Value-hungry Aussies will benefit from even more auto brands, says BYD
'Australia has the most brands available in any market, but I think what we're seeing is a shift in understanding as well,' BYD Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kate Hornstein told CarExpert.
'The walls are coming down to new brands. I think brand loyalty is somewhat disappearing, and I think Australians are very driven, especially in today's climate, by value and what their own personal family needs.
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'By being able to give them choice and more options, it's only going to be better for the customer.'
BYD launched in Australia in 2022 and has since announced it will bring its Denza luxury brand – which will play a similar role for BYD as Lexus does for Toyota – to showrooms before the end of 2025.
While it hasn't announced any others, BYD also has its Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands in China, and models from each are on the cards for Australia – although they will likely be sold as BYD or Denza models.
Other Chinese automakers have also brought several brands to Australia, including Chery which recently launched its Omoda Jaecoo brand and potentially has more to come.
The first Geely -badged model – the EX5 mid-size electric SUV – went on sale here in March 2025, adding to other Geely owned or controlled brand already present locally including Volvo, Polestar, Smart and Zeekr.
While many more are coming here, Australia currently has about 70 auto brands, despite the exit of several in relatively recent years including Holden, Daewoo, Daihatsu, Dodge, Chrysler, Citroen, Opel and Alpine, which will make a comeback in 2026 with the Alpine A390 hatch.
In the space of less than five years, Australia will have added about a dozen new Chinese brands, providing more choice for consumers than ever, but also forcing each automaker to fight over a relatively small sales pie – 1.2 million total sales across all brands in 2024.
That compares to roughly 30 million new vehicle sales annually in China, 16 million in the US, 2.8 million in Germany and 1.95 million in the UK.
Chinese automaker MG became a top-10 selling brand for the first time Down Under in July 2021. It's now firmly entrenched here and will launch its IM Motors premium electric brand here later this year.
IM Motors is to MG what Denza is to BYD, which previously stated plans to eclipse local market leader Toyota by 2027. Ms Hornstein says Denza will be another alternative to luxury marques primarily from Germany.
'When we look at Denza, the [luxury car] segment is largely populated by European brands and I think when we look at cost of ownership, initial outlay, cost of extended ownership, it's incredibly expensive for Australians just given where we are geographically,' she said.
'So I think what this provides is another option for customers to explore when they are in the market for a car.'
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Australian-developed electric Mini Moke now available
Australians can now buy a street-legal, all-electric Mini Moke, courtesy of Melbourne-based electric vehicle (EV) conversion company Jaunt Motors, but you'll have to pay handsomely for it. Jaunt's electric Moke conversion, which is now available for customer commission ahead of delivery in 2026, is priced from $140,000 – excluding the cost of the donor vehicle. The EV converter is also offering its new Moke EV conversion platform to independent workshops around Australia, including installation training and instruction, with trade prices starting at $90,000. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Separately, Moke International is offering an electric Moke for the equivalent of about $69,500 including taxes, delivery and first registration fees in the UK, and has received approval to sell 1500 Mokes in the EU under that market's ultra-low volume vehicle regulations, as well as approval to sell 325 cars in the US this year. The company hopes it can make a similar case for ultra-low volume imports to Australia, where a significant proportion of customers are also expected to be high-end resorts that want to offer customers Moke EVs for complimentary use, short-term rental or as shuttle vehicles. However, Moke International's EV is yet to be confirmed for Australia while Jaunt says every component installed in its electric Moke is CAD designed and engineered to meet Australian Design Rules and local conditions, meaning its vehicles can be registered in every state and territory – a process it will complete before the car is delivered to you. Better known for creating battery-electric versions of the original Land Rover Defender as well as classic Mini Coopers and Porsche 911s, Jaunt also says it plans to extend its conversion platforms to other classic models such as the original Range Rover and Volkswagen Kombi, "making iconic vehicles more accessible, sustainable and engineered in a world moving toward zero-emissions". Based in Scoresby, Victoria, Jaunt specialises in converting classic and specialty vehicles to electric power with a focus