Latest news with #Thai-built
7NEWS
6 days ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
2025 Foton Tunland price and specs: Budget utes bring American looks for Chinese money
Foton is back, and it's once again entering a market teeming with affordable Chinese utes, and once again under-cutting Australia's most popular Thai-built models. Unlike last time, when the previous Tunland ute contended with what was known as Great Wall, as well as ZX Auto and JMC before eventually being axed, this time it's up against a rebranded and increasingly sophisticated GWM, as well as stalwart LDV and new entrant JAC. It's doing this with the backing of Subaru distributor Inchcape, and is once again using the Tunland nameplate. This time, it's applied to a radically different-looking pair of dual-cab utes. Gone is the pleasant, safe styling of the old Tunland, and in its place is a look that owes more to American full-size pickups than any of its similarly priced rivals. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The V7 is the one you see here that looks rather like a Ford F-150 if you take off your glasses, while the V9 is the one that looks awfully like a Ram 1500. You won't miss them on the street, thanks not only to their bold styling but also dimensions that make them larger than top-selling utes like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, and an array of bold exterior paint colours including Lightning Purple. Foton says the V7 is more fleet-focused, offering a payload of over 1000kg, while the V9 – thanks to its multi-link rear suspension – offers a smoother ride and greater refinement. Pricing starts at $39,990 before on-road costs for the V7-C 4×2, and tops out at $49,990 plus on-roads for the V9-S 4×4. For context, the GWM Cannon dual-cab range is priced from $40,490 drive-away, and the LDV T60 Max range is currently being offered from $41,253 drive-away in model year 2025 (MY25) Pro auto guise. The larger GWM Cannon Alpha opens at $52,990 drive-away. The first Tunlands will start arriving from the third quarter of this year, so before the end of September. Foton will have dealers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the ACT, with 'further growth planned' ahead of the first vehicles coming ashore. The company says it has locally tested the Tunland across tens of thousands of kilometres of Australian roads, both sealed and unsealed, while also putting it through its paces off-road to ensure it's suitable for local conditions. While Foton has published a detailed list of specifications, it hasn't confirmed whether it will offer capped-price servicing. Also unknown are fuel economy figures, and whether the Tunland will come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Pricing Drivetrains and Efficiency The Tunland V7 and V9 differ in rear suspension – the former has a live axle with leaf springs, while the latter features a multi-link rigid axle. However, they share the same turbo-diesel mild-hybrid powertrain and ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission. The V7 is offered with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, but the V9 is four-wheel drive-only. The four-wheel drive system features auto, 2H, 4H and $L modes. All four-wheel drive Tunlands have a locking rear differential, while the flagship V9-S 4×4 also gains a locking front differential. Foton has yet to publish fuel economy or emissions figures. Weights and Dimensions At 5617mm long on a 3355mm wheelbase, the Foton Tunland sits between a Ranger dual-cab (5370mm long, 3270mm wheelbase) and a short-wheelbase Ford F-150 pickup (5884mm long, 3694mm wheelbase). Servicing and Warranty The Foton Tunland is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Foton hasn't announced any capped-price servicing scheme. Safety The Foton Tunland has yet to be tested by ANCAP. Standard safety equipment across the range includes: Adaptive cruise control Autonomous emergency braking Blind-spot monitoring Lane-keep assist Lane centring Rear cross-traffic alert Surround-view camera Front and rear parking sensors Safe exit warning Traffic sign recognition The V9-S 4×4 also has a driver monitoring system. Standard Equipment There are four variants in the Tunland lineup. The V7-C 4×2 comes standard with the following equipment: Spray-in tub liner Highway Terrain tyres Eco, Standard, Sport drive modes Electronic parking brake Auto hold Automatic LED headlights Integrated dash cam 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system 2 x front USB-A outlets 4-speaker sound system Single-zone air-conditioning 6-way manually adjustable driver's seat 4-way manually adjustable passenger seat The V7-C 4×4 adds: Four-wheel drive system Sand, Mud, Snow modes Locking rear differential All-terrain tyres The V9-L 4×4 adds: Multi-link rear suspension 'Premium' side steps 'Premium' 18-inch wheel design Sports bar Lockable tray Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors Heated front seats 6-way power driver's seat with 4-way lumbar 4-way power passenger seat Dual-zone climate control 6-speaker sound system 2x rear USB-A outlets 220V/300W power outlet Auto-dimming rear-view mirror The V9-S 4×4 adds: Locking front differential Roof rails Rear privacy glass Panoramic sunroof Ventilated front seats Driver seat memory Heated outboard rear seats LED rear reading light Auto up/down for all power windows Colours Flare White is the standard exterior paint finish, with the following available for an extra $690: Galaxy Silver Titanium Grey Phantom Black Fire Red Diamond Blue Aurora Green Lightning Purple
