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JAC Motors Australia announces warranty loan vehicle program | Autotalk Australia
JAC Motors Australia has partnered with Carbiz Replacement Cars to create a warranty loan vehicle program for its JAC All Roads Assurance (JARA) package. Carbiz will manage the program to provide a JAC T9 Ute loan vehicle to approved owners during warranty repairs, paid for by JAC Motor Australia. "While JAC may be a new
CMV Group expanding PACCAR operations in Victoria | Autotalk Australia
Commercial Motor Vehicles Pty Ltd (CMV Group) has expanded its Victorian Hallam Truck Centre Kenworth and DAF (PACCAR) operations, acquiring Somerton and Ballarat as sales territories. The group will acquire the existing TRP Ballarat and TRP Somerton parts outlets on January 1, 2025, and it will build a new Kenworth and DAF Truck dealership at
Bridgestone wins Gold award for car servicing | Autotalk Australia
Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto has won Gold in Reader’s Digest’s Quality Service Award for Independent Car Servicing and Silver in the Tyre Retailer category. Australia’s Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto network has 200 outlets nationwide. The Reader's Digest Quality Service Awards celebrate businesses that consistently go above and beyond to provide outstanding customer service,
Zeekr Australia announces first tranche of dealer partners | Autotalk Australia
Australia’s most recent new Chinese EV entrant, Zeekr, has confirmed its first four dealer partners representing the brand in Perth, WA, Canberra, ACT, Paramatta, NSW and Doncaster, VIC. “Our dealer network is currently being established, focusing on partnering with the right teams across Australia to deliver the quality, innovation and service that define the Zeekr
Geely Auto appoints Giltrap Group as its official distributor in New Zealand | Autotalk Australia
The New Zealand importer for Lotus, Polestar, and Volvo Cars, the Giltrap Group, has now been appointed as the official distributor for Geely Auto. The Giltrap Group announcement follows a plethora of recent activity across the Tasman Sea in this space. Rick Armstong's Auto Distributors NZ Limited has become the official distributor for Leapmotor, while
New Zealand Car of the Year 2024 finalists announced | Autotalk Australia
The New Zealand Motoring Writer's Guild has announced the finalists for the country's only independent national automotive award. Eleven cars representing ten manufacturers have been selected as finalists for the 2024 edition of the prestigious New Zealand Car of the Year award. The selection embraces variety, spanning small cars, luxury cars, SUVs, fully electric, hybrid,
Toyota Australia confirms pricing for RHD Tundra Limited pick-up truck | Autotalk Australia
Following a six-year planning and development program with the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, Toyota Australia has officially launched the right-hand drive Tundra Limited pickup for local sale priced from $155,990. Local Tundra production will take place at the Walkinshaw production facility in Melbourne. Toyota Australia spokesman Sean Hanley says the development work, combined with the 12-month
Nissan ANZ earns 2024 ‘Great Place To Work’ certification | Autotalk Australia
Nissan Australia and New Zealand have earned the 2024 'Great Place to Work' certification. The employee-driven accolade recognises Nissan Motor Company Australia and New Zealand, Nissan Financial Services Australia and New Zealand and the Nissan Casting Australia Plant for delivering a rewarding and high-trust culture for its employees. This prestigious award is entirely employee-led and
Chevrolet Racing claims triple Supercars championship crowns | Autotalk Australia
General Motors Australia and New Zealand have enjoyed another successful motorsport season in 2024 with a raft of victories in the Supercars championship for Chevrolet Racing. The Chevrolet marque collectively claimed the Manufacturers’, Drivers’ and Teams’ championships. Chevrolet Racing General Manager Chris Payne has praised all Chevrolet teams competing in this year’s Supercars championship, with
FBT exemption boosting regional EV uptake | Autotalk Australia
Fringe benefit tax (FBT) exemption has been boosting EV uptake among everyday Australians living in outer suburbs and regional centres, allowing them to afford EVs they would not have bought otherwise. So says the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA), adding the latest novated lease postcode data shows the strongest uptake of battery
Custom Fleet’s recommendations to accelerate fleet decarbonisation for Australia and New Zealand businesses | Autotalk Australia
EV adoption in Australia and New Zealand is increasing, so Custom Fleet Australia and New Zealand, part of Element Group globally, reveals its top recommendations to support organisations and fleet decisionmakers to decarbonise their fleet as part of its 2024 Accelerating Fleet Decarbonisation Regional Spotlight on Australia and New Zealand. This follows the release of
Karmo acquires Motopool and $138m debt facility | Autotalk Australia
Australian car subscription platform Karmo has secured a $138 million debt facility from the finance arms of Volkswagen and Toyota and has acquired rival Motopool. Karmo says the Motopool acquisition has propelled it to be the top Australian car subscription business, while the financial backing will allow it to deepen its influence within an industry
Used car supply continues to outpace demand in October 2024 | Autotalk Australia
The October edition of the Automotive Insight Report (AIR) showed that used car sales dropped by 3.2% to 202,355, compared to last month. Meanwhile, used car listings have grown by 1% to 317,861, indicating a buyers’ market as used car supply continues to outpace demand. “The average days to sell has increased from 46.4 days
Ferrari Concorso d’Eleganza Sydney postponed until 2025 | Autotalk Australia