on safety, compliance and craftsmanship, and says its engineered electric platforms and conversions "preserve the charm of iconic cars while making them safer, cleaner and better to drive". Jaunt's Moke EV is powered by a single front-mounted electric motor producing 72kW of power and 175Nm of torque, fed by a 19kWh battery pack that's mounted under the tub and takes between just two and three hours to recharge thanks to a 400-volt electrical architecture. Those numbers aren't big in a world of high-performance EVs, but Jaunt says its Moke can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just seven seconds – "even uphill" – in sport mode, while a regenerative braking system turns the motor into a generator to assist the mechanical brakes. Jaunt's electric upgrade retains the original Moke's low kerb weight, allowing it to be a four-seater without exceeding GVM, as well as its compact dimensions and nimble dynamics. However, it isn't being pitched as a high-performance EV, but one that's "ready for exactly what it was originally designed for: short, joyful, open-air drives". That said, a polished stainless steel-bodied version Jaunt built from the ground up and featuring LED lighting and CNC-machined badges is claimed to be lighter than the original Moke, while offering a better torque-to-weight ratio than a Tesla Model 3 Performance. In addition to the EV conversion and a 7.8:1 single gear ratio to suit larger 13-inch wheels, the retail version supplied directly to customers comes with upgraded brake, steering and suspension systems, plus ADR-compliant seats with seatbelts mounted to a new roll bar system covered by a custom canvas top. Based around a new BMH front sub-frame, the EV system bolts to existing mounting points under the bonnet and comprises the battery, electric motor and inverter, plus driveshafts, a motor cooling system, bi-directional charger and a completely new integrated 12-volt electrical system. It also comes with a new centre dash panel complete with modern digital gauges and controls, an electric parking brake, pop-up charge port and all of the necessary body block-out panels. Braking, steering and suspension systems can be further customised to meet customer needs, and additional custom parts are also available. Jaunt Motors CEO and co-founder Dave Budge says all of this gives the humble old Moke the ability to perform like a brand-new vehicle despite being originally built more than half a century ago. "Classic cars are charming," he said. "They've got stories, they've got soul. But they're also unreliable and are getting harder to maintain. What we're doing isn't about reinventing the car. It's about keeping what was great and fixing everything that wasn't. "This isn't just a loose collection of parts. It's a complete platform we've engineered, built and tested to ADR compliance and the latest EV safety standards. "Now we're making it available to others who care about doing conversions correctly. It allows restorers and auto specialists to deliver fully roadworthy electric Mokes that are safe, legal and will last another 50 years." MORE: Meet the Melbourne startup turning old Land Rovers into electric vehicles Content originally sourced from: Australians can now buy a street-legal, all-electric Mini Moke, courtesy of Melbourne-based electric vehicle (EV) conversion company Jaunt Motors, but you'll have to pay handsomely for it. Jaunt's electric Moke conversion, which is now available for customer commission ahead of delivery in 2026, is priced from $140,000 – excluding the cost of the donor vehicle. The EV converter is also offering its new Moke EV conversion platform to independent workshops around Australia, including installation training and instruction, with trade prices starting at $90,000. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Separately, Moke International is offering an electric Moke for the equivalent of about $69,500 including taxes, delivery and first registration fees in the UK, and has received approval to sell 1500 Mokes in the EU under that market's ultra-low volume vehicle regulations, as well as approval to sell 325 cars in the US this year. The company hopes it can make a similar case for ultra-low volume imports to Australia, where a significant proportion of customers are also expected to be high-end resorts that want to offer customers Moke EVs for complimentary use, short-term rental or as shuttle vehicles. However, Moke International's EV is yet to be confirmed for Australia while Jaunt says every component installed in its electric Moke is CAD designed and engineered to meet Australian Design Rules and local conditions, meaning its vehicles can be registered in every state and territory – a process it will complete before the car is delivered to you. Better known for creating battery-electric versions of the original Land Rover Defender as well as classic Mini Coopers and Porsche 911s, Jaunt also says it plans to extend its conversion platforms to other classic models such as the original Range Rover and Volkswagen Kombi, "making iconic vehicles more accessible, sustainable and engineered