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
2025 Foton Tunland price and specs: Budget utes bring American looks for Chinese money
Foton is back, and it's once again entering a market teeming with affordable Chinese utes, and once again under-cutting Australia's most popular Thai-built models. Unlike last time, when the previous Tunland ute contended with what was known as Great Wall, as well as ZX Auto and JMC before eventually being axed, this time it's up against a rebranded and increasingly sophisticated GWM, as well as stalwart LDV and new entrant JAC. It's doing this with the backing of Subaru distributor Inchcape, and is once again using the Tunland nameplate. This time, it's applied to a radically different-looking pair of dual-cab utes. Gone is the pleasant, safe styling of the old Tunland, and in its place is a look that owes more to American full-size pickups than any of its similarly priced rivals. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The V7 is the one you see here that looks rather like a Ford F-150 if you take off your glasses, while the V9 is the one that looks awfully like a Ram 1500. You won't miss them on the street, thanks not only to their bold styling but also dimensions that make them larger than top-selling utes like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, and an array of bold exterior paint colours including Lightning Purple. Foton says the V7 is more fleet-focused, offering a payload of over 1000kg, while the V9 – thanks to its multi-link rear suspension – offers a smoother ride and greater refinement. Pricing starts at $39,990 before on-road costs for the V7-C 4×2, and tops out at $49,990 plus on-roads for the V9-S 4×4. Supplied Credit: CarExpert For context, the GWM Cannon dual-cab range is priced from $40,490 drive-away, and the LDV T60 Max range is currently being offered from $41,253 drive-away in model year 2025 (MY25) Pro auto guise. The larger GWM Cannon Alpha opens at $52,990 drive-away. The first Tunlands will start arriving from the third quarter of this year, so before the end of September. Foton will have dealers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the ACT, with 'further growth planned' ahead of the first vehicles coming ashore. The company says it has locally tested the Tunland across tens of thousands of kilometres of Australian roads, both sealed and unsealed, while also putting it through its paces off-road to ensure it's suitable for local conditions. Supplied Credit: CarExpert While Foton has published a detailed list of specifications, it hasn't confirmed whether it will offer capped-price servicing. Also unknown are fuel economy figures, and whether the Tunland will come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Tunland V7 and V9 differ in rear suspension – the former has a live axle with leaf springs, while the latter features a multi-link rigid axle. Supplied Credit: CarExpert However, they share the same turbo-diesel mild-hybrid powertrain and ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission. The V7 is offered with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, but the V9 is four-wheel drive-only. The four-wheel drive system features auto, 2H, 4H and $L modes. All four-wheel drive Tunlands have a locking rear differential, while the flagship V9-S 4×4 also gains a locking front differential. Foton has yet to publish fuel economy or emissions figures. At 5617mm long on a 3355mm wheelbase, the Foton Tunland sits between a Ranger dual-cab (5370mm long, 3270mm wheelbase) and a short-wheelbase Ford F-150 pickup (5884mm long, 3694mm wheelbase). Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Foton Tunland is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Foton hasn't announced any capped-price servicing scheme. The Foton Tunland has yet to be tested by ANCAP. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Standard safety equipment across the range includes: Adaptive cruise control Autonomous emergency braking Blind-spot monitoring Lane-keep assist Lane centring Rear cross-traffic alert Surround-view camera Front and rear parking sensors Safe exit warning Traffic sign recognition The V9-S 4×4 also has a driver monitoring system. There are four variants in the Tunland lineup. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The V7-C 4×2 comes standard with the following equipment: Spray-in tub liner Highway Terrain tyres Eco, Standard, Sport drive modes Electronic parking brake Auto hold Automatic LED headlights Integrated dash cam 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system 2 x front USB-A outlets 4-speaker sound system Single-zone air-conditioning 6-way manually adjustable driver's seat 4-way manually adjustable passenger seat The V7-C 4×4 adds: Four-wheel drive system Sand, Mud, Snow modes Locking rear differential All-terrain tyres The V9-L 4×4 adds: Multi-link rear suspension 'Premium' side steps 'Premium' 18-inch wheel design Sports bar Lockable tray Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors Heated front seats 6-way power driver's seat with 4-way lumbar 4-way power passenger seat Dual-zone climate control 6-speaker sound system 2x rear USB-A outlets 220V/300W power outlet Auto-dimming rear-view mirror The V9-S 4×4 adds: Locking front differential Roof rails Rear privacy glass Panoramic sunroof Ventilated front seats Driver seat memory Heated outboard rear seats LED rear reading light Auto up/down for all power windows Flare White is the standard exterior paint finish, with the following available for an extra $690: Galaxy Silver Titanium Grey Phantom Black Fire Red Diamond Blue Aurora Green Lightning Purple MORE: Explore the Foton Tunland showroom
The Advertiser
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
China to become top source of new cars in Australia, fuelled by emissions regs
China has already overtaken Korea to become Australia's third largest supplier of new vehicles, and a new report says it'll take the top spot by 2035. The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) commissioned the Centre for International Economics (CIE) to analyse Australia's past, current and future automotive trading partners. The CIE has projected Chinese-built vehicles will account for 43 per cent of Australia's new-car market in 2035, up from 17 per cent this year. This will come at the expense of Japanese-built cars, whose share is projected to drop from 32 to 22 per cent, as well as Thai-built vehicles (11 per cent, down from 21 per cent) and Korean-built vehicles (8 per cent, down from 13 per cent). The CIE forecasts other countries of origin will account for the remaining 16 per cent of the market, down from 17 per cent in 2025. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. China already dominates the local electric vehicle (EV) market, accounting for 65 per cent of imports. But it's not just EVs powering its growth here, with exports of combustion-powered vehicles also rising. Enabling China's rise, the report says, is the Chinese government's investment and support in developing EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology and manufacturing capabilities; an ongoing drop in production costs; as well as an aversion to price increases like those imposed by brands from other countries. But the AADA warns the Australian Government is inadvertently boosting sales of Chinese cars in our market through its New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). "While overall sales from many countries are still projected to grow, China stands out and is set to benefit the most from the introduction of the NVES," the AADA says in its report. "Its strong position in EV manufacturing, supported by supply chain advantages and government backing, means vehicles produced in China are expected to gain market share at a faster rate, in contrast to the slower grow other exporting countries may observe. "This low emissions transition highlights a broader structural shift. As emission standards tighten, supply chains globalise and EV technology dominates, China is set to play an increasingly central role in Australia's automotive future and redefine our automotive landscape." The AADA says in its report that the findings are based on an assumption NVES fleet emissions reductions will continue past the legislated 2029 target. Coming into effect on January 1, 2025, with penalties being accrued from July 1, the NVES sets fleet-wide emissions targets for new-vehicle brands in Australia. If automakers exceed an average carbon emissions target for the vehicles they sell each year, they will be penalised $100 per g/km of CO2 for every vehicle which exceeds the target. For 2025, the mandate for passenger cars (Type 1) is 141g/km of CO2, with light commercial vehicles and heavy-duty SUVs (Type 2) set at 210g/km or less. These limits will get tighter every year, landing at 58 and 110g/km respectively in 2029. Chinese auto brands have been among the quickest and most aggressive in rolling out EVs and PHEVs in our market to cater to buyer demand and also meet these emissions standards. BYD only offers these powertrain types