkyNomad range of large hybrid SUVs, consisting of the two-row N70 and three-row N90, both use a 1.5-litre range-extender hybrid set-up.Xiaomi is positioned as a tech-luxury marque in China, and competes directly with the likes of Zeekr, XPeng, and the also-yet-to-arrive-in-Australia Nio.Xiaomi will face some tough barriers to entry. It will be comparatively late to the Australian market compared to its Chinese rivals, and is only just overcoming a production bottleneck at its Beijing factory ahead of its European debut.Wait times for the YU7 at its launch in China extended beyond a year, although this has now been brought down to just a handful of weeks. The YU7 was moving 40,000 units a month in its peak in December 2025, according to figures reported by Chinese media. The much-hyped SUV, which has styling and performance features influenced by everything from the Tesla Model Y to the Ferrari Purosangue, amassed 240,000 orders within 18 hours of going on sale.Xiaomi making wavesThe success of Xiaomi&rsquo;s automotive division has caused rivals to respond by launching similar performance-oriented models, like Geely&rsquo;s Galaxy TT, MG&rsquo;s MG07 and the Luxeed RX from Chery&rsquo;s joint-venture with Huawei.Xiaomi&rsquo;s take on the explosively popular large SUV segment goes in a different direction to its rivals with its Range-Rover inspired new products betting more on adventure than straight-up luxury, featuring a pop-up roof tent version from launch.Other expansion plans from Xiaomi recently include its acquisition of a large ownership stake in battery supplier Sunwoda, and the establishment of a research and development centre in Munich, Germany.The brand has also been spotted testing an updated version of its SU7 Ultra high-performance model at the Nurburgring featuring a new aero package.The company also hasn&rsquo;t been without its dramas, from delivery bottlenecks frustrating customers in China to various quality issues and several fatal crashes whilst vehicles were being operated under self-driving software. All of which the brand is rapidly addressing ahead of its international debut.Regardless, expect to learn more about Xiaomi&rsquo;s future automotive plans in Australia imminently.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tom White]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2027-xiaomi-yu7-chinas-most-hyped-new-car-brand-is-coming-to-australia-as-local-hiring</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[Where Australia sits on global EV uptake: Booming sales of 2026 BYD Sealion 7, Zeekr X and Geely EX5 put us above US, South Korea]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/where-australia-sits-on-global-ev-uptake-booming-sales-of-2026-byd-sealion-7-zeekr-x-and</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Australia&rsquo;s EV buying growth has just been put on a global scale.AutoNews has released its &ldquo;Global EV Report&rdquo; looking at electric vehicle uptake around the world.Combined fully-electric and plug-in hybrid sales in Australia grew from just one per cent in 2025 to 15 per cent by 2025.The report confirmed BYD as the world&rsquo;s leading EV manufacturers, with Tesla and Geely also making major contributions, which is reflected in their sales performance Down Under.It&rsquo;s forecast that more than 66 per cent of the world&rsquo;s EVs will be built in China in 2026.&nbsp;Australia&rsquo;s exponential EV buying growth&nbsp;Australia&rsquo;s EV sales grew by 14 percentage points between 2020 and 2025, according to the report, which is more than South Korea, the United States and New Zealand for the same period.&nbsp;Australia&rsquo;s EV uptake still lags behind many of the world&rsquo;s biggest markets.&nbsp;China&rsquo;s EV sales have grown by 47 points, while EV sales in the United Kingdom grew from 11 per cent to 35 per cent.&nbsp;This news follows the Electric Vehicle Council&rsquo;s &ldquo;State of EV&rsquo;s&rdquo; report that found one in four new vehicles sold in the first half of 2026 were either fully-electric or PHEV in Australia.The EVC noted sales must still increase tenfold to reach a targeted five million EVs on Aussie roads by 2035.&nbsp;Australia&rsquo;s market is well set up for large-scale EV uptake because it has limited import restrictions and associated costs compared to other countries.&nbsp;This differs from Europe, for example, which has placed hefty tariffs on Chinese imported EVs as it aims to protect its local carmaking industry.&nbsp;Australia's open market allows Chinese automakers to rapidly roll out new models Down Under, several of which have become top sellers.The predominantly China-built Tesla Model Y mid-size SUV is the best-selling EV in Australia, while the closely-rivaling BYD Sealion 7 isn&rsquo;t far behind.&nbsp;Other EVs, including the Geely EX5 and Zeekr 7X have also taken the market by storm in 2026, at the expensive of some Australia's previous petrol- and diesel-powered favourites.Other global headlines from the report&nbsp;Nepal led global EV market share growth between 2020 and 2025 with a 58 percentage point jump, with electric and plug-in hybrid representing 68 per cent of all new vehicle sales.&nbsp;Vietnam also saw substantial growth, going from no EV sales to 41 per cent in the five-year period.&nbsp;Singapore saw a comparable surge, climbing from three per cent in 2020 to 40 per cent in 2025.Norway had an incredible 97 per cent of its new car sales that were represented by EV and PHEV in 2025.The United States has one of the worst EV uptake rates for the period, according to AutoNews.