in a world moving toward zero-emissions". Based in Scoresby, Victoria, Jaunt specialises in converting classic and specialty vehicles to electric power with a focus on safety, compliance and craftsmanship, and says its engineered electric platforms and conversions "preserve the charm of iconic cars while making them safer, cleaner and better to drive". Jaunt's Moke EV is powered by a single front-mounted electric motor producing 72kW of power and 175Nm of torque, fed by a 19kWh battery pack that's mounted under the tub and takes between just two and three hours to recharge thanks to a 400-volt electrical architecture. Those numbers aren't big in a world of high-performance EVs, but Jaunt says its Moke can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just seven seconds – "even uphill" – in sport mode, while a regenerative braking system turns the motor into a generator to assist the mechanical brakes. Jaunt's electric upgrade retains the original Moke's low kerb weight, allowing it to be a four-seater without exceeding GVM, as well as its compact dimensions and nimble dynamics. However, it isn't being pitched as a high-performance EV, but one that's "ready for exactly what it was originally designed for: short, joyful, open-air drives". That said, a polished stainless steel-bodied version Jaunt built from the ground up and featuring LED lighting and CNC-machined badges is claimed to be lighter than the original Moke, while offering a better torque-to-weight ratio than a Tesla Model 3 Performance. In addition to the EV conversion and a 7.8:1 single gear ratio to suit larger 13-inch wheels, the retail version supplied directly to customers comes with upgraded brake, steering and suspension systems, plus ADR-compliant seats with seatbelts mounted to a new roll bar system covered by a custom canvas top. Based around a new BMH front sub-frame, the EV system bolts to existing mounting points under the bonnet and comprises the battery, electric motor and inverter, plus driveshafts, a motor cooling system, bi-directional charger and a completely new integrated 12-volt electrical system. It also comes with a new centre dash panel complete with modern digital gauges and controls, an electric parking brake, pop-up charge port and all of the necessary body block-out panels. Braking, steering and suspension systems can be further customised to meet customer needs, and additional custom parts are also available. Jaunt Motors CEO and co-founder Dave Budge says all of this gives the humble old Moke the ability to perform like a brand-new vehicle despite being originally built more than half a century ago. "Classic cars are charming," he said. "They've got stories, they've got soul. But they're also unreliable and are getting harder to maintain. What we're doing isn't about reinventing the car. It's about keeping what was great and fixing everything that wasn't. "This isn't just a loose collection of parts. It's a complete platform we've engineered, built and tested to ADR compliance and the latest EV safety standards. "Now we're making it available to others who care about doing conversions correctly. It allows restorers and auto specialists to deliver fully roadworthy electric Mokes that are safe, legal and will last another 50 years." MORE: Meet the Melbourne startup turning old Land Rovers into electric vehicles Content originally sourced from: Australians can now buy a street-legal, all-electric Mini Moke, courtesy of Melbourne-based electric vehicle (EV) conversion company Jaunt Motors, but you'll have to pay handsomely for it. Jaunt's electric Moke conversion, which is now available for customer commission ahead of delivery in 2026, is priced from $140,000 – excluding the cost of the donor vehicle. The EV converter is also offering its new Moke EV conversion platform to independent workshops around Australia, including installation training and instruction, with trade prices starting at $90,000. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Separately, Moke International is offering an electric Moke for the equivalent of about $69,500 including taxes, delivery and first registration fees in the UK, and has received approval to sell 1500 Mokes in the EU under that market's ultra-low volume vehicle regulations, as well as approval to sell 325 cars in the US this year. The company hopes it can make a similar case for ultra-low volume imports to Australia, where a significant proportion of customers are also expected to be high-end resorts that want to offer customers Moke EVs for complimentary use, short-term rental or as shuttle vehicles. However, Moke International's EV is yet to be confirmed for Australia while Jaunt says every component installed in its electric Moke is CAD designed and engineered to meet Australian Design Rules and local conditions, meaning its vehicles can be registered in every state and territory – a process it will complete before the car is delivered to you. Better known for creating battery-electric versions of the original Land Rover Defender as well as classic Mini Coopers and Porsche 911s, Jaunt also says it plans to extend