Large week in automobile information: August 15-19

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We publish a ton of automobile information tales throughout the working week (70-odd as a rule), and it may be robust to maintain up with the whole lot – which is the rationale behind this weekend checklist.

In brief, listed here are some key articles from our information desk since Monday of this week summarised, simply in case you missed them on the time.

There are just a few extra on this week’s checklist than regular, as a result of it was an enormous one: the whole lot from EV coverage, to muscle automobiles, to buyer wait instances, and gross sales projections.


New authorities will get severe on EVs

The newly-elected ALP Federal Authorities says it needs Australians to have a higher selection of reasonably priced electrical autos (EV) after years of inaction out of Canberra.

The Authorities right now acquired the ball rolling on its Nationwide Electrical Car Technique, with a dialogue paper quickly to start out taking submissions from the automobile trade and different stakeholders. In keeping with most trade stakeholders that is lengthy overdue.

The core coverage to be addressed is the belated introduction of gasoline effectivity requirements and the applying of a binding tailpipe CO2 discount scheme, which the automobile trade and different stakeholders have lengthy mentioned is important to unlock higher EV provide.

FULL STORY: Dumping ground no more? Australian Government’s affordable EV push


A Charger that wants charging?

Dodge has previewed a next-generation muscle automobile cloaked in retro styling and that includes a well-recognized title… however it’s electrical.

The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Idea, the model says, “drives like a Dodge, seems to be like a Dodge and appears like a Dodge – and simply so occurs to be a battery-electric automobile”.

It’s all-wheel drive and powered by a brand new 800V propulsion system Dodge has christened Banshee and, although Dodge hasn’t launched any data on outputs, battery dimension or vary, it’s detailed numerous parts and options.

FULL STORY: Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept muscle EV revealed


Ford lays off contractors

Ford Australia is chopping 120 jobs throughout its product growth and design groups, however it says this tally consists of solely contractors and never everlasting staff.

The cuts go away roughly 2300 employees remaining, a determine which additionally consists of contractors.

“Ford is at the moment present process a world transformation, which incorporates implementing vital modifications in priorities and group in step with the Ford+ plan for development and worth creation,” mentioned a spokesperson for Ford Australia.

FULL STORY: Ford Australia cuts contract workforce


Money for clunkers scheme in play

The Victorian State Authorities is paying cash-strapped younger drivers, based mostly in regional areas, $5000 to ditch their unsafe previous automobile and substitute it with one thing newer.

Minister for Roads Ben Carroll lately introduced the plan to develop a taxpayer-funded trial program that kicked off final 12 months within the regional centres of Ballarat and Bendigo. This system is fairly surprisingly referred to as ‘unsafe2safe’, and is now taking purposes throughout all of nation Victoria, that means areas that aren’t in Higher Melbourne.

This newest part of the trial program will give a $5000 subsidy to 150 younger drivers aged 18 to 25 with VicRoads accounts, serving to them ditch their previous clunker aged 16 years or over for one thing newer – and perhaps safer. The cutoff this time is September 4.

FULL STORY: Young regional Victorians being paid to trade in their old clunkers


The place are the electrical utes?

Electrical LDV utes have been confirmed for right-hand drive markets just like the UK and New Zealand, however have but to be locked in for Australia.

Pre-orders have opened for the Maxus T90EV within the UK, with deliveries starting within the first quarter of 2023. That follows the opening of pre-orders for the associated eT60 in New Zealand earlier this 12 months.

“We’re conscious they’re accessible in right-hand drive and we’re trying on the state of affairs very carefully,” mentioned a spokesperson for Ateco, LDV’s distributor in Australia.

FULL STORY: LDV T90 EV ute still not confirmed for Australia as RHD sales begin


Skoda forecasts Aussie gross sales file

Skoda Australia anticipates far more healthy inventory ranges from the beginning of 2023, with a “full normalisation” of provide from its European vegetation anticipated by mid-next-year.

As such, the Czech model’s native arm is forecasting an all-time file because the model launched right here in its current incarnation in 2007 – a mixture of delivering on current orders, and rising its buyer base.

