Australia’s stringent new vehicle emissions regulations are set to send a host of auto brands running from these shores, according to local Hyundai chief Don Romano. The ink officially dried on the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) at the start of this year, bringing with it legislation designed to reduce the carbon footprint…

UPDATED 08/06/2025 8:00am:We’ve updated this article, first published in December 2024, with recently announced higher pricing for Santa Fe Hybrid models. The fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe arrived here in 2024 at first with hybrid power, with a petrol engine joining the range in December. From May 1, 2025, hybrid versions have gotten more expensive, with…

Australia’s first federally mandated automotive emissions legislation, known as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), is now upon us. The NVES officially began on January 1 and there’s now less than a month to go before auto brands start accruing financial penalties for exceeding increasingly stringent CO2 limits determined by vehicle type from July 1.…

The relationship between the world’s richest man and the leader of the United States has rapidly and publicly deteriorated, and the latter says a dispute over electric vehicle (EV) subsidies is at the heart of it. “Elon [Musk] was “wearing thin,” I asked him to leave. I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone…

Kia Australia’s product boss wants a more affordable, entry-level Sportage Hybrid (HEV) variant to better compete with the top-selling Toyota RAV4, but he can’t confirm exactly when such an option will become available. Speaking with CarExpert at the Australian media launch of the facelifted Sportage, Kia Australia’s general manager for product Roland Rivero said his…

Kia Australia says it’s not looking to extend its factory warranty beyond seven years, regardless of the increasing number of other auto brands – including its own sister brand Hyundai – now offering aftersales coverage for the same period or longer. Speaking with CarExpert at the Australian launch of the facelifted Sportage SUV, the company’s…

The Kia K4 small car range is set to grow in Australia during the fourth quarter of 2025, and the Korean brand’s local product boss has confirmed it will include the debut of a new, more efficient petrol engine option Down Under. Speaking with CarExpert at the Australian media launch of the updated Sportage mid-size…

Chery, the massive Chinese automotive manufacturing conglomerate, has already made inroads into our market by launching a variety of vehicles under its own banner. Now, it’s rolling out its Omoda Jaecoo brand, which it’s calling a step above its namesake brand. And while Omoda Jaecoo showrooms only have Jaecoo-badged SUVs for now, they’ll be joined…

Renault has updated its mid-size Trafic commercial van, and the headline acts are additional safety gear and lightly tweaked styling. Prices are up by $490 range-wide, which means the French delivery van now starts at $49,490 before on-roads for the base Trafic SWB Pro manual and extends to $63,490 before on-roads for the full-fat Trafic LWB Crew Lifestyle. Tweaks include new Renault…