Plugged in Australia

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Ford officially commits the Bronco Basecamp range-extender SUV to Australia, battery-electric vehicles take the biggest share of August new-vehicle sales, and the Transit City electric van gets a $50,000 drive-away price.

Jamie also covers Australia’s half-million-BEV milestone, pressure on public charging and Victoria’s delayed kerbside trial, the newly endorsed national consumer-energy technical framework, Mitsubishi’s Pajero PHEV commitment, and Lepas bringing forward its L6 launch while planning a broader local range.

Australian pricing and timing are separated from preliminary claims and overseas specifications. The new national framework does not mean new charger or V2G requirements have already commenced.

Contact: [email protected]

YouTube timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:30 Bronco Basecamp officially confirmed
02:31 EVs lead August sales; 500,000 BEVs on the road
04:30 Ford Transit City: $50,000 drive-away
06:30 Charging pressure and Victoria’s kerbside delay
08:33 National technical framework endorsed
10:08 Pajero PHEV commitment
11:22 Lepas L6 launch and wider range
12:44 Outro

Disclaimer:

All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.

This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.

Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.

Sourcing & Transparency

At Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.

Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.

Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):

• https://www.carsales.com.au/
• https://www.carexpert.com.au/
• https://thedriven.io/
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://autotalk.com.au
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://evcentral.com.au
• https://www.drive.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

Audi resets Australian Q6 and SQ6 e-tron pricing, with the Q6 SUV and Sportback starting from $89,900 before on-road costs for MY27. Meanwhile, the newly revealed A2 e-tron remains under Australian evaluation.

Hyundai confirms the Santa Fe EREV for Australia, customer-owned Windrose electric prime movers prepare for Sydney–Canberra freight work, and a proposed $137 million WA charging and battery-swap network takes shape.

Also: the Mercedes-Benz EQS 400 launches with 810km WLTP range, Forthing outlines its next Australian models, a Hongqi–Leapmotor prototype tests across two states, and expanded DRIVEN rebates support EV workshop equipment as well as chargers.

Australian launch commitments, overseas plans and manufacturer claims are kept separate throughout.

Contact: [email protected]

YouTube timestamps — estimates before recording

00:00 Intro
00:47 Segment 1 — Audi Q6/SQ6 price reset and A2 e-tron
02:52 Segment 2 — Santa Fe EREV confirmed for Australia
04:26 Segment 3 — Windrose customer trucks and WA freight infrastructure
07:00 Segment 4 — Mercedes-Benz EQS 400 launches
08:31 Segment 5 — Forthing plans more Australian models
09:40 Segment 6 — Hongqi–Leapmotor prototype tests locally
10:41 Segment 7 — DRIVEN rebates expand into workshops
12:01 Outro

Disclaimer:

All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.

This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.

Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.

Sourcing & Transparency

At Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.

Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.

Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):

• https://www.carsales.com.au/
• https://www.carexpert.com.au/
• https://thedriven.io/
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://autotalk.com.au
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://evcentral.com.au
• https://www.drive.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

The Ford Bronco New Energy has now been physically spotted in Australia in right-hand drive, adding another piece to the puzzle ahead of its expected local launch. Chery’s new iCaur brand is also getting very real, with the V25 confirmed as its first Australian model and an evaluation vehicle already testing in New South Wales.

BYD has locked in its M9 plug-in hybrid people mover for a Q4 launch with up to 145 kilometres of WLTP electric range, while new used-car data shows second-hand EVs disappearing from listings in as little as eight days.

Also this episode: the IEA singles Australia out as one of the world’s fastest-growing electric-car markets, XPeng extends factory-backed warranty support to eligible TrueEV-era vehicles, Suzuki Australia pushes for the tiny e Sky EV, and 318 Cupra Tavascans are recalled over a high-beam software issue.

00:00 Intro
00:56 iCaur V25 confirmed and testing in Australia
02:40 BYD M9 locked in for Q4 Australian launch
05:19 Ford Bronco New Energy spotted in Australia
07:16 Used EVs disappearing from listings in 8–11 days
09:53 IEA singles Australia out for rapid EV growth
11:12 XPeng warranty extended to eligible TrueEV-era cars
12:45 Suzuki Australia wants the tiny e Sky EV
14:45 Cupra Tavascan recall
15:41 Outro

Disclaimer:

All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.

This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.

Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.

Sourcing & Transparency

At Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.

Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.

Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):

• https://www.carsales.com.au/
• https://www.carexpert.com.au/
• https://thedriven.io/
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://autotalk.com.au
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://evcentral.com.au
• https://www.drive.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

Australia’s next GWM Haval H7 is now showing up in Australian certification documents with a 320kW all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid system, while GWM has confirmed a longer seven-seat version will follow in 2027.

Australia Post has revealed what its latest fleet-electrification funding will actually deliver, with around 100 new electric vans, rigid trucks and even prime movers expected to cut almost one million litres of diesel use each year.

We also look at a fascinating novated-lease comparison where the more expensive Geely EX5 EV ends up around $54 a week cheaper than the Starray EM-i PHEV under one specific set of assumptions, another incorrect airbag specification uncovered at KGM, Skoda using growing EV sales to manage NVES, why charger reliability could become more important than simply counting plugs, and the increasingly awkward future of CHAdeMO in Australia.

00:00 — Intro
00:45 — GWM Haval H7: 320kW AWD PHEV locked in
02:38 — Australia Post adds around 100 EVs and prime movers
04:13 — Geely EX5 beats cheaper Starray on novated-lease costs
07:06 — KGM finds second incorrect EV airbag specification
08:23 — Skoda uses EV sales to manage NVES
09:48 — Why charger uptime may matter more than plug count
12:28 — Is CHAdeMO becoming a bottleneck?
14:58 — Outro

Disclaimer:

All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.

This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.

Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.

Sourcing & Transparency

At Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.

Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.

Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):

• https://www.carsales.com.au/
• https://www.carexpert.com.au/
• https://thedriven.io/
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://autotalk.com.au
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://evcentral.com.au
• https://www.drive.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

Genesis has revealed its enormous 490kW GV90 electric flagship, with the ultra-luxury Neolun version now confirmed for Australia.

We also look at something potentially more telling than another EV survey — actual orders being written by one of Australia's biggest prestige dealer groups — plus an NRMA five-year ownership-cost comparison showing affordable EVs effectively reaching cost parity with petrol.

And there's finally movement for XPeng owners caught in the TrueEV dispute, while Tesla's new $2,000 Australian trade-in offer passes the fact-check and is genuinely live.

00:00 Intro
00:43 490kW Genesis GV90 confirmed for Australia
04:54 Actual dealer orders show Australian EV demand surging
07:49 Five-year EV versus petrol ownership costs reach parity
13:02 TrueEV court case dismissed — what XPeng owners need to know
15:19 Tesla's current $2,000 Australian trade-in bonus
16:00 Outro

Disclaimer:

All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.

This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.

Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.

Sourcing & Transparency

At Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.

Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.

Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):

• https://www.carsales.com.au/
• https://www.carexpert.com.au/
• https://thedriven.io/
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://autotalk.com.au
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://evcentral.com.au
• https://www.drive.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

Audi has dramatically reset Australian pricing for the updated Q4 e-tron, including an entry model that lands below $75,000 before on-road costs.

We also have Australian Government approval for the seven-seat Kia PV5 Passenger, a serious specification discrepancy involving airbags in the KGM Musso EV, some useful real-world context around EV servicing and running costs, GAC finally resolving its BMW M8 naming problem, and Honda selling out its entire 2026 Super-ONE allocation.

00:00 Intro
00:47 Audi Q4 e-tron gets a massive Australian price reset
05:04   Kia PV5 seven-seat Passenger receives Australian approval
07:44 KGM Musso EV eight-airbag claim versus six actually fitted
10:15 What EVs really cost to run and maintain
14:08 GAC M8 officially becomes E9
15:25 Honda Super-ONE 2026 allocation sold out
16:02 Outro

Disclaimer:

All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.

This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.

Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.

Sourcing & Transparency

At Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.

Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.

Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):

• https://www.carsales.com.au/
• https://www.carexpert.com.au/
• https://thedriven.io/
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://autotalk.com.au
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://evcentral.com.au
• https://www.drive.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

Mercedes-Benz has finally put an Australian price on its new electric GLC, including the strange situation where the limited Launch Edition actually costs less than the regular model.

Zeekr has revealed that Australia will get a more powerful version of the 7GT electric sports wagon, while Hyundai’s Ioniq 3 has entered production overseas and could give the brand a genuine competitor around the $40,000 mark — although Australian pricing is still a long way from confirmed.

We also look at Canberra’s $400 million heavy-vehicle reform package and why changing weight limits, road-access rules, charging planning and delivery curfews could matter just as much as subsidies for electric trucks.

