The former boss of Porsche has gone on the record to admit the company was wrong to only offer the second-generation Macan only as an electric model. Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume, formerly Porsche’s global chief, told a German newspaper it was a mistake to drop petrol engines from the new Macan lineup – but said its research suggested it was the right move at that point. “Our strategy was to offer combustion engines, hybrids, and electric sports cars in each of our three segments – but not for every product,” Mr Blume told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. “We were wrong…

Australia’s new-vehicle market grew only modestly in 2025, and numerous auto brands posted significant declines. However, there were some brands that enjoyed strong sales growth last year and, perhaps surprisingly, not all of them were Chinese. For this article, we’ve looked at the brands with the largest percentage increase in sales. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. We’ve excluded exotic brands like Rolls-Royce (up 24.1 per cent year over year) and Aston Martin (up 20.1 per cent), as given their low sales volumes they’re more susceptible to significant percentage differences.…

The Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups have been recalled as key safety features may not work. “Due to a manufacturing defect, the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) module may disable the Electronic Stability Control (ESC). If this occurs, the ESC may fail without warning resulting in a loss of vehicle control,” reads the recall notice from American Special Vehicles, a partnership between importer Ateco Automotive and the Walkinshaw Group which remanufactures Ram vehicles in right-hand drive. “This may also result in the seatbelt pre-tensioners and airbags not performing as intended in the event of an accident. “A loss of vehicle control…

New drive-away deals for the popular Hyundai Kona lineup are headlined by discounts of more than $13,000 for all-electric versions of the small SUV. For the first quarter of 2026, Hyundai Australia is offering national drive-away pricing across entry-level versions of the Kona and Kona Hybrid (HEV), as well as more substantial discounts across the Kona Electric range. The Kona Electric Standard Range now starts from $45,990 drive-away, representing a massive $13,157 saving based on a NSW postcode. With the Kona HEV now starting from $39,990 drive-away, the gap between hybrid and EV power has shrunk to just $6000. After…

Hyundai Australia is advertising a new drive-away pricing offer for the pint-sized Inster electric vehicle (EV), with the base Standard Range receiving discounts of over $7000. This nationwide offer sees the Inster Standard Range priced from $35,990 drive-away, representing a saving of $7288 based on a NSW postcode. For reference, the MY26 Hyundai Inster Standard Range normally starts from $39,000 before on-road costs. While not explicitly stated by the Korean manufacturer, this significant price cut is no doubt in response to increasing competition from Chinese competition, with the BYD Atto 1 able to be bought from as little as $26,500…

The number of car companies operating in Australia with year-on-year sales declines has gone up by 12.5 per cent. Two-thirds of all local auto brands have now reported a sales decline in 2025 compared with 2024, according to data provided by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council. While 59 per cent of all brands that participate in the reporting saw negative overall sales in the 2024 calendar year, that number has now increased to more than 66 per cent in 2025. As reported earlier this week, new vehicle sales in Australia essentially flatlined in…