Car News
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Updated MG IM LS9 spotted with added sensors and semi-hidden door handles
A camouflaged IM LS9 SUV was spotted testing in Shanghai with a new front-fender camera and LiDAR unit, hinting at an upgraded assisted-driving system. Its semi-hidden handles are expected to comply with Chinese safety rules due to take effect in 2027.
Lepas prices its first Australian electric SUV at $47,990
Chery’s Lepas brand has priced its L6 electric SUV at $47,990 before on-road costs in Australia. The model has a claimed 440km WLTP range from a 65kWh LFP battery, with dealer test drives expected from early November.
T&E says plug-in hybrids emit six times official CO₂ figures
A T&E report says 2024 plug-in hybrids emitted around six times their official CO₂ figures, adding up to €680 in annual fuel costs for drivers. It urges governments to retain the EU’s next utility-factor correction, due in November 2026.
Toyota Camry named 2026 Fleet Car of the Year
The Toyota Camry Ascent Sport won Fleet News Group’s 2026 Fleet Car of the Year after scoring 8.1815 out of 10 in its Best Value Analysis. The finalists were assessed by fleet buyers and professionals in Sydney.
Tesla Model Y wins Australia’s 2026 novated lease car award
The Tesla Model Y was the most popular vehicle among novated lease customers represented by NALSPA members, winning Fleet News Group’s 2026 award based on lease volumes. The BYD Sealion 7 and Zeekr 7X were also finalists; all three are battery electric SUVs.
Denza Z9 GT to bring BYD’s God’s Eye navigation system to Europe in 2027
BYD says the Denza Z9 GT will be its first car in Europe with God’s Eye City Navigation Driving Assistant, due in 2027. The Level 2 system assists with urban navigation but requires the driver to supervise and remain ready to take over.
Geely Battleship 700 plug-in hybrid SUV due in Europe in 2027
Geely says its Battleship 700 plug-in hybrid SUV will reach Europe in the second half of 2027 and Australia next year. The model features a LiDAR-equipped assisted-driving system and offers up to 305 km of CLTC electric range.
Li Auto to launch Li 6 electric crossover in Europe in 2027
Li Auto will begin deliveries of its five-seat Li 6 electric crossover in the Netherlands and Norway in Q1 2027, with further European markets to follow. The Europe-spec model was revealed at the 2026 Paris Auto Show.
Stellantis CEO calls for incentives for carmakers manufacturing in Europe
Stellantis chief Antonio Filosa urged European regulators to reward and protect carmakers that design and build vehicles in the region, backing proposed EU local-content rules as Chinese rivals gain market share.
Chery recalls 8,878 Omoda 5s in Malaysia over rear axle defect
Chery will inspect and, where necessary, replace rear axle components in 8,878 Omoda 5 vehicles after finding insufficiently strong welds. Malaysia’s Road Transport Department has suspended the model’s type approval, restricting new registrations pending investigation.
BYD Sealion 5 receives three-star ANCAP safety rating
ANCAP awarded the BYD Sealion 5 a three-star rating for variants sold in Australia and New Zealand. Testing found limitations in crash avoidance and driver monitoring, while crash protection scored highest.
Geely launches Battleship 700 after securing 10,000 orders in 12 minutes
Geely has launched the Battleship 700 plug-in hybrid SUV in China, with more than 10,000 firm orders placed in its first 12 minutes. The six versions are priced from 179,800 yuan.
Nissan NX7 PHEV due in China in Q4 with up to 225 km electric range
Nissan’s NX7 plug-in hybrid SUV is expected to launch in China in Q4 2026. Regulatory filings list a 40.95 kWh LFP battery and up to 225 km of WLTC electric range; the model will also offer urban Navigation on Autopilot.
China agrees to halve hybrid car exports to Europe
China has agreed to halve hybrid car exports to the EU, European trade commissioner Maroš Sefčovič said after talks in Beijing. The proposal still requires approval from Brussels.
Geely Auto plans Canadian market entry in 2027
Geely Auto says it will enter Canada in 2027 and is developing its retail and service network. It has not yet disclosed which models it will offer.
BYD’s Ocean MPV prototype spotted with roof-mounted LiDAR
A camouflaged prototype of BYD’s first Ocean Series MPV has been seen testing in China with roof-mounted LiDAR, suggesting a possible higher-specification driver-assistance system. BYD expects to launch the model by year-end but has not confirmed its specifications.