globally, while Chery, GWM and MG all offer a mix of hybrid, PHEV and EV models, and fledgling brands like Deepal and Xpeng are EV-only here. It isn't just Chinese-owned brands, including Volvo and Polestar, that are selling Chinese-built vehicles here. BMW, Cupra, Kia and Tesla all produce vehicles in China and export them to markets such as Australia, and they could be joined in the coming years by others such as Mazda and Nissan. It has been a meteoric rise for China, and follows the rise of Thailand, Korea and Japan in our market. There are parallels here beyond dramatic sales growth. Many of the first Korean and Japanese cars sold here were widely regarded as being flawed or ill-suited to our market, but manufacturers like Hyundai and Toyota were able to over time adapt to our market conditions and offer more suitable vehicles. Chinese brands have invested in local vehicle development testing in our market, but GWM is perhaps a standout example of tailoring vehicles to Australian conditions, having appointed Holden's former lead vehicle dynamics engineer as its local ride and handling expert. Many Chinese brands have set ambitious goals for our market. MG wants to be a top-three player in Australia by 2030, while GWM is also aiming to be in the top five by that year. Content originally sourced from: China has already overtaken Korea to become Australia's third largest supplier of new vehicles, and a new report says it'll take the top spot by 2035. The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) commissioned the Centre for International Economics (CIE) to analyse Australia's past, current and future automotive trading partners. The CIE has projected Chinese-built vehicles will account for 43 per cent of Australia's new-car market in 2035, up from 17 per cent this year. This will come at the expense of Japanese-built cars, whose share is projected to drop from 32 to 22 per cent, as well as Thai-built vehicles (11 per cent, down from 21 per cent) and Korean-built vehicles (8 per cent, down from 13 per cent). The CIE forecasts other countries of origin will account for the remaining 16 per cent of the market, down from 17 per cent in 2025. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. China already dominates the local electric vehicle (EV) market, accounting for 65 per cent of imports. But it's not just EVs powering its growth here, with exports of combustion-powered vehicles also rising. Enabling China's rise, the report says, is the Chinese government's investment and support in developing EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology and manufacturing capabilities; an ongoing drop in production costs; as well as an aversion to price increases like those imposed by brands from other countries. But the AADA warns the Australian Government is inadvertently boosting sales of Chinese cars in our market through its New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). "While overall sales from many countries are still projected to grow, China stands out and is set to benefit the most from the introduction of the NVES," the AADA says in its report. "Its strong position in EV manufacturing, supported by supply chain advantages and government backing, means vehicles produced in China are expected to gain market share at a faster rate, in contrast to the slower grow other exporting countries may observe. "This low emissions transition highlights a broader structural shift. As emission standards tighten, supply chains globalise and EV technology dominates, China is set to play an increasingly central role in Australia's automotive future and redefine our automotive landscape." The AADA says in its report that the findings are based on an assumption NVES fleet emissions reductions will continue past the legislated 2029 target. Coming into effect on January 1, 2025, with penalties being accrued from July 1, the NVES sets fleet-wide emissions targets for new-vehicle brands in Australia. If automakers exceed an average carbon emissions target for the vehicles they sell each year, they will be penalised $100 per g/km of CO2 for every vehicle which exceeds the target. For 2025, the mandate for passenger cars (Type 1) is 141g/km of CO2, with light commercial vehicles and heavy-duty SUVs (Type 2) set at 210g/km or less. These limits will get tighter every year, landing at 58 and 110g/km respectively in 2029. Chinese auto brands have been among the quickest and most aggressive in rolling out EVs and PHEVs in our market to cater to buyer demand and also meet these emissions standards. BYD only offers these powertrain types globally, while Chery, GWM and MG all offer a mix of hybrid, PHEV and EV models, and fledgling brands like Deepal and Xpeng are EV-only here. It isn't just Chinese-owned brands, including Volvo and Polestar, that are selling Chinese-built vehicles here. BMW, Cupra, Kia and Tesla all produce vehicles in