&nbsp;It only grew from two per cent to 10 per cent across the five years, with only Canada and New Zealand recording less growth.&nbsp;This slower uptake is due to trade barriers such as the US government&rsquo;s 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made EVs, as well as national security and surveillance concerns restricting imports further.&nbsp;While BYD, Tesla and Geely produce the most EVs, Volkswagen also registers a strong contribution, along with Leapmotor and Hyundai.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tim Gibson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/where-australia-sits-on-global-ev-uptake-booming-sales-of-2026-byd-sealion-7-zeekr-x-and</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:35:40 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[New car tech and trends coming from China in 2027: Solid-state batteries, vehicle-to-grid, 3D printing and more to look out for from BYD, Chery, Geely]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/new-car-tech-and-trends-coming-from-china-in-2027-solid-state-batteries-vehicle-to-grid-3d</link>
            <description><![CDATA[China has revolutionised new cars and it is only the beginning.The China Society of Automotive Engineers has come together to show carmakers and third-party suppliers aren&rsquo;t sitting on their laurels and are planning a big 2027.These are the trends and tech to revolutionise it all again in 2027, according to the gaggle of engineers.Solid-state batteriesThis game-changing technology is becoming a reality.The futuristic cells are entering the pilot production stage with an energy density of 400Wh/kg, which is more than double that of conventional electric car batteries.Solid-state batteries are said to be more energy dense, less fire prone and faster to charge than current batteries.This means range can be doubled, or carmakers can use batteries half the size for the same driving range as current EVs. This will allow for lighter, more efficient EVs and will make electric utes, 4WDs and sports cars more palatable.&nbsp;Nearly every carmaker and battery supplier on the planet is working on this. Watch this space.Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability&nbsp;Harnessing the stored energy inside a car&rsquo;s battery to power homes and neighbourhoods during times of high power demand and emergencies is the holy grail of EV capabilities.This technology isn&rsquo;t just being trialled in China, but is also being tested in Australia where is is arguably more valuable.V2G when paired with solar can effectively allow owners to live off the grid and to earn money by sending power back to the grid during peak times.The infrastructure is what is holding it up, the majority of electric cars are not yet set up to handle V2G and it can void the warranty if owners try to use the tech now.Lighter, stronger carsChinese carmakers such as BYD, Geely, MG and others are trialling die-casting using a magnesium alloy which is lighter, stronger and better at reducing vibration than current materials.The die-casting method will make for more affordable construction methods thanks to reduced components, while the material will make EVs more efficient and pleasant to drive via increased structural rigidity and reduction of NVH.Truck platoonsThis new tech could revolutionise mining operations with a group of trucks following a prescribed route - from the mine to port for example - with one elad vehicle and several following it along major roads.This helps reduce the cost of freight, improve safety and reduce fuel use due to the following vehicles benefitting from reduced drag.3D printing3D printing is common, but an emerging tech is 3D printing using metal.It can be used to make vehicle structures and complex single-piece mouldings. There are numerous constraints currently with the technology, but it has the potential to reduce weight from fewer parts used. It can improve strength, durability and crash safety performance by creating a stiffer structure with fewer welds.The engineers society believe there will be significant breakthroughs next year. Low-cost metal powders are expected to be used as building materials, plus layer thickness to make sturdier structures and improved printing performance.Connected driving scenariosThis works by cars and infrastructure all talking to each other to help make collaborative scenarios.&nbsp;This can help improve road safety with advanced identification of hazards and reduced crash scenarios.It can also help reduce traffic with traffic lights prioritising the flow of traffic in real time rather than on set parameters.It also allows for better pedestrian safety with the cars able to effectively see around corners and other blind spots thanks to integration with static infrastructure and public cameras.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dom Tripolone]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/new-car-tech-and-trends-coming-from-china-in-2027-solid-state-batteries-vehicle-to-grid-3d</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:28:39 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[MG hints at future rivals to 2026 Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD, BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/mg-hints-at-future-rivals-to-2026-mitsubishi-pajero-4wd-byd-shark-6-plug-in-hybrid-ute</link>
            <description><![CDATA[MG has just launched its first ute, but it isn’t resting on its laurels, with the odds shortening on more electrified workhorses and a Pajero fighter.
