Latest news with #PolestarAustralia
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Sky News AU
Electric car executive warns road-user charge will punish drivers doing the right thing as government pushes to plug fuel tax shortfall
The boss of electric vehicle maker Polestar in Australia has hit out at federal plans to introduce a road-user charge (RUC) for EVs, accusing the government of rushing a policy that could penalise drivers who are trying to do the right thing. Scott Maynard, Managing Director of Polestar Australia, said any move to slap electric vehicle owners with a per-kilometre fee must be 'fair and equitable' – and not just a quick fix to plug budget holes caused by falling fuel excise revenue. 'Motorists are already subject to stamp duty, registration fees, fuel excise, Fringe Benefits Tax, Luxury Car Tax in some cases, as well as tolls and parking space levies in the CBD,' Mr Maynard told 'Driving is an essential activity. It's important the government has a clear understanding of what it would be seeking to achieve with a road user charge.' Mr Maynard's comments come amid a renewed push by the federal government to implement a distance-based charge for EVs, as the uptake of zero-emissions vehicles starts to cut into the billions generated each year by the fuel excise. In 2024, Australia recorded 91,292 EV sales, a 4.7 per cent rise year-on-year, as more drivers began ditching petrol for electric. While Tesla remained the market leader with 38,347 sales, the US brand saw a 16.9 per cent drop, facing stiff competition from Chinese carmakers like BYD and MG, whose MG4 model made a major dent in Tesla's dominance. Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid sales surged even more significantly, with PHEVs doubling to over 23,000 units sold, and hybrid cars climbing by 76 per cent to 172,696. Polestar, however, saw a 30.3 per cent drop, reflecting just how quickly new taxes or charges could further shake confidence. The Productivity Commission last week recommended urgent reform, warning that the current funding model for roads is 'unsustainable' and 'inefficient'. With fuel excise revenue in long-term decline, Treasurer Jim Chalmers is accelerating efforts to design a scheme that would apply to EVs and fill the looming shortfall. But Maynard warned against introducing a system that unfairly targets regional drivers, or fails to account for vehicle emissions or weight. 'We don't want to have a situation where people who commute long distances from regional or rural areas are at a disadvantage to drivers who can afford to live in the inner city,' he said. Instead, the Polestar chief argued, any charge should reflect both distance and vehicle weight to properly account for road wear and should especially target heavy emitters. 'If emissions reduction is the aim, then targeting heavy vehicles with higher emissions should be a priority,' he said. Maynard also called for transparency, saying revenue from the proposed charge should be ring-fenced for road maintenance and infrastructure – unlike the current fuel excise which goes into general government coffers. But while the EV industry is calling for caution, infrastructure leaders and policymakers argue the charge is long overdue. Former Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas, who previously introduced a per-kilometre charge in Victoria before it was struck down by the High Court, said EVs 'had a very substantial free ride' when it came to road funding. 'They're heavier and do more damage to the road network than internal combustion engine vehicles,' Mr Pallas told the Australian on Monday. 'But there's an environmental plus to EVs. Getting that balance right was key to us.' He said the Victorian model charged EVs up to 2.6 cents per kilometre, amounting to about $300 a year – roughly half the average fuel excise paid by a petrol vehicle. Mr Chalmers has confirmed he is working 'with states and territories on the future of road-user charging' and says any changes will be 'considered and consultative'. Maynard agrees a new system is inevitable but insists it must not undermine Australia's transition to cleaner transport. 'I don't think any driver, electric or otherwise, will have an issue with a road user charge to replace fuel excise, as long as it is fair and equitable,' he said.
The Advertiser
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Polestar boss says new Australian emissions regulations 'didn't kill the weekend'
Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard says the 'scaremongering' that took place ahead of the implementation of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) has failed. The NVES was introduced on January 1, 2025, and limits the overall carbon-dioxide emissions across a brand's lineup – with automakers facing financial penalties if they exceed the targets. Penalties came into effect on July 1, 2025, and fleet emissions targets will get more stringent every year until 2029. When asked if perhaps NVES could have been pitched better by the politicians who were publicly in favour of it, Mr Maynard was positive. "It turns out it didn't kill the weekend," the Polestar boss said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard "We got it through, so I don't think I'm a good enough politician to say that they went about the wrong way. "I do think that there was perhaps some scaremongering whipped up from some of its opponents that did land a few blows, and some of the benefits of a market that responds to NVES legislation – like cleaner air and a move towards vehicles that that are cheaper to run – were perhaps lost in some of that messaging." Former opposition leader Peter Dutton had pledged to scrap the NVES – which he called a 'ute tax' – if the Coalition won last November's federal election (which it didn't). "We will abolish Labor's tax on family cars and utes. Saving you thousands when buying a new car," Mr Dutton posted on social media. "Labor's new car and ute tax will hit families and small businesses with thousands in extra costs." The Australian Government proposed three iterations of NVES – A, B and C options – in February 2024 for feedback from industry bodies and automakers. Of the three, the "fast but flexible" B proposal was the government's preferred option. Though it wasn't the most stringent of the three, the B proposal was criticised by some Australian car companies, with Toyota – the best-selling brand here since 2008 – saying it would force new vehicle prices up and hurt 'middle Australia'. Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing, said the company didn't have the model range available globally on hand to replace popular vehicles like the LandCruiser. Mr Hanley also said sales of smaller, lower-emission Toyota models would not be enough to offset fines from sales of larger vehicles. Similar objections were voiced by other car companies, such as Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott who also appealed to 'middle Australia'. "We do want a standard, we're not against a standard," Mr Westcott told CarExpert. "What we want is a standard that is practical and achievable against the pace of technology, aligned with what consumers want and what consumers can afford." The Australian Government subsequently made key concessions to automakers ahead of introducing the legislation to parliament in March 2024, including changing how large off-roaders were categorised – something which Toyota had called for. Both Toyota and Mitsubishi are members of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), which issued statements critical of NVES – something that saw Polestar and rival electric car brand Tesla quit the industry body. Mr Maynard recently said the brand is no closer to rejoining the FCAI, saying the industry body is less progressive than when Polestar left it in protest in March 2024. When asked by CarExpert if Polestar Australia could better effect change by being a member of the FCAI, Mr Maynard was blunt. "If I thought that the volume of vehicles that we sell – [Polestar] being a premium and relatively exclusive player – would give us a fair voice inside the FCAI, then perhaps that logic would run. "But I think it's still the case that the FCAI services those members that fund it, and I can understand why they would do that. They're a representative body of the manufacturers that sit inside it, and so no, I think I'd probably get sent out of the room." MORE: Everything Polestar MORE: What the first federal emission standard means for Aussie car buyers MORE: Mitsubishi boss slams federal emissions regulations, "naivety" around EVs MORE: Polestar won't rejoin Australia's top auto industry body Content originally sourced from: Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard says the 'scaremongering' that took place ahead of the implementation of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) has failed. The NVES was introduced on January 1, 2025, and limits the overall carbon-dioxide emissions across a brand's lineup – with automakers facing financial penalties if they exceed the targets. Penalties came into effect on July 1, 2025, and fleet emissions targets will get more stringent every year until 2029. When asked if perhaps NVES could have been pitched better by the politicians who were publicly in favour of it, Mr Maynard was positive. "It turns out it didn't kill the weekend," the Polestar boss said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard "We got it through, so I don't think I'm a good enough politician to say that they went about the wrong way. "I do think that there was perhaps some scaremongering whipped up from some of its opponents that did land a few blows, and some of the benefits of a market that responds to NVES legislation – like cleaner air and a move towards vehicles that that are cheaper to run – were perhaps lost in some of that messaging." Former opposition leader Peter Dutton had pledged to scrap the NVES – which he called a 'ute tax' – if the Coalition won last November's federal election (which it didn't). "We will abolish Labor's tax on family cars and utes. Saving you thousands when buying a new car," Mr Dutton posted on social media. "Labor's new car and ute tax will hit families and small businesses with thousands in extra costs." The Australian Government proposed three iterations of NVES – A, B and C options – in February 2024 for feedback from industry bodies and automakers. Of the three, the "fast but flexible" B proposal was the government's preferred option. Though it wasn't the most stringent of the three, the B proposal was criticised by some Australian car companies, with Toyota – the best-selling brand here since 2008 – saying it would force new vehicle prices up and hurt 'middle Australia'. Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing, said the company didn't have the model range available globally on hand to replace popular vehicles like the LandCruiser. Mr Hanley also said sales of smaller, lower-emission Toyota models would not be enough to offset fines from sales of larger vehicles. Similar objections were voiced by other car companies, such as Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott who also appealed to 'middle Australia'. "We do want a standard, we're not against a standard," Mr Westcott told CarExpert. "What we want is a standard that is practical and achievable against the pace of technology, aligned with what consumers want and what consumers can afford." The Australian Government subsequently made key concessions to automakers ahead of introducing the legislation to parliament in March 2024, including changing how large off-roaders were categorised – something which Toyota had called for. Both Toyota and Mitsubishi are members of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), which issued statements critical of NVES – something that saw Polestar and rival electric car brand Tesla quit the industry body. Mr Maynard recently said the brand is no closer to rejoining the FCAI, saying the industry body is less progressive than when Polestar left it in protest in March 2024. When asked by CarExpert if Polestar Australia could better effect change by being a member of the FCAI, Mr Maynard was blunt. "If I thought that the volume of vehicles that we sell – [Polestar] being a premium and relatively exclusive player – would give us a fair voice inside the FCAI, then perhaps that logic would run. "But I think it's still the case that the FCAI services those members that fund it, and I can understand why they would do that. They're a representative body of the manufacturers that sit inside it, and so no, I think I'd probably get sent out of the room." MORE: Everything Polestar MORE: What the first federal emission standard means for Aussie car buyers MORE: Mitsubishi boss slams federal emissions regulations, "naivety" around EVs MORE: Polestar won't rejoin Australia's top auto industry body Content originally sourced from: Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard says the 'scaremongering' that took place ahead of the implementation of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) has failed. The NVES was introduced on January 1, 2025, and limits the overall carbon-dioxide emissions across a brand's