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed a plug-in-hybrid C-Class will continue alongside its new dedicated electric C-Class, and Victoria’s electric fire truck EVIE has now completed more than 500 emergency responses with some surprisingly strong real-world results.

• 00:00 — Introduction
• 00:57 — Mercedes GLC Electric priced for Australia
• 04:10 — Zeekr 7GT gets an Australian power boost
• 06:25 — Hyundai Ioniq 3 production starts
• 09:15 — Australia's $400m heavy-vehicle reforms
• 13:27 — Mercedes C-Class PHEV confirmed for Australia
• 15:14 — Victoria's EVIE electric fire truck
• 18:41 — Outro

Disclaimer:

All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.

This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.

Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.

Sourcing & Transparency

At Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.

Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.

Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):

• https://www.carsales.com.au/
• https://www.carexpert.com.au/
• https://thedriven.io/
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://autotalk.com.au
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://evcentral.com.au
• https://www.drive.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

Skyworth puts its Australian passenger-EV plans on the backburner while an electric van moves to the front of the queue. We examine a new survey claiming price—not range or charging—is the biggest issue holding Australians back from EVs, including who is behind the research and where the headline goes too far.

Tesla has widened vehicle-to-load access for Model Y buyers in the United States, but the Australian position is very different. Denza’s 850-kilowatt Z9GT clears a major local approval hurdle as an even more powerful N8 SUV emerges in China, and Chery narrows the Australian arrival of its affordable Q electric hatch to around the middle of 2027.

YouTube timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:52 Skyworth parks its Australian SUV plan again
02:38 Does price really matter three times more than range?
07:01 Tesla widens V2L, but not yet in Australia
08:35 Denza Z9GT approved as an 890kW SUV emerges
11:29 Chery Q targets a mid-2027 Australian arrival
13:32 Outro

Disclaimer:

All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.

This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.

Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.

Sourcing & Transparency

At Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.

Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.

Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):

• https://www.carsales.com.au/
• https://www.carexpert.com.au/
• https://thedriven.io/
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://autotalk.com.au
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://evcentral.com.au
• https://www.drive.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

The BYD Atto 3 Evo now has Australian pricing and a confirmed two-variant local lineup, including a much more powerful rear-wheel-drive Premium with 800-volt architecture and 220-kilowatt charging.

We also have a substantial update on Hongqi’s Australian launch under the HQ name, with its first electric SUV now confirmed for January 2027 and some extremely ambitious sales targets.

And in the fleet world, Blacktown City Council, Ausgrid and Parkes Shire Council have been named finalists for the 2026 Fleet of the Year award, with electrification playing very different roles across all three operations.

00:00 — Intro
00:43 — BYD Atto 3 Evo priced for Australia
04:39 — HQ locks in its Australian launch
07:49 — Fleet of the Year finalists
10:39 — Outro

Disclaimer:

All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.

This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.

Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.

Sourcing & Transparency

At Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.

Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.

Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):

• https://www.carsales.com.au/
• https://www.carexpert.com.au/
• https://thedriven.io/
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://autotalk.com.au
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://evcentral.com.au
• https://www.drive.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

Ford’s Bronco New Energy appears headed for Australia in 2027, with a range-extender powertrain producing up to 360kW and 600Nm.

Geely has firmed up an enormous six-model Australian expansion over the next 12 months, including two new EVs and four plug-in hybrids, while its rugged Galaxy Cruiser-style 4x4 is now looking increasingly certain.

We also have the first proper specifications for the tiny Smart #2 following its Melbourne teaser, new Australian trademarks pointing towards an electric Jetour SUV and a long-range seven-seat PHEV, confirmed battery and range figures for the cheaper GAC Aion UT we covered yesterday, and a dedicated fleet electrification day coming to Everything Electric Sydney.

00:00 — Intro
00:38 — Geely locks in six new Australian models
02:47 — Ford Bronco New Energy appears bound for Australia
04:52 — Smart #2 gets its first proper specifications
06:23 — Cheaper Aion UT confirmed with 44kWh battery
07:32 — Jetour trademarks electric SUV and big PHEV
09:05 — Everything Electric Sydney adds dedicated fleet day
10:54 — Outro

Disclaimer:

All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.

This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.

Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.

Sourcing & Transparency

At Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.

Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.

Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):

• https://www.carsales.com.au/
• https://www.carexpert.com.au/
• https://thedriven.io/
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://autotalk.com.au
• https://www.carsguide.com.au
• https://evcentral.com.au
• https://www.drive.com.au