its conversion platforms to other classic models such as the original Range Rover and Volkswagen Kombi, "making iconic vehicles more accessible, sustainable and engineered in a world moving toward zero-emissions". Based in Scoresby, Victoria, Jaunt specialises in converting classic and specialty vehicles to electric power with a focus on safety, compliance and craftsmanship, and says its engineered electric platforms and conversions "preserve the charm of iconic cars while making them safer, cleaner and better to drive". Jaunt's Moke EV is powered by a single front-mounted electric motor producing 72kW of power and 175Nm of torque, fed by a 19kWh battery pack that's mounted under the tub and takes between just two and three hours to recharge thanks to a 400-volt electrical architecture. Those numbers aren't big in a world of high-performance EVs, but Jaunt says its Moke can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just seven seconds – "even uphill" – in sport mode, while a regenerative braking system turns the motor into a generator to assist the mechanical brakes. Jaunt's electric upgrade retains the original Moke's low kerb weight, allowing it to be a four-seater without exceeding GVM, as well as its compact dimensions and nimble dynamics. However, it isn't being pitched as a high-performance EV, but one that's "ready for exactly what it was originally designed for: short, joyful, open-air drives". That said, a polished stainless steel-bodied version Jaunt built from the ground up and featuring LED lighting and CNC-machined badges is claimed to be lighter than the original Moke, while offering a better torque-to-weight ratio than a Tesla Model 3 Performance. In addition to the EV conversion and a 7.8:1 single gear ratio to suit larger 13-inch wheels, the retail version supplied directly to customers comes with upgraded brake, steering and suspension systems, plus ADR-compliant seats with seatbelts mounted to a new roll bar system covered by a custom canvas top. Based around a new BMH front sub-frame, the EV system bolts to existing mounting points under the bonnet and comprises the battery, electric motor and inverter, plus driveshafts, a motor cooling system, bi-directional charger and a completely new integrated 12-volt electrical system. It also comes with a new centre dash panel complete with modern digital gauges and controls, an electric parking brake, pop-up charge port and all of the necessary body block-out panels. Braking, steering and suspension systems can be further customised to meet customer needs, and additional custom parts are also available. Jaunt Motors CEO and co-founder Dave Budge says all of this gives the humble old Moke the ability to perform like a brand-new vehicle despite being originally built more than half a century ago. "Classic cars are charming," he said. "They've got stories, they've got soul. But they're also unreliable and are getting harder to maintain. What we're doing isn't about reinventing the car. It's about keeping what was great and fixing everything that wasn't. "This isn't just a loose collection of parts. It's a complete platform we've engineered, built and tested to ADR compliance and the latest EV safety standards. "Now we're making it available to others who care about doing conversions correctly. It allows restorers and auto specialists to deliver fully roadworthy electric Mokes that are safe, legal and will last another 50 years." MORE: Meet the Melbourne startup turning old Land Rovers into electric vehicles Content originally sourced from: Australians can now buy a street-legal, all-electric Mini Moke, courtesy of Melbourne-based electric vehicle (EV) conversion company Jaunt Motors, but you'll have to pay handsomely for it. Jaunt's electric Moke conversion, which is now available for customer commission ahead of delivery in 2026, is priced from $140,000 – excluding the cost of the donor vehicle. The EV converter is also offering its new Moke EV conversion platform to independent workshops around Australia, including installation training and instruction, with trade prices starting at $90,000. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Separately, Moke International is offering an electric Moke for the equivalent of about $69,500 including taxes, delivery and first registration fees in the UK, and has received approval to sell 1500 Mokes in the EU under that market's ultra-low volume vehicle regulations, as well as approval to sell 325 cars in the US this year. The company hopes it can make a similar case for ultra-low volume imports to Australia, where a significant proportion of customers are also expected to be high-end resorts that want to offer customers Moke EVs for complimentary use, short-term rental or as shuttle vehicles. However, Moke International's EV is yet to be confirmed for Australia while Jaunt says every component installed in its electric Moke is CAD designed and engineered to meet Australian Design Rules and local conditions, meaning its vehicles can be registered in every state and territory – a process it will complete before the car is delivered to you. Better