China and export them to markets such as Australia, and they could be joined in the coming years by others such as Mazda and Nissan. It has been a meteoric rise for China, and follows the rise of Thailand, Korea and Japan in our market. There are parallels here beyond dramatic sales growth. Many of the first Korean and Japanese cars sold here were widely regarded as being flawed or ill-suited to our market, but manufacturers like Hyundai and Toyota were able to over time adapt to our market conditions and offer more suitable vehicles. Chinese brands have invested in local vehicle development testing in our market, but GWM is perhaps a standout example of tailoring vehicles to Australian conditions, having appointed Holden's former lead vehicle dynamics engineer as its local ride and handling expert. Many Chinese brands have set ambitious goals for our market. MG wants to be a top-three player in Australia by 2030, while GWM is also aiming to be in the top five by that year. Content originally sourced from: China has already overtaken Korea to become Australia's third largest supplier of new vehicles, and a new report says it'll take the top spot by 2035. The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) commissioned the Centre for International Economics (CIE) to analyse Australia's past, current and future automotive trading partners. The CIE has projected Chinese-built vehicles will account for 43 per cent of Australia's new-car market in 2035, up from 17 per cent this year. This will come at the expense of Japanese-built cars, whose share is projected to drop from 32 to 22 per cent, as well as Thai-built vehicles (11 per cent, down from 21 per cent) and Korean-built vehicles (8 per cent, down from 13 per cent). The CIE forecasts other countries of origin will account for the remaining 16 per cent of the market, down from 17 per cent in 2025. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. China already dominates the local electric vehicle (EV) market, accounting for 65 per cent of imports. But it's not just EVs powering its growth here, with exports of combustion-powered vehicles also rising. Enabling China's rise, the report says, is the Chinese government's investment and support in developing EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology and manufacturing capabilities; an ongoing drop in production costs; as well as an aversion to price increases like those imposed by brands from other countries. But the AADA warns the Australian Government is inadvertently boosting sales of Chinese cars in our market through its New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). "While overall sales from many countries are still projected to grow, China stands out and is set to benefit the most from the introduction of the NVES," the AADA says in its report. "Its strong position in EV manufacturing, supported by supply chain advantages and government backing, means vehicles produced in China are expected to gain market share at a faster rate, in contrast to the slower grow other exporting countries may observe. "This low emissions transition highlights a broader structural shift. As emission standards tighten, supply chains globalise and EV technology dominates, China is set to play an increasingly central role in Australia's automotive future and redefine our automotive landscape." The AADA says in its report that the findings are based on an assumption NVES fleet emissions reductions will continue past the legislated 2029 target. Coming into effect on January 1, 2025, with penalties being accrued from July 1, the NVES sets fleet-wide emissions targets for new-vehicle brands in Australia. If automakers exceed an average carbon emissions target for the vehicles they sell each year, they will be penalised $100 per g/km of CO2 for every vehicle which exceeds the target. For 2025, the mandate for passenger cars (Type 1) is 141g/km of CO2, with light commercial vehicles and heavy-duty SUVs (Type 2) set at 210g/km or less. These limits will get tighter every year, landing at 58 and 110g/km respectively in 2029. Chinese auto brands have been among the quickest and most aggressive in rolling out EVs and PHEVs in our market to cater to buyer demand and also meet these emissions standards. BYD only offers these powertrain types globally, while Chery, GWM and MG all offer a mix of hybrid, PHEV and EV models, and fledgling brands like Deepal and Xpeng are EV-only here. It isn't just Chinese-owned brands, including Volvo and Polestar, that are selling Chinese-built vehicles here. BMW, Cupra, Kia and Tesla all produce vehicles in China and export them to markets such as Australia, and they could be joined in the coming years by others such as Mazda and Nissan. It has been a meteoric rise for China, and follows the rise of Thailand, Korea and Japan in our market. There are parallels here beyond dramatic sales growth. Many of the