]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dom Tripolone]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/mg-hints-at-future-rivals-to-2026-mitsubishi-pajero-4wd-byd-shark-6-plug-in-hybrid-ute</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 03:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[Honda announces sharp new car deals: Free servicing and $3000 gift cards with purchase of 2026 Honda CR-V, HR-V, Civic and more]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/honda-announces-sharp-new-car-deals-free-servicing-and-3000-gift-cards-with-purchase-of</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Honda Australia is going big on its end-of-year plate clearance campaign, with an offer for free servicing to eligible customers announced today.From November 2026 to the end of January 2027, new customers of 2026 Honda ZR-Vs, HR-Vs, CR-Vs, Civics and Accords can claim free servicing for the first five scheduled services with Honda dealers.In addition, the brand is offering gift cards up to $3000 to eligible customers until stock runs out &ldquo;to celebrate their new car purchase&rdquo;.Some models aren't included, such as the Civic Type R, MY27 Civic, MY27 Prelude and the Honda Super-One electric car.Honda Australia building on a strong offeringHonda Australia, while behind the curve in offering only a five-year warranty when many brands are shifting to seven or more, already has a pretty tempting servicing plan for customers.Honda&rsquo;s standard $279 capped price for the first five services (every 10,000km or 12 months) is excellent, and applies across the range.That means even a Honda Civic Type R&rsquo;s servicing costs less than many mass-market models.For Honda to offer free servicing is notably bold.On top of this, Honda is extending its usual five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and its five years of premium roadside assistance to eight years each as part of the offer, as long as cars are serviced at a Honda Centre.Honda Australia&rsquo;s General Manager of Automotive Nick Parkington spoke to the weight the company is hoping customers will see the offer with."We take pride in delivering an ownership experience that is every bit as rewarding as the vehicles we build," said Mr Parkington."This offer makes it even easier to get behind the wheel of one of our&nbsp; vehicles while enjoying the confidence and peace of mind that comes with five free scheduled services.&rdquo;]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Thompson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/honda-announces-sharp-new-car-deals-free-servicing-and-3000-gift-cards-with-purchase-of</guid>
            <pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[15 best and five worst cars Nissan sold in Australia: Nissan GT-R, Nissan Patrol, Nissan X-Trail and more]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/15-best-and-five-worst-cars-nissan-sold-in-australia-nissan-gt-r-nissan-patrol-nissan-x</link>
            <description><![CDATA[It&rsquo;s 60 years since Nissan of Japan set up shop in Australia, initially assembling the Pininfarina-penned 410 Bluebird in Sydney.A huge success, that came after third-party distributor, and key figure in the creation of Holden, Lawrence Hartnett, started importing Datsun 310 Bluebirds here from 1959.The popular 510 Bluebird (badged 1600 here) really hit big from 1968, and was joined by the pretty B10 Sunny (or 1000) soon after.The following years were Datsun&rsquo;s halcyon days, with the 810 Bluebird (180B from 1972, when manufacturing moved to Melbourne) and B210 Sunny (120Y from 1974) helping Datsun beat Toyota in Australia.But fierce competition, including from Mazda, Honda and later Mitsubishi, and some poor product choices dragged Nissan down, with only a few bright spots into the &lsquo;80s.By 1992, Nissan ended local manufacturing, leading to further ups and downs that, if nothing else, prove how supremely resilient the brand is.Today it is the only carmaker still with an Australian manufacturing presence here, albeit as a supplier of original equipment mechanical parts exported to other factories globally.Never underestimate Nissan.To celebrate its 60th anniversary, here are the best and worst models that Nissan officially sold in Australia.BEST NISSAN CARS EVER SOLD IN AUSTRALIAThese are the Datsuns and Nissans that were the best in their class, pushed boundaries out for the betterment of automotive kind, or are/were critically acclaimed.They needn&rsquo;t have commercially succeeded to be on this list.And if you&rsquo;re reading this from outside of Australia, sadly we never officially saw the S13 Silvia, R34 Skyline GT-R, Primera or any of the Pike cars like the influential Be-1 or S Cargo in Australia.