Cox cuts 2026 used-vehicle value forecast as wholesale prices weaken
Cox Automotive now expects its Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index to finish 2026 up about 0.2%, down from its July forecast of 2%. The index fell 0.6% year on year in September, while the EV index rose 4.3% and EVs reached a record 4.9% of Manheim’s Q3 transactions.
Hyundai confirms hybrid-only next-generation Tucson for Australia in 2027
Hyundai’s next-generation Tucson is due in Australia in mid-2027 with a hybrid-only line-up. The larger SUV adds a new hybrid system and updated digital and safety features; local pricing, specifications and safety ratings are still to come.
Xiaomi reports 70,000 firm orders for Skynomad series in first month
Xiaomi says its Skynomad vehicle series received more than 70,000 firm orders from 7 September to 7 October, with over 10,000 deliveries in September. The company is targeting 550,000 vehicle sales this year.
Maextro V800 brake pedal failures prompt safety scrutiny in China
Dongchedi reports that brake pedal brackets fractured in emergency braking tests on three low-mileage Huawei-JAC Maextro V800s. With foot braking lost, stopping distance rose from about 38m to 140m; the companies have not issued a formal response.
France and Germany reportedly agree to seek weaker EU car emissions targets
France and Germany have reportedly agreed to seek a further easing of EU car emissions rules, including a lower 2035 target and more time to meet the 2030 goal. Their proposed changes go beyond the European Commission’s existing plan.
Chery Omoda 5 loses rear axle in Malaysia incident
A Chery Omoda 5’s rear suspension assembly and both wheels detached in Johor Bahru on 6 October. The cause and whether the vehicle was covered by Malaysia’s 2024 inspection campaign remain unconfirmed; no injuries were reported.
Chery plans to reposition Jetour as a high-end off-road brand
Chery’s Globalization 3.0 strategy will move Jetour upmarket with a focus on off-road vehicles, while integrating the core Chery brand further into global operations. Li Xueyong will oversee the Jetour Brand Division.
US used-car prices fall in Q3 as demand for fuel-efficient vehicles grows
Cox Automotive cut its forecast for the Manheim used-vehicle price index to a 0.2% rise for the year after a 1.95% decline in Q3. Values for EVs and smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles increased, while large trucks and SUVs weakened.
Electric vehicles gain share in September registrations across Europe
September figures show record EV market shares in Norway and Denmark, with electric vehicles accounting for at least half of new passenger-car registrations in several European markets. The UK also recorded a monthly high, while Italy remained among the slowest adopters.
Record share of US new-car buyers take loans of at least 84 months
Edmunds reports that 25.5% of financed new-vehicle purchases in the US third quarter used loans of 84 months or longer, while average monthly payments reached a record $787.
Changan Deepal S07 PHEV makes European debut in Greece
Changan unveiled the Deepal S07 Ultra PHEV at Auto Athina 2026 in Greece. The crossover offers an electric range of up to 100 km and starts at €36,000, with a higher trim priced at €39,000.
GM confirms plans to add hybrid models to its US line-up
GM propulsion engineering chief Mike Anderson says hybrid models are part of the automaker’s US plans, but gives no timing or product details. The move comes as hybrid sales rise and demand for all-electric vehicles softens.
T&E report links EU targets to growth in affordable electric cars
T&E says nearly 40 electric models launched in the first half of 2026, with sales of models priced below €25,000 set to rise sevenfold from 2024. EU battery-electric car sales reached 1.64 million from January to August, up 45% year on year; the group warns against weakening future targets.
T&E says EU CO₂ targets are driving record EV sales and affordable models
Transport & Environment reports 1.64 million BEVs were sold in the EU from January to August 2026, up 45% year on year. It says weakening the EU’s car CO₂ targets could slow EV sales, reduce affordable-model availability and undermine European manufacturers’ competitiveness.
Ford reveals Australia-exclusive Mustang Dark Horse T8-Spec Pack
Ford’s T8-Spec Pack for the Mustang Dark Horse adds track-focused tyres, wider wheels and locally tuned suspension. Developed with Triple Eight Race Engineering, the Australian-exclusive package is due to reach customers in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Tesla reports 486,532 vehicle deliveries in third quarter
Tesla delivered 486,532 vehicles in the third quarter, up from the previous quarter but about 2% below a year earlier. Model 3 and Model Y vehicles accounted for 98% of deliveries; the total exceeded analyst expectations.
Chinese brands to preview seven new models at Paris Motor Show
Twenty Chinese brands are expected at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, with at least seven new models due to debut. The preview includes electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, alongside models intended for European markets.