Due to overwhelming new interest from owners of significant Ferrari vehicles seeking to enter the Concorso D’Eleganza Sydney, the event, which was to be held in late November, has now been postponed until the first half of 2025. Ferrari Australasia says including these significant vehicles is essential for the event. However, it says this has
Electric boat nearly ready for Australia | Autotalk Australia
Australia’s first electric boat the Genevo E8 should being construction early next year. The Australian-designed electric motor yacht Genevo E8 is going into the Equity Crowd Funding phase. “The design is finalised, material selection and supply agreements are in place, and we are ready to start building in early 2025,” says co-founder and director Damon
BYD likely to expand in Australia after Trump’s US win | Autotalk Australia
BYD is expected to expand its offerings and dealerships in Australia as US president-elect Donald Trump aims to block Chinese brands selling cars to Americans. US president Joe Biden has quadrupled tariffs on Chinese-made EVs to 100% while Trump indicates he could increase these to 200%. So says The Sydney Morning Herald, adding Trump’s move
$2.55m earnout from Chapel Corner Tyres | Autotalk Australia
Australian automotive aftermarket firm RPM Automotive Group says its Chapel Corner Tyres $2.55 million earnout payment to vendors will be paid half in cash and half in equity. It says the earnout is about $0.9 million above expectations due to a stronger than anticipated performance of the underlying business. The acquisition has “enhanced RPM’s Wholesale
Domino’s green lights new pizza delivery e-scooter | Autotalk Australia
ADomino Pizza Enterprises (Dominos) has announced a new pizza delivery vehicle with partner Benzina Zero after successfully trialling its V-50 seated e-scooter within several stores. Adding the Benzina Zero V-50 to the fleet will further enhance Domino’s goal to be the most sustainable food delivery business from its 3700 stores across 12 markets. The V-50
BYD signs five-year partnership deal with the Sydney Roosters | Autotalk Australia
BYD has signed a five-year alliance with the Sydney Roosters as the club’s new major partner. The BYD brand logo will feature prominently on the front of the home and away playing jerseys of the Roosters’ NRL and NRLW teams. “We are excited to embark on this journey with BYD as our new major partner,”
MG Motor Australia launches ZS Hybrid+ | Autotalk Australia
Australia’s most popular compact SUV, the MG ZS, has been renewed with the addition of the Hybrid+ technology first seen on the MG3 light hatchback. MG Motor Australia says the new ZS Hybrid+ brings a range of upgrades that Australian motorists will love. Deliveries of the new model will begin immediately through the national dealership
CarExpert predicts an ongoing buyers market in 2025 | Autotalk Australia
Online marketplace CarExpert.com.au believes the current buyers’ market will continue in 2025 as intenders expand their consideration sets to include more cars. It reports that most new car intenders (57%) consider three or more vehicles—up 12% from last year—and buyers spend between three and four months researching their purchase decision. Receptiveness to Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Subaru technician scores back-to-back victory for Australia | Autotalk Australia
Eblen Subaru Glenelg technician James Daly has won the 2024 Subaru World Technician Competition. Daly’s achievement marks the second consecutive year that Australia has claimed the top spot in this esteemed global competition. Last year, Richard Fergusson—also from Eblen Subaru—won the gold medal, making this an outstanding double win for the Eblen team. Held in
QLD apprentices enjoy a Supercars experience at the Gold Coast 500 | Autotalk Australia
MTA Queensland has partnered with Gates Australia to create new experiences for talented apprentices in the automotive industry. A group of MTA Institute students recently enjoyed a day in the Penrite Racing Suite at the Gold Coast 500, immersing themselves in the world of motorsport. The students were treated to an insider's view of the
Industry body welcomes $400M commitment to Right to Repair | Autotalk Australia
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) welcomes Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers's announcement of a $400 million commitment to advance the Right to Repair (R2R) across industries. Building on the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Law of 2021, Australia’s automotive R2R legislation, this new commitment marks a step in creating a competitive and consumer-friendly
GMSV dealers accepting orders for 2025 GMC Yukon Denali | Autotalk Australia
GMSV dealers in Australia are now accepting orders for the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali SUV, which starts at $169,990. Deliveries to Australian customers will begin in the second quarter of 2025. The Yukon Denali's arrival marks the GMC brand's official arrival in the Australian and New Zealand markets. Classified as an upper-large SUV, the GMC
Research reveals what consumers value in their car-buying journey | Autotalk Australia
Cox Automotive Australia (CAA) recently hosted a masterclass, where head of product Gillian Allen and lead product manager Callum Coe presented CAA’s new automotive website platform, Radius. The session provided an in-depth look at the extensive research and connected features that make Radius a competitive website platform option for automotive dealers in Australia. Research and
More government funding to electrify Australia’s heavy transport fleet | Autotalk Australia
The Albanese Government is providing a $36 million funding boost to the Driving the Nation program, bringing available funding for heavy EV uptake in the logistics and delivery sectors to $100 million. Transport accounts for one-fifth of Australia's emissions, with heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses responsible for a quarter of these transport emission,