#15 Infiniti G37 Coupe (2012-2016)The 12th Skyline since 1957, the V36 from 2007 was the last of the analogue models, before fly-by-wire electronics ruined its successor.Combining Nissan&rsquo;s thunderous V6, sat behind the front axle for a front mid-engined rear-drive layout dubbed the FM platform, with an elegant 2+2-seater body, created Japan&rsquo;s true BMW 3 Series alternative in the opulent Infiniti G37 &ndash; the sole version we saw in Australia.A short-lived masterpiece.#14 D40 Navara (2004-2014)Seven years before Ford stepped up with the Australian designed and engineered T6 Ranger of 2011, the third-gen Navara, the D40, created the blueprint of the modern mid-sized ute.Modern and car-like inside and out, the D40 drove, steered and rode far better than any previous body-on-frame ute, while still providing the rugged solidity required from a workhorse.The fact that this series lived on essentially unchanged until 2021 in North America as the Frontier is proof of how ahead of its time the D40 was.#13 Z33 350Z (2003-2009)Teased for half a decade before finally breaking cover in 2002, the 350Z was the much-anticipated back-to-basics two-seater grand touring coupe in the style of the original Datsun 240Z, and it did not disappoint.This was a blunt, boisterous and bombastic American-style hairy chested muscle car on one hand, and &ndash; thanks to Nissan&rsquo;s ubiquitous FM platform &ndash; an involving and rewarding sports car on the other. A true modern classic.#12 ZE0 Leaf (2010-2017)The first modern electric vehicle &ndash; and history&rsquo;s best-selling EV until swiftly overtaken by the Tesla Model 3 &ndash; the original Leaf was proof of concept, in a soft, dorky and easy package.High prices and cheap petrol meant only a few hundred made it to Australia, and battery degradation has tarnished the model&rsquo;s reputation ever since.But the Leaf was a true Ford Model T moment. It started the EV revolution. It&rsquo;s just a pity Nissan could not capitalise on such momentum, though today&rsquo;s Ariya is a fine electric SUV.#11 T33 X-Trail e-Power e4orce (2022-2027)Nissan&rsquo;s innovative e-Power EV-first petrol range-extender powertrain had been a success in other models elsewhere prior to the]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Byron Mathioudakis]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/15-best-and-five-worst-cars-nissan-sold-in-australia-nissan-gt-r-nissan-patrol-nissan-x</guid>
            <pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2026 03:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz's plan to beat China at its own game: Better batteries, AI tools, fewer variants, quicker development]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/mercedes-benzs-plan-to-beat-china-at-its-own-game-better-batteries-ai-tools-fewer-variants</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz has revealed how it will cut costs, slash development times and boost efficiency, all without compromising quality, in a dramatic bid to replicate what is already happening in China.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[John Mahoney]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/mercedes-benzs-plan-to-beat-china-at-its-own-game-better-batteries-ai-tools-fewer-variants</guid>
            <pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2026 03:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA['Australia remains a challenge': Subaru's Australian importer admits to struggle amid the rise of Chinese rivals such as BYD and Chery]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/australia-remains-a-challenge-subarus-australian-importer-admits-to-struggle-amid-the-rise</link>
            <description><![CDATA[They&rsquo;ve said the quiet part out loud.For over a year there has been growing tension and stress amongst the established car companies as more and more Chinese brands not only enter the Australian market, but have near-instant sales success.This has led to several off-the-record, and unsubstantiated, remarks about the &lsquo;government support&rsquo; that helps the Chinese brands and a general angst between the two sides of the industry.But publicly executives from the establishment have put on a brave face and talked confidently about their future - until now.Subaru's Australian importer challengesDuncan Tait, Group Chief Executive of Inchcape, the distributor of Subaru in Australia, has admitted the brand is facing a &ldquo;challenging situation in Australia&rdquo; as sales have plummeted 29 per cent in the first nine months of the year.Tait explained that Inchcape will need to make major changes to turn around its fortunes in this country, as the landscape continues to shift.&ldquo;Australia remains a challenge - our key brand (Subaru) has underperformed, with deteriorating competitiveness in a rapidly-evolving market,&rdquo; he admitted.