Singapore importer jailed over duty, GST and vehicle tax evasion
A Singapore court sentenced Karkaunsl Leasing’s director to more than five years in prison after he under-declared values on imported vehicles, evading more than $1.2m in duty and GST and causing an almost $9.93m shortfall in vehicle registration fees.
BMW confirms Australian pricing for electric i3 saloon
BMW says its electric i3 saloon will reach Australian dealerships in the first quarter of next year, priced from A$96,900. The i3 40 and i3 50 xDrive offer claimed WLTP ranges of up to 710km and 912km respectively.
BYD forecasts monthly sales of up to 15,000 Formula S models
BYD says combined monthly sales of its Fang Cheng Bao Formula S liftback and Formula S GT could reach 15,000 in China, after the electric cars launched in September and began deliveries on 28 September.
Seres and CATL-backed Aiva unveils production ME7 in Paris
Aiva, the Seres- and CATL-backed brand, unveiled its first production model, the ME7 crossover, during Paris Fashion Week. Production will use Seres’ Phoenix Factory as the brand moves from concept to mass production.
Chery launches Jetour G700 plug-in hybrid with Huawei ADS 5.0
Chery has launched the Jetour G700 in China, priced from 329,900 yuan. The plug-in hybrid SUV features Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 5.0 driving system, with battery options offering claimed CLTC electric ranges of 150 km or 260 km.
BYD reveals second-generation Seal 07 in plug-in hybrid and electric versions
BYD has released official images of the larger second-generation Seal 07, which will be offered as a plug-in hybrid and a battery-electric sedan. The BEV is rated for up to 718 km of WLTP range; the PHEV has a 245 km WLTC electric range.
Chery confirms V27 Long-Range Edition with 51.2 kWh battery
Chery’s iCaur V27 Long-Range Edition launches in China on 30 September with a 51.2 kWh CATL LFP battery, raising its claimed electric range to 300 km on the CLTC cycle. The range-extended SUV also gains faster charging and increased vehicle-to-load output.
Nissan details new Patrol’s increased cargo and towing capacity
The next-generation Nissan Patrol will offer up to 2,749 litres of cargo space and 3,700kg braked towing capacity. Trailer assistance features will be available, with the model due in Australia in the first quarter of 2027.
Qantas trials Maybach transfers between Sydney Airport terminals
Qantas, Mercedes-Benz and Sydney Airport are trialling chauffeured Mercedes-Maybach transfers between the airport’s international and domestic terminals for invited First Class passengers. The September-to-November initiative will gather customer feedback.
AVATR plans Australian launch of its first electric SUV in 2027
Chinese luxury EV brand AVATR plans to enter Australia in early 2027 with the S07L SUV. Pre-orders are expected by the end of 2026; the model features 800V architecture and CATL batteries.
Xiaomi designer explains the Skynomad N70 and N90’s design
Xiaomi Auto design chief Tianyuan Li discusses the Skynomad crossovers’ restrained styling, the N90’s 0.255 drag coefficient and features including rotating front seats. He says the design balances automotive principles with technology that assists users without demanding attention.
Rising Treasury yields may push up US car-loan rates
Rising US Treasury yields are expected to increase car-financing costs. New-vehicle loan rates rose about 20 basis points and used-car rates 10 basis points over two months, although average rates in Q2 2026 were lower than a year earlier.
Study finds high-mileage electric cars fail less often than petrol cars
Analysis of 47.4 million MOT tests across Great Britain found electric cars’ failure rates level off as mileage rises, while petrol and diesel rates continue to climb. At 15 years old, electric cars also had less than half the road exit rate of petrol cars.
US auto groups urge Trump to keep Chinese automakers out
US auto trade groups and lawmakers are urging President Trump to maintain restrictions on Chinese automakers, as bipartisan bills advance in Congress. The issue is in focus ahead of Trump’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping.
Nissan reveals 2027 Rogue Hybrid with e-POWER and standard AWD
Nissan has revealed the 2027 Rogue Hybrid for the US, bringing its e-POWER system to the SUV. The petrol engine generates electricity while electric motors propel the vehicle. AWD will be standard, with the first trim due in autumn 2026 and the full range following in early 2027.
Changan Nevo Q06 EV crossover goes on sale in China
Changan has launched sales of its Nevo Q06 crossover in China ahead of a global rollout. The BEV and EREV model features LiDAR-enabled driver assistance, multiple electric powertrains and LFP batteries, with prices starting at 139,900 yuan.