Whereas Skoda administration wouldn’t verify its inner gross sales goal on the file, firm sources instructed us round 12,000 models for calendar 12 months 2023 was the goal. The model’s finest 12 months up to now in Australia was 2021, when it recorded 9185 gross sales.

FULL STORY: Skoda targets record sales in 2023 as Australian supply improves


Pure six enchantment

Bear in mind the gorgeous Polestar O2 Idea from March? It’s not an idea anymore. Polestar has confirmed it’ll put a model of the electrical drop-top into manufacturing, dubbed the Polestar 6. The catch is you’ll have to attend till 2026. At the very least that offers you loads of time to avoid wasting.

The automobile pictured right here is the Polestar 6 LA Idea version. Simply 500 will likely be supplied globally, every of which is able to characteristic Sky blue exterior paint, a light-weight leather-based inside, and distinctive wheels lifted from the O2 Idea.

Eager consumers (even these in Australia) are already capable of reserve a construct slot for US$25,000 (~$35,500), and the automobile is predicted to price round US$200,000 (~$285,000) when it launches.

FULL STORY: 2026 Polestar 6 – O2 Concept becoming reality, reservations open


Strain on the pump

Australian households are spending greater than $100 per week on petrol, regardless of the non permanent elimination of the gasoline excise.

In keeping with the Australian Vehicle Affiliation (AAA) Transport Affordability Index, the typical weekly gasoline price for Australian households jumped by $5 to $100.39 within the second quarter of 2022.

It’s the primary time the AAA has reported a weekly gasoline price of greater than $100 because the Affordability Index’s inception in 2016, and is among the elements contributing to a broader 3.2 per cent improve within the nationwide common transport price.

FULL STORY: Excise cut can’t stop household fuel costs skyrocketing


Renault prepared for dust-up with Jimny and co.

Renault Australia’s ongoing efforts to carry the rugged little Dacia Duster look to have entered a brand new part, with the corporate already honing the gross sales pitch for its new potential price-leader.

A next-generation model of the Dacia Duster – Dacia being Renault’s reasonably priced sub-brand in markets corresponding to Europe and the UK – is predicted to seem globally in 2024.

Whereas it’ll probably have extra tech and options than the present mannequin that sells up a storm, it’s anticipated to retain elements of a budget and utilitarian options which have made it such successful.

FULL STORY: 2024 Renault Duster budget SUV firming for Australia


VW backs Albo’s EV push

Volkswagen Group Australia, the nation’s largest importer of European automobiles, has thrown its weight behind the Albanese Authorities’s promised National Electric Vehicle Strategy.

Detailed here, the driving level of the Authorities’s technique is the implementation of gasoline effectivity requirements and a binding CO2 discount scheme – which some carmakers (not all) insist are the key to them securing enough inventory of EVs for the Australian market.

A dialogue paper across the implementation of this coverage was floated at right now’s Canberra EV Summit organised by the Electrical Car Council, Sensible Vitality Council and the Australia Institute.

FULL STORY: VW Group Australia claims to hold ‘leadership position’ in EV discussion


Some stats on buyer wait instances

The common Toyota RAV4 purchaser is ready near a 12 months for his or her new automobile to reach.

Information from new automobile purchaser service PriceMyCar (PMC) reveals Toyota RAV4 buyers are going through a median 339-day wait for his or her autos, with the Isuzu MU-X not far behind at 308 days.

Three of the 5 automobiles with the longest waits are Toyotas, with the LandCruiser (280 days) and Fortuner (262 days) slotting in behind the Volkswagen Passat (296 days) on the PMC ladder.

FULL STORY: Isuzu and Toyota buyers facing longest new-car waits


Nice Wall scaling new heights

Nice Wall Motor, mum or dad firm for GWM and GWM Haval, says robust provide within the second half of 2022 ought to see it high the 20,000 gross sales mark for the primary time.

The corporate has offered 10,684 new automobiles thus far in 2022, and says the “provide challenges” it has been going through for the previous few months “look to be largely within the rear-view mirror”.

“The corporate expects one other file gross sales efficiency in 2022 with complete gross sales in extra of 20,000,” GWM Australia mentioned in an announcement. It offered 18,384 automobiles in 2021.

FULL STORY: GWM expecting record 20,000 sales for 2022, as supply improves



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