&ldquo;We are taking further decisive action there, alongside our existing restructuring activity. We are confident these actions will improve our business in Australia over time, but we expect the current challenges in that market to continue impacting our performance there.&rdquo;Not just Subaru proving to be a struggleInchcape has already announced it is relinquishing the Deepal brand in Australia, handing it over to its Chinese owners, Changan. In the wake of the company&rsquo;s decision to also drop the Peugeot brand, this leaves Inchcape&rsquo;s automotive portfolio with only Subaru and Foton.&ldquo;We continue to focus on ensuring Inchcape has a portfolio of brands aligned with our strategic growth objectives, and I would like to thank Changan for its partnership and wish the brand continued success in the Australian market,&rdquo; said Colin Christie, Managing Director, Inchcape Australasia.The public acknowledgement of the challenges facing these so-called &lsquo;legacy brands&rsquo; is a first, but Subaru is far from the only brand feeling the pain as the likes of BYD, GWM and Chery accumulate increasing market share.Hyundai recently announced it has dropped plans to offer the European-sourced Ioniq 3 electric car in Australia, citing difficulty getting it competitive against an array of more-affordable Chinese rivals.Even best-selling brands Toyota, Ford and Mazda have suffered double-digit sales decline in 2026, while the likes of Nissan (down 33 per cent), Mitsubishi (down 30 per cent) and Volkswagen (down 25 per cent) have all seen their sales plummet. Such dramatic drops inevitably leads to questions around the long-term plans for these brands that were once favourites amongst Australian buyers.But with more and more Chinese brands arriving in Australia, the &ldquo;challenging situation&rdquo; and &ldquo;deteriorating competitiveness&rdquo; of certain brands will become increasingly important to watch, as no brand is guaranteed a place in such circumstances.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Stephen Ottley]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/australia-remains-a-challenge-subarus-australian-importer-admits-to-struggle-amid-the-rise</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2026 03:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[Chery's new hybrid tech to blow Toyota away: 2027 Omoda 7 and production version of Omoda X concept to use 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid-beating tech]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/cherys-new-hybrid-tech-to-blow-toyota-away-2027-omoda-7-and-production-version-of-omoda-x</link>
            <description><![CDATA[The 2027 Omoda 7 will debut Chery's new hybrid system, which brings a 5kWh battery to a plugless hybrid set-up.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Thompson]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/cherys-new-hybrid-tech-to-blow-toyota-away-2027-omoda-7-and-production-version-of-omoda-x</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2026 03:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
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            <title><![CDATA[New 2026 Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD just the beginning! Pajero family to rival Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Suzuki Jimny in Australia]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/new-2026-mitsubishi-pajero-4wd-just-the-beginning-pajero-family-to-rival-toyota-rav4</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Mitsubishi in Australia says it has its hand in the air for an expanded Pajero family as it plots a new model line that it hopes will elevate it to the upper echelon of off-road brands in this market.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Chesterton]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/new-2026-mitsubishi-pajero-4wd-just-the-beginning-pajero-family-to-rival-toyota-rav4</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2026 03:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
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            <title><![CDATA[Kia Tasman 2.0! Work has begun in Australia on next-gen workhorse as brand recalibrates against 2026 Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/kia-tasman-20-work-has-begun-in-australia-on-next-gen-workhorse-as-brand-recalibrates</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Work has begun on Kia Tasman 2.0, with componentry already undergoing testing in Australia as the brand prepares a mid-life facelift that will likely touch everything from design to powertrains and dynamics.]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Chesterton]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/kia-tasman-20-work-has-begun-in-australia-on-next-gen-workhorse-as-brand-recalibrates</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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            <title><![CDATA[BYD exports boom: Global sales of 2026 BYD Atto 3, Shark 6 and more make up more than half of BYD sales]]></title>