lineup – with automakers facing financial penalties if they exceed the targets. Penalties came into effect on July 1, 2025, and fleet emissions targets will get more stringent every year until 2029. When asked if perhaps NVES could have been pitched better by the politicians who were publicly in favour of it, Mr Maynard was positive. "It turns out it didn't kill the weekend," the Polestar boss said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard "We got it through, so I don't think I'm a good enough politician to say that they went about the wrong way. "I do think that there was perhaps some scaremongering whipped up from some of its opponents that did land a few blows, and some of the benefits of a market that responds to NVES legislation – like cleaner air and a move towards vehicles that that are cheaper to run – were perhaps lost in some of that messaging." Former opposition leader Peter Dutton had pledged to scrap the NVES – which he called a 'ute tax' – if the Coalition won last November's federal election (which it didn't). "We will abolish Labor's tax on family cars and utes. Saving you thousands when buying a new car," Mr Dutton posted on social media. "Labor's new car and ute tax will hit families and small businesses with thousands in extra costs." The Australian Government proposed three iterations of NVES – A, B and C options – in February 2024 for feedback from industry bodies and automakers. Of the three, the "fast but flexible" B proposal was the government's preferred option. Though it wasn't the most stringent of the three, the B proposal was criticised by some Australian car companies, with Toyota – the best-selling brand here since 2008 – saying it would force new vehicle prices up and hurt 'middle Australia'. Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing, said the company didn't have the model range available globally on hand to replace popular vehicles like the LandCruiser. Mr Hanley also said sales of smaller, lower-emission Toyota models would not be enough to offset fines from sales of larger vehicles. Similar objections were voiced by other car companies, such as Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott who also appealed to 'middle Australia'. "We do want a standard, we're not against a standard," Mr Westcott told CarExpert. "What we want is a standard that is practical and achievable against the pace of technology, aligned with what consumers want and what consumers can afford." The Australian Government subsequently made key concessions to automakers ahead of introducing the legislation to parliament in March 2024, including changing how large off-roaders were categorised – something which Toyota had called for. Both Toyota and Mitsubishi are members of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), which issued statements critical of NVES – something that saw Polestar and rival electric car brand Tesla quit the industry body. Mr Maynard recently said the brand is no closer to rejoining the FCAI, saying the industry body is less progressive than when Polestar left it in protest in March 2024. When asked by CarExpert if Polestar Australia could better effect change by being a member of the FCAI, Mr Maynard was blunt. "If I thought that the volume of vehicles that we sell – [Polestar] being a premium and relatively exclusive player – would give us a fair voice inside the FCAI, then perhaps that logic would run. "But I think it's still the case that the FCAI services those members that fund it, and I can understand why they would do that. They're a representative body of the manufacturers that sit inside it, and so no, I think I'd probably get sent out of the room." MORE: Everything Polestar MORE: What the first federal emission standard means for Aussie car buyers MORE: Mitsubishi boss slams federal emissions regulations, "naivety" around EVs MORE: Polestar won't rejoin Australia's top auto industry body Content originally sourced from: Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard says the 'scaremongering' that took place ahead of the implementation of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) has failed. The NVES was introduced on January 1, 2025, and limits the overall carbon-dioxide emissions across a brand's lineup – with automakers facing financial penalties if they exceed the targets. Penalties came into effect on July 1, 2025, and fleet emissions targets will get more stringent every year until 2029. When asked if perhaps NVES could have been pitched better by the politicians who were publicly in favour of it, Mr Maynard was positive. "It turns out it didn't kill the weekend," the Polestar boss said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard "We got it through, so I don't think I'm a good enough politician to say that they went about the wrong way. "I do think that there was perhaps some scaremongering whipped up from some of its opponents that did land a few blows, and some of the benefits of a market that responds to NVES legislation – like cleaner air and a move towards vehicles that that are cheaper to run – were perhaps lost in some of that messaging." Former opposition leader Peter Dutton had pledged to scrap the NVES – which he called a 'ute tax' – if the Coalition won last November's federal election (which it didn't). "We will abolish Labor's tax on family cars and utes. Saving you thousands when buying a new car," Mr Dutton posted on social media. "Labor's new car and ute tax will hit families and small businesses with thousands in extra costs." The Australian Government proposed three iterations of NVES – A, B and C options – in February 2024 for feedback from industry bodies and automakers. Of the three, the "fast but flexible" B proposal was the government's preferred option. Though it wasn't the most stringent of the three, the B proposal was criticised by some Australian car companies, with Toyota – the best-selling brand here since 2008 – saying it would force new vehicle prices up and hurt 'middle Australia'. Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing, said the company didn't have the model range available globally on hand to replace popular vehicles like the LandCruiser. Mr Hanley also said sales of smaller, lower-emission Toyota models would not be enough to offset fines from sales of larger vehicles. Similar objections were voiced by other car companies, such as Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott who also appealed to 'middle Australia'. "We do want a standard, we're not against a standard," Mr Westcott told CarExpert. "What we want is a standard that is practical and achievable against the pace of technology, aligned with what consumers want and what consumers can afford." The Australian Government subsequently made key concessions to automakers ahead of introducing the legislation to parliament in March 2024, including changing how large off-roaders were categorised – something which Toyota had called for. Both Toyota and Mitsubishi are members of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), which issued statements critical of NVES – something that saw Polestar and rival electric car brand Tesla quit the industry body. Mr Maynard recently said the brand is no closer to rejoining the FCAI, saying the industry body is less progressive than when Polestar left it in protest in March 2024. When asked by CarExpert if Polestar Australia could better effect change by being a member of the FCAI, Mr Maynard was blunt. "If I thought that the volume of vehicles that we sell – [Polestar] being a premium and relatively exclusive player – would give us a fair voice inside the FCAI, then perhaps that logic would run. "But I think it's still the case that the FCAI services those members that fund it, and I can understand why they would do that. They're a representative body of the manufacturers that sit inside it, and so no, I think I'd probably get sent out of the room." MORE: Everything Polestar MORE: What the first federal emission standard means for Aussie car buyers MORE: Mitsubishi boss slams federal emissions regulations, "naivety" around EVs MORE: Polestar won't rejoin Australia's top auto industry body Content originally sourced from:
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Do YOU drive a 'tradie' ute - but struggle to use a drill? Car company boss calls out the real reason for trend on Aussie roads
An electric car company boss has suggested many ute drivers in Australia aren't even tradies and are simply buying them to avoid paying tax. The Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, mainly sold as diesels, consistently top the monthly car sales charts. But Scott Maynard, the managing director of Polestar Australia, said this had more to do with fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemptions than the fact that drivers needed them for tradie purposes. 'I'm a tradie - I started out as a mechanic and I'm entirely on their side. However, we now see vehicles that are akin to dual-cab utes make up three of the five top-selling models for the first half of the year,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'It is to the point now where we've got more than one-and-a-half times the number of utes being registered than we do the number of tradespeople that are registered. 'And when I say tradespeople, I include all of them, including trades that wouldn't normally use a ute as a tool of trade.' Light commercial vehicles are exempt from fringe benefits tax if they are used for work, including single and dual-cab utes that are used for limited private needs. 'My point is I think the tax advantage afforded to those vehicles are now being picked up by people who don't use them as tools of trade but simply utilise the fact they escape the tax that other vehicles pay,' he said. 'The fringe benefits tax and luxury car tax benefits afforded to those vehicles have been going for such a long time now that the industries are now bent towards that and produce more and more variants that you would have to say are no longer considered tools of trade. 'For tradespeople, buying these vehicles to do their job, absolutely, my heart and soul goes out to them.' Australia's ute market is set to get even more overcrowded with Kia taking orders for the Tasman and MG adding the U9 to its range. Toyota has joined the gigantic American-pick-up truck segment in Australia, with the Tundra taking on the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and RAM 1500. Then there are tough four-wheel drives, including the perennially popular Toyota LandCruiser, with Mr Maynard suggesting many SUV buyers just wanted to feel safe. 'So many of those customers are not necessarily buying those cars for their off-road ability per se but rather for what is perceived as a high level of safety that comes with a vehicle of that style rather than a traditional passenger vehicle,' he said. EV incentives Labor's landslide re-election could help EV sales in coming years with Anthony Albanese's Labor government removing the requirement for employers to pay FBT if they provide an EV to a staff member that sits under the $91,387 luxury car tax threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles. Labor in its first term also introduced a novated lease scheme allowing EV owners to deduct the total financing and running costs of their car from their taxable income via salary sacrificing - a policy the defeated former Liberal leader Peter Dutton had vowed to scrap during the election campaign. Despite those sweeteners, electric vehicles only make up 7.7 per cent of the Australian car market even with 100 EVs now available. 'Sadly, I don't see it tripling in the next four years - I'd love to be surprised by that,' Mr Maynard said. 'What we have seen, so far this year, is a glacially slow ratcheting up of share so we've seen the share of electric vehicles rise month-on-month through 2025. 'It's moving in the right direction but it's not advancing at pace.' The government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, which came into force on July 1, is designed to reduce average new car fleet carbon emissions by 59 per cent by 2029. Car companies that sold more electric cars would get credits while manufacturers that relied on selling too many larger petrol and diesel cars would pay penalties. 'I don't have a political bias here but the return of the incumbent government on its commitment to hold its line on the NVES despite that significant opposition is definitely a shot in the arm,' he said. 'It's a step in the right direction.' Mr Maynard disputed a suggestion from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries that this new scheme's credits and penalties would reduce the price of a Tesla Model Y by $15,390 and push up the price of Ranger ute by $6,150. 'I don't see the price of EVs just falling substantially just based on the NVES program because the price of producing electric vehicles is still a build-up of its production costs,' he said. 