GWM Australia has announced Andrew Gao, a 15-year veteran of the automaker, as its new managing director from February 1, 2026. Mr Gao joined GWM in 2011, relocating to Australia in 2014 and serving in senior leadership roles across sales, network development and product functions. He’ll replace Charles Zhao who, after more than five years in the role, will move to a position with GWM’s European operations, having overseen significant sales growth in Australia that saw GWM become both a top-ten brand and the best-selling Chinese automaker locally. In a record sales year, GWM – which in Australia includes Haval…

Regulators in China are clamping down on manufacturers launching new cars before they’re ready, citing long-term safety and quality concerns. According to business news outlet Caixin, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has updated standards for the certification of brand-new models, with fears consumers were unknowingly being used as guinea pigs. It’s alleged automakers rushed cars to market before they were ready, dramatically reducing the research and development (R&D) period in order to gain an upper hand over competitors. Coming into effect in January 2027, the new regulations will require all petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles to pass…

The Polestar 2 electric liftback has received a light refresh for 2026, bringing minor tech upgrades, a new battery, and slightly more driving range at the bottom of the lineup. The base Polestar 2 ‘Standard range Single motor’ now features a slightly larger nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery sourced from Chinese manufacturer CATL, replacing an NMC unit from LG Chem. While driving range has increased by only 8km, fast charging speed has been increased from 135kW to 180kW. All variants now feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, which is said to reduce loading times and improve input response times from…

Omoda Jaecoo Australia is recalling its debut model in Australia, the Jaecoo J7, as it could lose power suddenly. The recall affects only Jaecoo J7 crossover SUVs equipped with the turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, with the plug-in hybrid SHS unaffected. “Due to a manufacturing defect, the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) wiring harness may chafe against the engine mounting bracket and become damaged,” the company says in its recall notice. “As a result, this could lead to a sudden loss of motive power and/or engine shutdown without warning. “A sudden loss of motive power and/or engine shut down whilst driving…

The Polestar 2 was the first model launched in Australia by the Swedish electric vehicle (EV) brand, and the battery-powered liftback has just received yet another update to keep it fresh in first-generation form. Launched globally in 2020 before making its Australian debut in 2021, the Polestar 2 is largely unchanged five years later – at least on the surface. There have been slight cosmetic tweaks here and there, but the most significant change to date has been the switch from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive for single-motor variants. It’s still a niche vehicle here, and while Polestar recorded 38.5…

BMW has pared back the power of the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine found in the latest M5 performance sedan and wagon, as well as the XM SUV, in order to meet incoming emissions laws in Europe. The German automaker said the latest Euro 7 emissions regulations, due to come into effect in Europe in November 2026, will see the M5’s V8 drop from 430kW to 400kW – with the hybrid system making up the shortfall to keep total system output unchanged at 535kW. The changes stem from the introduction of the Miller Cycle internal combustion process, which the automaker…

The heavily upgraded Mercedes-Benz S-Class has made its world debut, five years after the German automaker’s current W223-series flagship sedan debuted in 2020. Mercedes-Benz says the 2026 S-Class represents the most comprehensive mid-cycle update in the model’s history, with more than 50 per cent of the extra-large luxury limousine (around 2700 components) being newly developed, updated or refined to better compete with rivals including the BMW 7 Series and Porsche Panamera. Key highlights of the latest S-Class, which arrives in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year, include an optionally illuminated three-pointed star emblem on the bonnet, a 20…