Zeekr 009 MPV pre-orders open in Australia | Autotalk Australia
Zeekr’s luxury electric MPV, the Zeekr 009, is available for pre-order in Australia, with pricing from $135,900 for the seven-seat (two plus two plus three) all-wheel drive (AWD) and $139,900 for the six-seat (two plus two plus two) AWD model. Features include Nappa leather seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, plus a “lounge chair”
Australia to allow V2G use by year’s end | Autotalk Australia
Australia will allow vehicle to grid (V2G) installations by the end of this year. So says climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen, telling the Sydney International EV AutoShow, attended by more than 30,000 visitors, exhibitors and speakers on November 8-10, that agreement on new standards will allow EVs to use V2G by the end
The November issue of AutoTalk Australia is ready to download | Autotalk Australia
Hello there, In this issue, new market entrants Leapmotor and Deepal have announced their initial Australian dealer networks. Penske Automotive Australia has acquired its third Porsche dealership in Melbourne. Transall Motors has been appointed Isuzu Australia’s latest authorised parts and service outlet. Cumulative new vehicle sales passed the one million mark in October 2024, creating
EV sales continue climb in Australia | Autotalk Australia
Electric vehicle (EV) sales have continued to climb during the past year despite ongoing cost-of-living challenges, says the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC). The Australian Automobile Association’s EV Index quarterly update shows more than 85,000 battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales in the first three quarters of this year - up 17.7%
Stellantis and Novonix battery graphite deal | Autotalk Australia
Up to 115,000 tonnes of synthetic graphite material from 2026-2031 will be supplied to Stellantis’ cell manufacturing partners in North America under an agreement with Brisbane-headquartered battery materials and technology company Novonix. The material will come from Novonix’s Riverside facility in Chattanooga, Tennesee, and a planned expansion site. Stellantis plans to invest more than 50
Hybrid vehicle sales continue strong growth – AAA EV Index | Autotalk Australia
The Australian Automobile Association’s (AAA) quarterly EV Index shows internal combustion engines’ (ICE) share of the Australian market continues to decline with more buyers opting for hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales also declined, reaching their lowest market share since 2022, says the AAA EV Index online data dashboard
Transall Motors appointed Isuzu Trucks authorised service and parts outlet | Autotalk Australia
Isuzu Trucks has bolstered its Authorised Service and Parts Outlets (ASPOs) network, expanding its footprint to 81 locations nationwide. One of Isuzu’s new ASPOs is Transall Motors in Morwell. This experienced heavy vehicle workshop offers complete Isuzu parts and services. Established in 1983, Transall Motors is owned and operated by the Daly family, with a history of supporting
Volkswagen Group Australia announces new senior leadership appointments | Autotalk Australia
Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) managing director Karsten Seifert has announced new appointments in senior management at the European importer. There are new directors for Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles, Skoda and Finance/IT. “These three new appointees arrive as VGA undergoes transformation, and our whole team implements an aligned strategy for our five brands, one that is integrated
Leapmotor confirms initial Australian dealership network | Autotalk Australia
Leapmotor Australia has announced its initial dealer network, serving customers in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Canberra. Unsurprisingly, the network leverages the experience of Jeep, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat dealers, ensuring access to Leapmotor’s products and services and providing customer support and convenience. The launch of the dealer network reinforces Leapmotor and Stellantis' joint
Peugeot Australia offers exclusive E-308 evaluation experience | Autotalk Australia
The Peugeot brand is committed to bringing a quality range of 100% electric vehicles to the Australian market. Peugeot Australia has launched an exclusive customer evaluation program to ensure its local electric vehicle range aligns with the unique requirements of the local market. As part of the Peugeot Preview Program, 14 Peugeot E-308 vehicles are
Australia passes one million new vehicle sales in October 2024 | Autotalk Australia
Australia recorded 98,375 new vehicle sales in October 2024, surpassing one million for the year. However, it also showed that growth has eased in the last quarter. The October result is 7.9% down from last year's month and continues the market's easing during the second half of 2024. However, it is the second-best October result
WA Minister for Small Business officially launches Capricorn Confidence Index | Autotalk Australia
The Capricorn Society recently hosted an industry gathering to launch the Capricorn Confidence Index. The event began with insights from David Fraser and Bradley Gannon, who discussed Capricorn members' vital role in shaping the automotive sector’s future. According to the society, the Capricorn Confidence Index is Australia’s first and most accurate measure of business owner confidence in the
Jaecoo J7 for Australia | Autotalk Australia
Jaecoo launches in Australia early 2025 with its first model the J7 mid-sized SUV. The Jaecoo J7 has as many as seven drive modes and seats five adults in a cabin that also features a large vertically positioned touchscreen. It includes cutting-edge design and the latest technologies, says Jaecoo. The new J7 perfectly embodies the