We publish a lot of car news during the work week (normally 70 news) and it can be difficult to keep up with everything – that’s the underlying reason behind this weekend’s list.
In a nutshell, here are some of the key articles from our news desk from this Monday in summary, in case you missed them at the time.
There’s a few more things on this week’s list than usual, because it’s a huge list: everything from electric vehicle policies, muscle cars, customer wait times and sales projections. row.
The new government is serious about EVs
The newly elected ALP Federal Government says it wants Australians to have more affordable electric vehicle (EV) options after years of inactivity in Canberra.
The Government has begun discussions on its National Electric Vehicle Strategy today, with a discussion document that will soon begin accepting submissions from the car industry and other stakeholders. According to most industry stakeholders, this is long overdue.
The core policy to address is the belated introduction of fuel economy standards and the adoption of a CO2 reduction scheme in the exhaust pipe, which the car industry and stakeholders have long argued is the needed to unlock a larger supply of EVs.
FULL STORY: Land dumping no more? Australian Government’s affordable EV push
A charger that needs charging?
Dodge previewed a next-generation muscle car dressed in nostalgia and with a familiar name… but it’s electric.
The brand says the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept, “drives like a Dodge, looks like a Dodge and feels like a Dodge – and like a battery-powered vehicle.”
It’s all-wheel drive and is powered by a new 800V propulsion system.
FULL STORY: Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Muscle EV Concept Revealed
Ford lays off contractors
Ford Australia is cutting 120 jobs across its product design and development teams, but it says the tally includes only contractors and not permanent employees.
The cuts leave about 2300 workers left, a number that includes contractors.
A Ford Australia spokesperson said: “Ford is currently undergoing a global transformation, including making significant changes in priorities and organization in line with the Ford+ plan for growth. and create value”.
FULL STORY: Ford Australia to cut contract workforce
Cash for clunkers plan in play
The Victorian Government is paying cash-strapped young drivers, based in the region, $5000 to get rid of their unsafe old car and replace it with something newer. .
Roads Minister Ben Carroll recently announced plans to expand a taxpayer-funded pilot program that began last year in the regional centers of Ballarat and Bendigo. The scheme is oddly called ‘secure2safe’, and is currently accepting applications across Victoria, meaning areas outside of Greater Melbourne.
The latest phase of this pilot program will provide a $5000 grant to 150 young drivers aged 18 to 25 with a VicRoads account, helping them give up their old car aged 16 or older for something newer – and potentially safer. The cut-off time this time is September 4.
FULL STORY: Young people in regional Victoria get paid to trade their second hand stuff
Where are the electrics?
Electric LDV routes have been confirmed for right-hand drive markets such as the UK and New Zealand, but are not yet locked in Australia.
Pre-orders are already open for the Maxus T90EV in the UK, with deliveries starting in the first quarter of 2023. That follows the opening of pre-orders for the relevant eT60 in New Zealand earlier this year.
A spokesperson for Ateco, LDV’s distributor in Australia, said: “We know they are available on the right hand side and we are looking at the situation very closely.
FULL STORY: LDV T90 EV still unconfirmed for Australia as RHD sales kick off
Skoda forecasts record Australian sales
Skoda Australia predicts much better inventory levels from early 2023, with “full normalization” of supply from European factories expected by the middle of next year.
As a result, the local branch of the Czech brand is forecasting an all-time record since the brand’s debut here in the present time in 2007 – a combination of deliveries on orders existing and growing its customer base.
While Skoda management will not confirm its internal sales target in the filing, company sources tell us the target is around 12,000 units for the calendar year 2023. The brand’s best year to date in Australia is 2021, when it reaches sales of 9185 units.
FULL STORY: Skoda targets record sales in 2023 as Australian supply improves
Six pure appeals
Remember the gorgeous Polestar O2 Concept from March? It is no longer a concept. Polestar has confirmed that it will put a version of the electric convertible into production, dubbed the Polestar 6. It’s imperative that you wait until 2026. At least that gives you plenty of time to save.
The car in the photo is a version of the Polestar 6 LA Concept. Only 500 units will be offered globally, each with a sky blue exterior paint color, light leather interior and unique wheels upgraded from the O2 Concept.
Interested buyers (even those in Australia) were able to reserve a build seat for US$25,000 (~$35,500) and the car is expected to cost around US$200,000. ~$285,000) when it came out.
FULL STORY: 2026 Polestar 6 – O2 concept becomes reality, open for pre-order
Pressure at pump
Australian households are spending more than $100 a week on petrol, despite the temporary removal of the fuel consumption tax.
According to the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) Affordability Index, average weekly fuel costs for Australian households rose $5 to $100.39 in the second quarter of 2022.
This is the first time AAA has reported more than $100 in weekly fuel costs since the creation of the Affordability Index in 2016 and is one of the contributing factors to the 3.2% increase in transportation costs. National average load.
FULL STORY: Special consumption cuts can’t stop home fuel costs from skyrocketing
Renault is ready to clean up with Jimny and co.
Renault Australia’s ongoing efforts to bring back the rugged little Dacia Duster look has entered a new phase, with the company ramping up sales to its new potential price leader.
The next-generation version of the Dacia Duster – Dacia is Renault’s affordable sub-brand in markets like Europe and the UK – is expected to arrive globally by 2024.
While it will certainly have more technology and features than the model that is currently selling like crazy, it is expected to retain aspects of the cheap and handy features that have made it so popular. famous.
FULL STORY: 2024 Renault Duster produces budget SUV for Australia
VW supports Albo .’s EV push
Volkswagen Group Australia, the country’s largest importer of European cars, has thrown its weight against the promises of the Albanese Government National electric vehicle strategy.
Detail hereThe Government’s strategic driving position is the implementation of fuel economy standards and a CO2 reduction plan – which some automakers (but not all) emphasize is the key for them to ensure sufficient stock of electric vehicles for the Australian market.
A discussion document around the implementation of this policy was launched at the Canberra EV Summit organized by the Electric Vehicle Council, the Smart Energy Council and the Australian Institute.
FULL STORY: VW Group Australia claims to take ‘leadership position’ in EV discussion
Some statistics on customer waiting time
The average Toyota RAV4 buyer is waiting almost a year for their new car to hit the market.
Data from new car buyer service PriceMyCar (PMC) disclosure Buyers Toyota RAV4 are facing an average car waiting time of 339 days, with Isuzu MU-X not far after 308 days.
Three of the five cars with the longest wait times were Toyotas, with LandCruiser (280 days) and Fortuner (262 days) pass Volkswagen Passat (296 days) on PMC ladder.
FULL STORY: Isuzu and Toyota buyers have to wait the longest for new cars
Great Wall raised to new heights
Great Wall Motor, the parent company of GWM and GWM Haval, said strong supply in the second half of 2022 will see it hit the 20,000-unit sales mark for the first time.
The company has sold 10,684 new cars so far in 2022, and said the “supply challenges” it has faced over the past few months are “largely in the rearview mirror”.
“The company is expected to achieve another record sales performance in 2022 with total sales exceeding 20,000 units,” said GWM Australia. It sold 18,384 vehicles in 2021.
FULL STORY: GWM expects record sales of 20,000 for 2022, as supply improves