known for creating battery-electric versions of the original Land Rover Defender as well as classic Mini Coopers and Porsche 911s, Jaunt also says it plans to extend its conversion platforms to other classic models such as the original Range Rover and Volkswagen Kombi, "making iconic vehicles more accessible, sustainable and engineered in a world moving toward zero-emissions". Based in Scoresby, Victoria, Jaunt specialises in converting classic and specialty vehicles to electric power with a focus on safety, compliance and craftsmanship, and says its engineered electric platforms and conversions "preserve the charm of iconic cars while making them safer, cleaner and better to drive". Jaunt's Moke EV is powered by a single front-mounted electric motor producing 72kW of power and 175Nm of torque, fed by a 19kWh battery pack that's mounted under the tub and takes between just two and three hours to recharge thanks to a 400-volt electrical architecture. Those numbers aren't big in a world of high-performance EVs, but Jaunt says its Moke can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just seven seconds – "even uphill" – in sport mode, while a regenerative braking system turns the motor into a generator to assist the mechanical brakes. Jaunt's electric upgrade retains the original Moke's low kerb weight, allowing it to be a four-seater without exceeding GVM, as well as its compact dimensions and nimble dynamics. However, it isn't being pitched as a high-performance EV, but one that's "ready for exactly what it was originally designed for: short, joyful, open-air drives". That said, a polished stainless steel-bodied version Jaunt built from the ground up and featuring LED lighting and CNC-machined badges is claimed to be lighter than the original Moke, while offering a better torque-to-weight ratio than a Tesla Model 3 Performance. In addition to the EV conversion and a 7.8:1 single gear ratio to suit larger 13-inch wheels, the retail version supplied directly to customers comes with upgraded brake, steering and suspension systems, plus ADR-compliant seats with seatbelts mounted to a new roll bar system covered by a custom canvas top. Based around a new BMH front sub-frame, the EV system bolts to existing mounting points under the bonnet and comprises the battery, electric motor and inverter, plus driveshafts, a motor cooling system, bi-directional charger and a completely new integrated 12-volt electrical system. It also comes with a new centre dash panel complete with modern digital gauges and controls, an electric parking brake, pop-up charge port and all of the necessary body block-out panels. Braking, steering and suspension systems can be further customised to meet customer needs, and additional custom parts are also available. Jaunt Motors CEO and co-founder Dave Budge says all of this gives the humble old Moke the ability to perform like a brand-new vehicle despite being originally built more than half a century ago. "Classic cars are charming," he said. "They've got stories, they've got soul. But they're also unreliable and are getting harder to maintain. What we're doing isn't about reinventing the car. It's about keeping what was great and fixing everything that wasn't. "This isn't just a loose collection of parts. It's a complete platform we've engineered, built and tested to ADR compliance and the latest EV safety standards. "Now we're making it available to others who care about doing conversions correctly. It allows restorers and auto specialists to deliver fully roadworthy electric Mokes that are safe, legal and will last another 50 years." MORE: Meet the Melbourne startup turning old Land Rovers into electric vehicles Content originally sourced from:
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘The opposite happened': Economic roundtable could dissuade Australians from investing
LNP Senator James McGrath discusses Labor's economic reform roundtable, urging that it will dissuade Australians from investing in the 'productive part of the economy'. 'What the Labor Party doesn't realise is that if people start to cotton on to the fact that Labor is going to come after the money they've worked so hard for, people will no longer invest in the productive part of the economy,' Mr McGrath told Sky News host Steve Price. 'You only have to look at what's happening in the UK at the moment, with the Labour Party there, taxing what's called 'non-doms'. 'They thought they were going to bring billions of pounds of revenue … the opposite happened.'
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Australians should be worried': Labor's economic reform roundtable is ‘bonkers'
LNP Senator James McGrath discusses how Australians should be worried about Labor's economic reform roundtable, saying it is 'bonkers' and will only produce 'hair-brained ideas'. 'Australians should be worried,' Mr McGrath told Sky News host Steve Price. 'Those who own their own homes, are of pensionable age, should be worried about organisations, so-called think-tanks, like the Grattan Institute coming up with quite frankly hair-brained ideas like this. 'This is bonkers.'