            <link>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/byd-exports-boom-global-sales-of-2026-byd-atto-3-shark-6-and-more-make-up-more-than-half</link>
            <description><![CDATA[BYD has smashed through a sales milestone.The brand said it has made more than 50 per cent of its total revenue from export markets, rather than from its domestic sales in the Chinese market.This is due to BYD&rsquo;s efforts in the last several years growing both its exports and its overseas manufacturing efforts in order to escape a stagnant Chinese new car market, which has contracted after a long period of explosive growth.The brand&rsquo;s sales in China declined by 12 per cent, but it grew its exports by a whopping 137 per cent, to well over half a million units, according to BYD&rsquo;s third quarter numbers for 2026.Chinese market saturation pushes BYD globalThe Chinese market has reached a level of saturation and stagnation after several years of a bruising price war, which many competitors have pointed the finger at BYD&rsquo;s aggressive domestic pricing strategy, overseas markets have become a crucial battleground for their future growth aspirations.Profit margins on vehicles sold in Australia, Europe and South America are exponentially higher than cars sold domestically in China.This is part of the reason sticker prices in the Chinese market are significantly lower than those we see in other markets. Price tags for the Australian vehicles generally attract a 15 - 20 per cent premium over the equivalent spec offered in China.Part of this will be down to right-hand drive conversion costs, and higher compliance costs for vehicles to meet Australia&rsquo;s notoriously strict design standards and high bar for a maximum five-star ANCAP score.Fat profit margins outside of ChinaOne analyst, as quoted in Nikkei Asia&rsquo;s analysis of BYD&rsquo;s latest sales numbers, said the company earns &ldquo;roughly 10 times more profit per vehicle abroad than in China&rdquo;.A part of this is vehicles sold in developed markets like Australia are offered in higher trim levels than they are in the Chinese domestic market, although the slew of larger, more expensive 4WDs and growth of luxury sub-brands like BYD&rsquo;s Denza or Geely&rsquo;s Zeekr are also massively helping to buff profit margins.GWM proclaims that it has doubled its average sale price in the last seven years in Australia as it has introduced pricier, better-featured vehicles, both from its Haval SUV brand and its Tank off-road brand further up the price scale.&ldquo;The year-on-year increase in volume has also come with new cars at more expensive price points. If we can do that at the same time as showing customers value no matter the price then we&rsquo;re on the right track." the brand&rsquo;s Executive General Manager of Marketing and Communications Steve Maciver told CarsGuide recently.GWM is set to introduce its dedicated luxury arm Wey into Australia before the end of 2026.Australia is a prime target for Chinese auto brandsWhile Chinese brands continue to dominate the sales charts in Australia, where the barrier to entry is significantly lower, automakers like BYD, Geely, and Chery are facing tariffs in Europe and the USA as those jurisdictions move to protect their own domestic automaking capabilities.This is putting a cap on their respective ambitions, but each brand is also moving to diversify and acquire manufacturing capacity not only across Europe, but also in other strategic markets like South Korea and closer to home in South East Asia.Legacy automakers are feeling the crunch. Domestically this means household names like Subaru and Nissan dropping out of the race to be a top-10 automaker by sales, but internationally it means a massive squeeze in profit margins, big expenditure in research and development, and a large reduction in market share.This has resulted in many large international brands like Volkswagen and Nissan resorting to closing factories or cutting jobs by the thousands, with some brands needing to embrace Chinese joint-venture partnerships more closely to build more competitive models for export.Nissan, for example, shut down its]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Tom White]]></dc:creator>
            <guid>https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/byd-exports-boom-global-sales-of-2026-byd-atto-3-shark-6-and-more-make-up-more-than-half</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2026 15:48:25 +1100</pubDate>
                            <dc:category>News</dc:category>
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