first Korean and Japanese cars sold here were widely regarded as being flawed or ill-suited to our market, but manufacturers like Hyundai and Toyota were able to over time adapt to our market conditions and offer more suitable vehicles. Chinese brands have invested in local vehicle development testing in our market, but GWM is perhaps a standout example of tailoring vehicles to Australian conditions, having appointed Holden's former lead vehicle dynamics engineer as its local ride and handling expert. Many Chinese brands have set ambitious goals for our market. MG wants to be a top-three player in Australia by 2030, while GWM is also aiming to be in the top five by that year. Content originally sourced from: China has already overtaken Korea to become Australia's third largest supplier of new vehicles, and a new report says it'll take the top spot by 2035. The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) commissioned the Centre for International Economics (CIE) to analyse Australia's past, current and future automotive trading partners. The CIE has projected Chinese-built vehicles will account for 43 per cent of Australia's new-car market in 2035, up from 17 per cent this year. This will come at the expense of Japanese-built cars, whose share is projected to drop from 32 to 22 per cent, as well as Thai-built vehicles (11 per cent, down from 21 per cent) and Korean-built vehicles (8 per cent, down from 13 per cent). The CIE forecasts other countries of origin will account for the remaining 16 per cent of the market, down from 17 per cent in 2025. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. China already dominates the local electric vehicle (EV) market, accounting for 65 per cent of imports. But it's not just EVs powering its growth here, with exports of combustion-powered vehicles also rising. Enabling China's rise, the report says, is the Chinese government's investment and support in developing EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology and manufacturing capabilities; an ongoing drop in production costs; as well as an aversion to price increases like those imposed by brands from other countries. But the AADA warns the Australian Government is inadvertently boosting sales of Chinese cars in our market through its New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). "While overall sales from many countries are still projected to grow, China stands out and is set to benefit the most from the introduction of the NVES," the AADA says in its report. "Its strong position in EV manufacturing, supported by supply chain advantages and government backing, means vehicles produced in China are expected to gain market share at a faster rate, in contrast to the slower grow other exporting countries may observe. "This low emissions transition highlights a broader structural shift. As emission standards tighten, supply chains globalise and EV technology dominates, China is set to play an increasingly central role in Australia's automotive future and redefine our automotive landscape." The AADA says in its report that the findings are based on an assumption NVES fleet emissions reductions will continue past the legislated 2029 target. Coming into effect on January 1, 2025, with penalties being accrued from July 1, the NVES sets fleet-wide emissions targets for new-vehicle brands in Australia. If automakers exceed an average carbon emissions target for the vehicles they sell each year, they will be penalised $100 per g/km of CO2 for every vehicle which exceeds the target. For 2025, the mandate for passenger cars (Type 1) is 141g/km of CO2, with light commercial vehicles and heavy-duty SUVs (Type 2) set at 210g/km or less. These limits will get tighter every year, landing at 58 and 110g/km respectively in 2029. Chinese auto brands have been among the quickest and most aggressive in rolling out EVs and PHEVs in our market to cater to buyer demand and also meet these emissions standards. BYD only offers these powertrain types globally, while Chery, GWM and MG all offer a mix of hybrid, PHEV and EV models, and fledgling brands like Deepal and Xpeng are EV-only here. It isn't just Chinese-owned brands, including Volvo and Polestar, that are selling Chinese-built vehicles here. BMW, Cupra, Kia and Tesla all produce vehicles in China and export them to markets such as Australia, and they could be joined in the coming years by others such as Mazda and Nissan. It has been a meteoric rise for China, and follows the rise of Thailand, Korea and Japan in our market. There are parallels here beyond dramatic sales growth. Many of the first Korean and Japanese cars sold here were widely regarded as being flawed or ill-suited to our market, but manufacturers like Hyundai and Toyota were able to over time adapt to our market conditions and offer more suitable vehicles. Chinese brands have invested in local vehicle development testing in our market, but GWM is perhaps a standout example of tailoring vehicles to Australian conditions, having appointed Holden's former lead vehicle dynamics engineer as its local ride and handling expert. Many Chinese brands have set ambitious goals for our market. MG wants to be a top-three player in Australia by 2030, while GWM is also aiming to be in the top five by that year. Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
