• US recall prompts ‘Customer Service Exercise’ for Toyota Tundra in Australia

    February 2, 2026

    Toyota Australia is undertaking what it’s calling a ‘Customer Service Exercise’ for the Tundra – its answer to the Ram 1500, Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado – to correct a potentially defective panoramic view camera in 1210 examples of the full-size pickup. The rectifaction action impacts both versions of the Tundra sold locally – the Limited and Platinum – and relates to the same issue that saw 162,000 Tundras recalled in the US last week. Toyota says affected vehicles are still able to be driven, as the potential fault is not considered a safety issue and is therefore not subject…

  • 2026 GWM Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV priced, significantly undercuts Denza B5

    February 2, 2026

    GWM will become one of just two auto brands to offer petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of the same model when it launches the first PHEV versions of its large off-road SUV from next month. The GWM Tank 300 Hi4-T will arrive in Australian showrooms in March in flagship Ultra trim, with the entry-level Lux following early in April. The Lux is priced at $55,990 drive-away, while the Ultra is priced at $59,990 drive-away. GWM says these are “limited-time special launch offer” prices, though doesn’t confirm when they end. That means the Lux PHEV is priced $7000…

  • 2026 KGM Actyon Hybrid price and specs: Ex-SsangYong coupe SUV gets hybrid option

    February 2, 2026

    KGM Australia is continuing to expand its electrified model lineup, with the 2027 KGM Actyon Hybrid now reaching local dealerships. It joins the regular petrol-powered Actyon crossover SUV, launched here last year, which is a sleeker, more coupe-like sibling to the Torres mid-size SUV. KGM is offering special launch pricing for a “limited” (though unspecified) time, with $2000 slashed off the regular drive-away price. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. That sees the Actyon Hybrid range open at $48,000 drive-away for the K50, rising to $51,000 drive-away for the K60.…

  • Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, Prado prices increased

    February 2, 2026

    Toyota Australia has increased prices across the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Toyota LandCruiser Prado ranges by up to $1000. The increase means the Prado GX is now priced from $73,200 before on-road costs, while the LandCruiser 300 Series now starts from $99,340 before on-roads. No specification changes have been made to the two SUV lineups. The price rise doesn’t impact the LandCruiser 70 Series, which is currently under a stop-sale in GXL wagon guise following an eight-month production pause from September 2025 as Toyota updates the vehicle to meet stricter Euro 6 emissions standards. While Ford Australia pointed to…

  • Tesla superfan launches GoFundMe to fix Model 3 battery after failure at 417,000km

    February 2, 2026

    One of the administrators of Australia’s largest Tesla owners group on Facebook has launched a GoFundMe after his Model 3 broke down with over 417,000km on the odometer. On Friday, January 30, Nathan Merritt’s high-mileage 2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range+ shut down completely while charging in Brisbane. Not able to get access to his vehicle, he called Tesla Roadside which was on the scene within around 45 minutes and replaced the low-voltage battery, only to discover issues with the high-voltage pack. The vehicle consequently had to be towed away for repairs. “During all my posts several community members suggested…

  • BYD sales fall for fifth consecutive month as global volumes slide

    February 2, 2026

    Sales for China’s biggest automaker, BYD, have fallen for the fifth month in a row, and the company has also lowered its previously stated export target for the year after missing its 2025 goal by around one million cars. According to Reuters, a stock exchange filing from BYD – a top-10 best-selling brand in Australia last year – showed it sold 210,051 cars worldwide in January 2026, a decline of 30.1 per cent compared with January 2025. Exports accounted for just under half of that total, at 100,482 vehicles, while BYD produced 29.1 per cent fewer cars year-on-year, extending a…

  • IM LS9 Hyper: High-tech Chinese luxury SUV on the cards for Australia

    February 2, 2026

    The 2026 IM LS9 Hyper extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) has been unveiled in China as a technological leader for the IM Motors premium brand – and it could arrive in Australia in the near future. Packing a tri-motor EREV powertrain, the Hyper is the most powerful and high-tech version yet of the LS9, the flagship of the IM Motors brand backed by SAIC Motor which also owns MG and LDV. The LS9 Hyper debuts a fully electronically controlled four-wheel steering system, which uses electronic actuators rather than mechanical components to steer all four wheels. Per Chinese media, IM Motors is…

  • Kia Picanto safe for “many years” in Australia

    February 1, 2026

    Kia Australia says the pint-sized Picanto city car isn’t going anywhere, with the brand’s local product boss committing to the budget hatchback for years to come. Speaking with CarExpert, general manager for product planning at Kia Australia, Roland Rivero, said the local arm won’t follow its New Zealand colleagues in ditching the brand’s smallest model, reiterating its vital role in the Australian lineup. “Picanto will be with us for many years yet. That’s as much as I can say,” Mr Rivero said. “We love Picanto. It’s great for our brand, it’s a great entry point into Kia here in Australia.”…

  • Australia-bound Geely EX2 was China’s best-selling car in 2025

    February 1, 2026

    The Geely EX2 electric vehicle (EV) – which is due for Australian release in the second half of this year – was officially China’s best-selling new vehicle in 2025, with 465,775 customer deliveries recorded in its first full calendar year on sale in its domestic market. The compact, rear-wheel drive electric hatch is similar in size to the BYD Dolphin and MG 4, and has been confirmed for Australian launch between July and December 2026. The EX2 will join the electric EX5 and plug-in hybrid Starray EM-I mid-size SUVs already offered here by Geely, with all three models based on…

  • Toyota claims global sales crown in 2025, stretching lead over Volkswagen

    February 1, 2026

    Is the pope Catholic? Does the sun fuse hydrogen? Did Toyota sell the most cars last year? The answer to those three questions is: yes, for a little while longer, and most definitely. For the sixth year running, Toyota is the world’s number one automaker, and the Toyota brand continues to be the most popular new car brand by several parsecs. Across its three car brands (Toyota, Lexus and Daihatsu) the Nagoya-based automaker sold 11,212,092 across the world last year. That’s an increase of 4.8 per cent over 2024, or an extra 516,168 vehicles. Factor in volume from the truck-only…