'Any reduction in sale prices is more likely to be powered by efficiencies in production and the utilisation of technology, not simply by a scheme that was worked up to shift the mix of vehicles and their drive lines sold in Australia.' Polestar last year joined Tesla in quitting the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries to join with the Electric Vehicle Council, which is more in favour of the NVES. Mr Maynard suggested many car manufacturers hated new rules to reduce carbon emissions because it was easier for them to keep selling outdated utes and SUVs. 'They're resistant to change in this market, perhaps driven by that commercial reality,' he said. 'And the fact that it's backed by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries is just disappointing but it's not progressive and it's not indicative of what the market's demanding now.' Utes still dominating sales The new Tesla Model Y, with 3,457 sales, was Australia's third most popular car in June, behind only the Ranger (6,293 sales) and HiLux (6,195 sales). The diesel-only Isuzu D-Max was in fourth place with 3,119 sales, ahead of the Chinese-made BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute with 2,993 orders. But sales of the Tesla Model 3 fell by 36.3 per cent, compared with June 2024, to just 1,132 sales. Tesla CEO Elon Musk's previous close political association with Donald Trump has polarised EV customers. 'When the head of that organisation starts taking on a political agenda, it's going to polarise public opinion and I think there's quite a few people that are judging Tesla based on the behaviour of its founder and chief and so that hasn't helped them,' he said. When it came to Polestar's own sales in Australia, the Polestar 2's 135 sales in June were 62.1 per cent weaker compared with June 2024, even though it's available with a long-range engine that can travel 654km before needing recharging. But the company has since introduced the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4, which are both fully-electric SUVs that can be recharged in as little as 30 minutes. 'More and more, we're talking to customers that want the ease of use, that don't want to have to turn up at servos, that want the range, not just its credentials in sustainability,' Mr Maynard said. Polestar started as a Volvo racing subsidiary in 1996 but has since become its own niche fully-electric brand owned by Volvo and its Chinese-owned parent company Geely. Mr Maynard said Polestar Australia had no plans to offer more rugged four-wheel drives with off-roading ability, pointing out his line-up had five-star crash test ratings. 'Polestar doesn't seek to be all things to all people either - there's a particularly product portfolio that Polestar pursues,' he said. 'There's not currently plans to see an overtly, off-road styled SUV.' Mr Maynard, who previously ran BYD, Jaguar Land Rover and Audi in Australia, said more change was happening now in the car industry than over the previous three decades he had worked in the sector. 'In all the years I've been in this industry, some three-odd decades, I've never seen the industry move as fast and change as much as it is now,' he said. 'I include myself in that - I was a technician by trade and have been involved in motorsport so the shift to electric has been as hard for me as it would be for anyone and I've absolutely embraced it.'
The Advertiser
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Polestar boss rejects Mitsubishi CEO's claims on new Australian emissions regulations
The boss of electric vehicle (EV) brand Polestar Australia disagrees with recent comments from Mitsubishi Australia criticising Australia's vehicle emission reductions scheme. Speaking to CarExpert and other outlets during a media round table, Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard said he disagreed with the Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott's suggestion new emissions penalties are 'naive'. "I don't agree with that at all," Mr Maynard said. "We are now one of the last remaining developed countries that don't have legislation or do much to encourage the lowering of vehicle emissions. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The fact that we've taken this long is something we really shouldn't be proud of; the fact that we're now doing it is something we should [be proud of]; and the fact that doesn't suit the Mitsubishi doesn't really surprise me." The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) was introduced on January 1, 2025 and put in place carbon-dioxide emissions reduction targets for the next five years. Fines for manufacturers whose overall fleet of new vehicles sold exceeds the set limits became enforceable on July 1, 2025. Mr Maynard, an Australian automotive industry veteran who has worked at JLR, Audi and BYD, took over as managing director of Polestar Australia in June 2024 and has been a vocal NVES supporter. Under previous boss Samantha Johnson, Polestar Australia – along with US electric car brand Tesla – quit the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) in March 2024 over what it said were attempts "to deliberately slow the car industry's contribution to Australia's emissions reduction potential". Mitsubishi is a member of the FCAI, with Mr Westcott on its board of directors alongside industry colleagues from Mazda, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover. While Polestar's entire range is made up of EVs – a position its global boss recently reiterated the company would maintain despite other brands moving towards hybrids instead – Mitsubishi Australia doesn't currently sell any EV models here. It was an early pioneer, offering the Mitsubishi i-MiEV city-sized electric hatch – with 155km of range and a 47kW electric motor at $48,800 before on-road costs – in Australia, selling 235 between 2010-2012. In Japan, Mitsubishi currently sells the battery-electric eK X (EK 'cross') and Minicab EV models, both 'kei' category ultra-compact city vehicles. It has confirmed, however, it'll launch a new EV here in 2026, developed with Taiwanese firm Foxtron. "If most of these brands are able to service these [emissions] requirements in all of the other markets that they can be in, there's no real reason why they can't do it here, and I don't think they need the sort of scaremongering comments that they've made," said Mr Maynard. Speaking at the recent launch of the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV, which includes one of Australia's best-selling plug-in hybrid models in its lineup, Mr Westcott suggested NVES and its fines for automakers wouldn't increase EV take-up. "I think there's a degree of naivety that thinks that if you just penalise us as [manufacturers], all of us, that somehow that's miraculously going to change the market," the Mitsubishi boss said. The Mitsubishi boss said the company was concerned about the environment – and said emissions should be reduced – yet said despite a wider choice of EVs, "battery-electric vehicles are still in [low demand]". Sales figures of EVs in Australia reveal a marginal fall in 2025, with 47,245 delivered to the end of June compared to 50,905 over the same period last year, with market share down from 8.0 per cent to 7.6 per cent. Mr Westcott said the federal government hadn't spent enough on infrastructure to make the switch to EVs realistic for Australian new-car shoppers, saying NVES was "not going to change the equation because there are other pieces of the puzzle that are missing". Polestar, in contrast to Mitsubishi, will earn credits given its all-electric lineup emits no carbon dioxide emissions. "It would make sense to sell those credits out for no other reason to make good on the intention of that legislation, to make those manufacturers that don't embrace NVES pay for it," said Mr Maynard. "I don't think there's harm in being one of the brands to make sure it happens." He also said the low targets of NVES mean the credits have little financial value. "I don't think it's [the value of the credits] going to be that high, only because the standards –particularly in the industry here – are low enough that most brands can comfortably slide underneath them." The Polestar boss suggested most brands in Australia could easily achieve the targets with tweaks to their product lineups and pricing. "Again, there's been a huge word cloud of concerns about NVES, but now it's here, and the job is to knuckle down and get it done, I like to think that it's well within the reach of most of the brands operating this country," he said. MORE: Everything Polestar MORE: Mitsubishi boss slams federal emissions regulations, "naivety" around EVs Content originally sourced from: The boss of electric vehicle (EV) brand Polestar Australia disagrees with recent comments from Mitsubishi Australia criticising Australia's vehicle emission reductions scheme. Speaking to CarExpert and other outlets during a media round table, Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard said he disagreed with the Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott's suggestion new emissions penalties are 'naive'. "I don't agree with that at all," Mr Maynard said. "We are now one of the last remaining developed countries that don't have legislation or do much to encourage the lowering of vehicle emissions. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The fact that we've taken this long is something we really shouldn't be proud of; the fact that we're now doing it is something we should [be proud of]; and the fact that doesn't suit the Mitsubishi doesn't really surprise me." The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) was introduced on January 1, 2025 and put in place carbon-dioxide emissions reduction targets for the next five years. Fines for manufacturers whose overall fleet of new vehicles sold exceeds the set limits became enforceable on July 1, 2025. Mr Maynard, an Australian automotive industry veteran who has worked at JLR, Audi and BYD, took over as managing director of Polestar Australia in June 2024 and has been a vocal NVES supporter. Under previous boss Samantha Johnson, Polestar Australia – along with US electric car brand Tesla – quit the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) in March 2024 over what it said were attempts "to deliberately slow the car industry's contribution to Australia's emissions reduction potential". Mitsubishi is a member of the FCAI, with Mr Westcott on its board of directors alongside industry colleagues from Mazda, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover. While Polestar's entire range is made up of EVs – a position its global boss recently reiterated the company would maintain despite other brands moving towards hybrids instead – Mitsubishi Australia doesn't currently sell any EV models here. It was an early pioneer, offering the Mitsubishi i-MiEV city-sized electric hatch – with 155km of range and a 47kW electric motor at $48,800 before on-road costs – in Australia, selling 235 between 2010-2012. In Japan, Mitsubishi currently sells the battery-electric eK X (EK 'cross') and Minicab EV models, both 'kei' category ultra-compact city vehicles. It has confirmed, however, it'll launch a new EV here in 2026, developed with Taiwanese firm Foxtron. "If most of these brands are able to service these [emissions] requirements in all of the other markets that they can be in, there's no real reason why they can't do it here, and I don't think they need the sort of scaremongering comments that they've made," said Mr Maynard. Speaking at the recent launch of the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV, which includes one of Australia's best-selling plug-in hybrid models in its lineup, Mr Westcott suggested NVES and its fines for automakers wouldn't increase EV take-up. "I think there's a degree of naivety that thinks that if you just penalise us as [manufacturers], all of us, that somehow that's miraculously going to change the market," the Mitsubishi boss said. The Mitsubishi boss said the company was concerned about the environment – and said emissions should be reduced – yet said despite a wider choice of EVs, "battery-electric vehicles are still in [low demand]". Sales figures of EVs in Australia reveal a marginal fall in 2025, with 47,245 delivered to the end of June compared to 50,905 over the same period last year, with market share down from 8.0 per cent to 7.6 per cent. Mr Westcott said the federal government hadn't spent enough on infrastructure to make the switch to EVs realistic for Australian new-car shoppers, saying NVES was "not going to change the equation because there are other pieces of the puzzle that are missing". Polestar, in contrast to Mitsubishi, will earn credits given its all-electric lineup emits no carbon dioxide emissions. "It would make sense to sell those credits out for no other reason to make good on the intention of that legislation, to make those manufacturers that don't embrace NVES pay for it," said Mr Maynard. "I don't think there's harm in being one of the brands to make sure it happens." He also said the low targets of NVES mean the credits have little financial value. "I don't think it's [the value of the credits] going to be that high, only because the standards –particularly in the industry here – are low enough that most brands can comfortably slide underneath them." The Polestar boss suggested most brands in Australia could easily achieve the targets with tweaks to their product lineups and pricing. "Again, there's been a huge word cloud of concerns about NVES, but now it's here, and the job is to knuckle down and get it done, I like to think that it's well within the reach of most of the brands operating this country," he said. MORE: Everything Polestar MORE: Mitsubishi boss slams federal emissions regulations, "naivety" around EVs Content originally sourced from: The boss of electric vehicle (EV) brand Polestar Australia disagrees with recent comments from Mitsubishi Australia criticising Australia's vehicle emission reductions scheme. Speaking to CarExpert and other outlets during a media round table, Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard said he disagreed with the Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott's suggestion new emissions penalties are 'naive'. "I don't agree with that at all," Mr Maynard said. "We are now one of the last remaining developed countries that don't have legislation or do much to encourage the lowering of vehicle emissions. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The fact that we've taken this long is something we really shouldn't be proud of; the fact that we're now doing it is something we should [be proud of]; and the fact that doesn't suit the Mitsubishi doesn't really surprise me." The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) was introduced on January 1, 2025 and put in place carbon-dioxide emissions reduction targets for the next five years. Fines for manufacturers whose overall fleet of new vehicles sold exceeds the set limits became enforceable on July 1, 2025. Mr Maynard, an Australian automotive industry veteran who has worked at JLR, Audi and BYD, took over as managing director of Polestar Australia in June 2024 and has been a vocal NVES supporter. Under previous boss Samantha Johnson, Polestar Australia – along with US electric car brand Tesla – quit the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) in March 2024 over what it said were attempts "to deliberately slow the car industry's contribution to Australia's emissions reduction potential". Mitsubishi is a member of the FCAI, with Mr Westcott on its board of directors alongside industry colleagues from Mazda, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover. While Polestar's entire range is made up of EVs – a position its global boss recently reiterated the company would maintain despite other brands moving towards hybrids instead – Mitsubishi Australia doesn't currently sell any EV models here. It was an early pioneer, offering the Mitsubishi i-MiEV city-sized electric hatch – with 155km of range and a 47kW electric motor at $48,800 before on-road costs – in Australia, selling 235 between 2010-2012. In Japan, Mitsubishi currently sells the battery-electric eK X (EK 'cross') and Minicab EV models, both 'kei' category ultra-compact city vehicles. It has confirmed, however, it'll launch a new EV here in 2026, developed with Taiwanese firm Foxtron. "If most of these brands are able to service these [emissions] requirements in all of the other markets that they can be in, there's no real reason why they can't do it here, and I don't think they need the sort of scaremongering comments that they've made," said Mr Maynard. Speaking at the recent launch of the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV, which includes one of Australia's best-selling plug-in hybrid models in its lineup, Mr Westcott suggested NVES and its fines for automakers wouldn't increase EV take-up. "I think there's a degree of naivety that thinks that if you just penalise us as [manufacturers], all of us, that somehow that's miraculously going to change the market," the Mitsubishi boss said. The Mitsubishi boss said the company was concerned about the environment – and said emissions should be reduced – yet said despite a wider choice of EVs, "battery-electric vehicles are still in [low demand]". Sales figures of EVs in Australia reveal a marginal fall in 2025, with 47,245 delivered to the end of June compared to 50,905 over the same period last year, with market share down from 8.0 per cent to 7.6 per cent. Mr Westcott said the federal government hadn't spent enough on infrastructure to make the switch to EVs realistic for Australian new-car shoppers, saying NVES was "not going to change the equation because there are other pieces of the puzzle that are missing". Polestar, in contrast to Mitsubishi, will earn credits given its all-electric lineup emits no carbon dioxide emissions. "It would make sense to sell those credits out for no other reason to make good on the intention of that legislation, to make those manufacturers that don't embrace NVES pay for it," said Mr Maynard. "I don't think there's harm in being one of the brands to make sure it happens." He also said the low targets of NVES mean the credits have little financial value. "I don't think it's [the value of the credits] going to be that high, only because the standards –particularly in the industry here – are low enough that most brands can comfortably slide underneath them." The Polestar boss suggested most brands in Australia could easily achieve the targets with tweaks to their product lineups and pricing. "Again, there's been a huge word cloud of concerns about NVES, but now it's here, and the job is to knuckle down and get it done, I like to think that it's well within the reach of most of the brands operating this country," he said. MORE: Everything Polestar MORE: Mitsubishi boss slams federal emissions regulations, "naivety" around EVs Content originally sourced from: The boss of electric vehicle (EV) brand Polestar Australia disagrees with recent comments from Mitsubishi Australia criticising Australia's vehicle emission reductions scheme. Speaking to CarExpert and other outlets during a media round table, Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard said he disagreed with the Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott's suggestion new emissions penalties are 'naive'. "I don't agree with that at all," Mr Maynard said. "We are now one of the last remaining developed countries that don't have legislation or do much to encourage the lowering of vehicle emissions. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The fact that we've taken this long is something we really shouldn't be proud of; the fact that we're now doing it is something we should [be proud of]; and the fact that doesn't suit the Mitsubishi doesn't really surprise me." The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) was introduced on January 1, 2025 and put in place carbon-dioxide emissions reduction targets for the next five years. Fines for manufacturers whose overall fleet of new vehicles sold exceeds the set limits became enforceable on July 1, 2025. Mr Maynard, an Australian automotive industry veteran who has worked at JLR, Audi and BYD, took over as managing director of Polestar Australia in June 2024 and has been a vocal NVES supporter. Under previous boss Samantha Johnson, Polestar Australia – along with US electric car brand Tesla – quit the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) in March 2024 over what it said were attempts "to deliberately slow the car industry's contribution to Australia's emissions reduction potential". Mitsubishi is a member of the FCAI, with Mr Westcott on its board of directors alongside industry colleagues from Mazda, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover. While Polestar's entire range is made up of EVs – a position its global boss recently reiterated the company would maintain despite other brands moving towards hybrids instead – Mitsubishi Australia doesn't currently sell any EV models here. It was an early pioneer, offering the Mitsubishi i-MiEV city-sized electric hatch – with 155km of range and a 47kW electric motor at $48,800 before on-road costs – in Australia, selling 235 between 2010-2012. In Japan, Mitsubishi currently sells the battery-electric eK X (EK 'cross') and Minicab EV models, both 'kei' category ultra-compact city vehicles. It has confirmed, however, it'll launch a new EV here in 2026, developed with Taiwanese firm Foxtron. "If most of these brands are able to service these [emissions] requirements in all of the other markets that they can be in, there's no real reason why they can't do it here, and I don't think they need the sort of scaremongering comments that they've made," said Mr Maynard. Speaking at the recent launch of the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV, which includes one of Australia's best-selling plug-in hybrid models in its lineup, Mr Westcott suggested NVES and its fines for automakers wouldn't increase EV take-up. "I think there's a degree of naivety that thinks that if you just penalise us as [manufacturers], all of us, that somehow that's miraculously going to change the market," the Mitsubishi boss said. The Mitsubishi boss said the company was concerned about the environment – and said emissions should be reduced – yet said despite a wider choice of EVs, "battery-electric vehicles are still in [low demand]". Sales figures of EVs in Australia reveal a marginal fall in 2025, with 47,245 delivered to the end of June compared to 50,905 over the same period last year, with market share down from 8.0 per cent to 7.6 per cent. Mr Westcott said the federal government hadn't spent enough on infrastructure to make the switch to EVs realistic for Australian new-car shoppers, saying NVES was "not going to change the equation because there are other pieces of the puzzle that are missing". Polestar, in contrast to Mitsubishi, will earn credits given its all-electric lineup emits no carbon dioxide emissions. "It would make sense to sell those credits out for no other reason to make good on the intention of that legislation, to make those manufacturers that don't embrace NVES pay for it," said Mr Maynard. "I don't think there's harm in being one of the brands to make sure it happens." He also said the low targets of NVES mean the credits have little financial value. "I don't think it's [the value of the credits] going to be that high, only because the standards –particularly in the industry here – are low enough that most brands can comfortably slide underneath them." The Polestar boss suggested most brands in Australia could easily achieve the targets with tweaks to their product lineups and pricing. "Again, there's been a huge word cloud of concerns about NVES, but now it's here, and the job is to knuckle down and get it done, I like to think that it's well within the reach of most of the brands operating this country," he said. MORE: Everything Polestar MORE: Mitsubishi boss slams federal emissions regulations, "naivety" around EVs Content originally sourced from:
West Australian
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Polestar offers end of financial year discounts of up to $29,000
Polestar is offering sizeable end of year discounts across its three-model electric vehicle (EV) lineup until June 30, 2025 or while stocks last. A free Plus Pack upgrade is now available for selected pre-configured Polestar 3 large SUV, Polestar 4 mid-size SUV and 2025 Polestar 2 fastback vehicles ordered between June 2 and June 30, 2025, and delivered by July 31, 2025. Polestar says that for vehicle configurations with or without the Plus Pack, an equivalent discount will be applied, ie: $3900 for the MY25 Polestar 2, $8000 for the Polestar 4 and $9000 for the Polestar 3. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . The Plus Pack discount offer cannot be combined with any other Polestar campaign incentives, fleet incentives, finance offers, or discounts, except for the Drivetrain Upgrade now also available for pre-configured Polestar 3s. Indeed the biggest discounts are reserved for the Polestar 3 flagship electric SUV, in the form of a free dual-motor powertrain valued at up to $20,000, in addition to the free Plus Pack upgrade valued at $9000. Polestar 3 buyers will therefore not only receive a Long range Dual motor version for the price of a Long range Single motor, but also a complimentary Plus pack bringing several interior, exterior, comfort and charging upgrades. Among the pre-configured examples listed as being available in New South Wales on the Polestar Australia website is a MY25 Polestar 3 Long range Dual motor for $115,654 drive-away, rather than $142,954 drive-away – a saving of $27,300. Both the range-wide Plus Pack upgrade and the Polestar 3 drivetrain upgrade applies to all pre-configured vehicles ordered between June 2, 2025 and June 30, 2025, and delivered by July 31, 2025. Buyers of pre-configured MY23 and MY24 Polestar vehicles ordered by June 30 will also pay just $54,000 drive-away for the entry-level rear-wheel drive variant – down from the normal price of $62,400 before on-road costs. Until June 30, Polestar Australia is also offering new customers a $200 saving on the purchase and standard installation of a solar-ready Evnex home charger. End of financial year novated lease deals are also available for the Polestar 2 and Polestar 4, priced from $199 and $249 per week respectively, including running costs. This is based on a fully maintained novated lease administered by Leaselab over a five-year term, after which a residual value of 28.13 per cent of the purchase price is payable.