China to become top source of new cars in Australia, fuelled by emissions regs
China has already overtaken Korea to become Australia's third largest supplier of new vehicles, and a new report says it'll take the top spot by 2035. The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) commissioned the Centre for International Economics (CIE) to analyse Australia's past, current and future automotive trading partners. The CIE has projected Chinese-built vehicles will account for 43 per cent of Australia's new-car market in 2035, up from 17 per cent this year. This will come at the expense of Japanese-built cars, whose share is projected to drop from 32 to 22 per cent, as well as Thai-built vehicles (11 per cent, down from 21 per cent) and Korean-built vehicles (8 per cent, down from 13 per cent). The CIE forecasts other countries of origin will account for the remaining 16 per cent of the market, down from 17 per cent in 2025. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. China already dominates the local electric vehicle (EV) market, accounting for 65 per cent of imports. But it's not just EVs powering its growth here, with exports of combustion-powered vehicles also rising. Enabling China's rise, the report says, is the Chinese government's investment and support in developing EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology and manufacturing capabilities; an ongoing drop in production costs; as well as an aversion to price increases like those imposed by brands from other countries. But the AADA warns the Australian Government is inadvertently boosting sales of Chinese cars in our market through its New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). 'While overall sales from many countries are still projected to grow, China stands out and is set to benefit the most from the introduction of the NVES,' the AADA says in its report. 'Its strong position in EV manufacturing, supported by supply chain advantages and government backing, means vehicles produced in China are expected to gain market share at a faster rate, in contrast to the slower grow other exporting countries may observe. 'This low emissions transition highlights a broader structural shift. As emission standards tighten, supply chains globalise and EV technology dominates, China is set to play an increasingly central role in Australia's automotive future and redefine our automotive landscape.' The AADA says in its report that the findings are based on an assumption NVES fleet emissions reductions will continue past the legislated 2029 target. Coming into effect on January 1, 2025, with penalties being accrued from July 1, the NVES sets fleet-wide emissions targets for new-vehicle brands in Australia. If automakers exceed an average carbon emissions target for the vehicles they sell each year, they will be penalised $100 per g/km of CO2 for every vehicle which exceeds the target. For 2025, the mandate for passenger cars (Type 1) is 141g/km of CO2, with light commercial vehicles and heavy-duty SUVs (Type 2) set at 210g/km or less. These limits will get tighter every year, landing at 58 and 110g/km respectively in 2029. Chinese auto brands have been among the quickest and most aggressive in rolling out EVs and PHEVs in our market to cater to buyer demand and also meet these emissions standards. BYD only offers these powertrain types globally, while Chery, GWM and MG all offer a mix of hybrid, PHEV and EV models, and fledgling brands like Deepal and Xpeng are EV-only here. It isn't just Chinese-owned brands, including Volvo and Polestar, that are selling Chinese-built vehicles here. BMW, Cupra, Kia and Tesla all produce vehicles in China and export them to markets such as Australia, and they could be joined in the coming years by others such as Mazda and Nissan. It has been a meteoric rise for China, and follows the rise of Thailand, Korea and Japan in our market. There are parallels here beyond dramatic sales growth. Many of the first Korean and Japanese cars sold here were widely regarded as being flawed or ill-suited to our market, but manufacturers like Hyundai and Toyota were able to over time adapt to our market conditions and offer more suitable vehicles. Chinese brands have invested in local vehicle development testing in our market, but GWM is perhaps a standout example of tailoring vehicles to Australian conditions, having appointed Holden's former lead vehicle dynamics engineer as its local ride and handling expert.
