Latest news with #NaomiJellicoe
Courier-Mail
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
EV sales in Australia drop to lowest level in two years: AAA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Electric vehicle sales in Australia have sunk to their lowest level in two years as more Aussies turn to the 'range safety' of traditional combustion engines or plug-in hybrids. Data from the Australian Automobile Association revealed just 17,914 EVs were sold in the first three months of 2025 or just over 6 per cent of all vehicle sales in the country. The AAA quarterly vehicle report showed the last time EV sales were at that level was in 2023 when 17,396 cars were sold during the same period. The 2025 data also shows EVs have dropped market share when compared to the final three months of 2024 – 21,331 EVs were sold in the last quarter of 2024 to make up 7.42 per cent of the country's vehicle sales. That represents a drop of 1.12 per cent in market share quarter to quarter. MORE:Car prices set to plummet EV sales in Australia have dropped to a two-year low. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe MORE:First look: Car ready to take over Australia Industry experts say the government's attitude to EV subsidies has a massive part to play in consumer sentiment. Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries boss Tony Weber told he doesn't believe EV sales can recover without proper government support. 'Subsidies remain central to the success of EV policy in many leading markets. In European markets and other markets around the world, including New Zealand, demand for electric vehicles softened when governments reduced subsidies,' he said. While the drop would be of some concern to the EV industry it hasn't come at the expense of the environment. While Aussies have steered slightly away of outright EVs, it hasn't been a return to petrol-only engines either. MORE:Bad news for electric vehicles in Australia Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries CEO Tony Weber believes EV sales will only increase with government support. MORE:Staggering loss proves Cybertruck is dead Hybrid vehicles have boomed as Australians look for an environmental alternative that also includes the safety net of a combustion engine that allows greater distance range and less time to charge and get going. Plug-in hybrid sales almost doubled in the first three months of 2025 to 13,698 or almost 5 per cent of the market. That's up from 7556 sales (2.63 per cent) in the last quarter of 2024. The number of conventional hybrid vehicles sold increased from 42,618 to 46,115 over the same period. Vehicles with traditional petrol engines continued to make up the vast number of sales in Australia for the first quarter of 2025 but did experience a drop. EVs are flooding into Australia from China but less people are buying them in 2025. More than 206,800 vehicles were sold, comprising 72.68% of all sales in Australia. Those figures represent a drop of about 10,000 sales and almost 2.5 per cent market share compared to the end of 2024. Despite the drop in EV sales, the industry is confident transactions will recover. 'We expect that segment of the market to bounce back given a post-FBT exemption dip was always to be expected,' Electric Vehicle Council's Aman Guar told 'Once someone chooses an EV of any kind they are very unlikely to ever go back to traditional cars again. The day-to-day convenience, the pleasurable driving experience, and the cost of living benefits of EVs combine into a very attractive package and these attractions are only going to grow stronger.' Originally published as EV sales in Australia drop to lowest level in two years: AAA
Perth Now
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Songs that could cause disaster for drivers
Songs with a faster tempo can have a negative impact on driving behaviours, according to new research that revealed that some of our favourite tunes can hamper crucial decision-making. Songs with more than 120 beats per minute (BPM) were found to be the music that affected some drivers' speed, alertness and reaction time. The research by Allianz Australia revealed that of the 32 per cent of people who responded that they are affected by music while driving, nearly one in three admitted that the pace or tempo makes them drive faster. Another 33 per cent noted a decrease in overall concentration when listening to music. Songs with a fast beat have been found have the worst affect on drivers' making decisions about speed and reactions. NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe Credit: News Corp Australia With many of the hit songs of the season falling in this range – including Charli xcx's Brat and Troye Sivan's Rush – road safety experts are asking drivers to be aware of how music can affect their mood when behind the wheel. According to experts, the ideal BPM for music while driving is 60-80, which studies suggest can promote safer driving by encouraging a calmer and more focused state. Conversely, songs with a BPM between 120 and 125 are believed to be the best for jogging, as they can help people to synchronise their stride to the beat. Although music can be a helpful tool to stay focused on drives involving long monotonous roads, road safety expert Andry Rakotonirainy said it was important that drivers think about their song choice. 'Music has been created to generate emotion,' Dr Rakotonirainy said when asked why some music impacts our behaviour more than others. 'Enhanced situational awareness is paramount for road safety. 'Research, including studies by Allianz, has shown that faster-paced music directly correlates with increased driver distraction, leading to poor decision making.' Although Dr Rakotonirainy said music wouldn't affect everyone the same, choosing slower-paced music was one way to enhance road safety. According to experts, the ideal BPM for music while driving is 60-80, which studies suggest can promote safer driving by encouraging a calmer and more focused state. NewsWire / Daniel Pockett Credit: News Corp Australia To ensure that drivers can listen to their favourite songs while travelling safely on roads, Allianz Australia have joined forces with Spotify to launch 'Seat Belters', an in-app function that creates personalised playlists that only include songs with lower beats per minute. The feature has been launched to coincide with National Road Safety Week, taking place from May 11–18. Dr Rakotonirainy reminded drivers to organise their playlists before they begin driving to avoid distractions. 'While Allianz's research specifically highlights the link between music and driver safety, revealing that nearly a third of drivers believe music affects how they drive, it's important to also consider other potentially harmful habits like phone-use, smoking, eating and drinking, and speeding,' he added. To access the function, search 'Seat Belters' in the Spotify app.