Perth Now
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
China to become top source of new cars in Australia, fuelled by emissions regs
China has already overtaken Korea to become Australia's third largest supplier of new vehicles, and a new report says it'll take the top spot by 2035. The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) commissioned the Centre for International Economics (CIE) to analyse Australia's past, current and future automotive trading partners. The CIE has projected Chinese-built vehicles will account for 43 per cent of Australia's new-car market in 2035, up from 17 per cent this year. This will come at the expense of Japanese-built cars, whose share is projected to drop from 32 to 22 per cent, as well as Thai-built vehicles (11 per cent, down from 21 per cent) and Korean-built vehicles (8 per cent, down from 13 per cent). The CIE forecasts other countries of origin will account for the remaining 16 per cent of the market, down from 17 per cent in 2025. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert China already dominates the local electric vehicle (EV) market, accounting for 65 per cent of imports. But it's not just EVs powering its growth here, with exports of combustion-powered vehicles also rising. Enabling China's rise, the report says, is the Chinese government's investment and support in developing EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology and manufacturing capabilities; an ongoing drop in production costs; as well as an aversion to price increases like those imposed by brands from other countries. But the AADA warns the Australian Government is inadvertently boosting sales of Chinese cars in our market through its New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). 'While overall sales from many countries are still projected to grow, China stands out and is set to benefit the most from the introduction of the NVES,' the AADA says in its report. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'Its strong position in EV manufacturing, supported by supply chain advantages and government backing, means vehicles produced in China are expected to gain market share at a faster rate, in contrast to the slower grow other exporting countries may observe. 'This low emissions transition highlights a broader structural shift. As emission standards tighten, supply chains globalise and EV technology dominates, China is set to play an increasingly central role in Australia's automotive future and redefine our automotive landscape.' The AADA says in its report that the findings are based on an assumption NVES fleet emissions reductions will continue past the legislated 2029 target. Coming into effect on January 1, 2025, with penalties being accrued from July 1, the NVES sets fleet-wide emissions targets for new-vehicle brands in Australia. Supplied Credit: CarExpert If automakers exceed an average carbon emissions target for the vehicles they sell each year, they will be penalised $100 per g/km of CO2 for every vehicle which exceeds the target. For 2025, the mandate for passenger cars (Type 1) is 141g/km of CO2, with light commercial vehicles and heavy-duty SUVs (Type 2) set at 210g/km or less. These limits will get tighter every year, landing at 58 and 110g/km respectively in 2029. Chinese auto brands have been among the quickest and most aggressive in rolling out EVs and PHEVs in our market to cater to buyer demand and also meet these emissions standards. Supplied Credit: CarExpert BYD only offers these powertrain types globally, while Chery, GWM and MG all offer a mix of hybrid, PHEV and EV models, and fledgling brands like Deepal and Xpeng are EV-only here. It isn't just Chinese-owned brands, including Volvo and Polestar, that are selling Chinese-built vehicles here. BMW, Cupra, Kia and Tesla all produce vehicles in China and export them to markets such as Australia, and they could be joined in the coming years by others such as Mazda and Nissan. It has been a meteoric rise for China, and follows the rise of Thailand, Korea and Japan in our market. Supplied Credit: CarExpert There are parallels here beyond dramatic sales growth. Many of the first Korean and Japanese cars sold here were widely regarded as being flawed or ill-suited to our market, but manufacturers like Hyundai and Toyota were able to over time adapt to our market conditions and offer more suitable vehicles. Chinese brands have invested in local vehicle development testing in our market, but GWM is perhaps a standout example of tailoring vehicles to Australian conditions, having appointed Holden's former lead vehicle dynamics engineer as its local ride and handling expert. Many Chinese brands have set ambitious goals for our market. MG wants to be a top-three player in Australia by 2030, while GWM is also aiming to be in the top five by that year.
