Today
Germany couldn’t beat China on cars. What makes Australia different?
If even one of the world’s greatest automotive empires, Volkswagen, can be brought to its knees by modern economic realities, what hope is there for the rest?
This Month
England lost to a better team, not to cruel fate
Readers’ letters on England’s loss to Argentina, powering data centres, Albanese’s AI regulations and creative copyright.
Quality beats quantity in EV charger race, says Jet Charge CEO
Tim Washington says the lack of a national EV charging plan could be setting Australia up for failure, as overseas operators struggle to turn a profit.
Gradually – then suddenly – Australians switch to EVs, hybrids
If this isn’t the trigger to get serious about a distance-based national road user charge, we’re not sure what is.
June
Inside Volkswagen’s brutal plan to save itself from Chinese EVs
The German car maker’s plan to axe tens of thousands of jobs and close four factories is just the start, as it eyes selling off assets to combat Chinese brands.
Iluka signs $220m rare earths offtake deal with mystery car maker
The four-year agreement with a company from a “like-minded nation” covers 10 per cent of production from the taxpayer-backed Eneabba refinery.
Potholes ahead: Hormuz bitumen blockade set to hit Australian roads
Iran’s blockade of the vital waterway may cause long-term damage to thoroughfares, as materials prices soar and supplies remain under threat.
Kia’s Australian profits slide as Chinese brands grab market share
The South Korean firm’s new Tasman ute model is undershooting sales targets, despite a celebrity-studded ad campaign.
Mum swaps SUV for the ‘fastest, sexiest car in the showroom’
Artist Vicki Lee decided that as her children got bigger, her cars would get smaller – and faster. Once they were out of booster seats, she bought a Porsche.
Peter Warren Auto flags collapse in demand after fuel price surge
Australia’s second-largest car dealership group had a horror month in May, it revealed in a trading update that sent its shares to a record low.
May
The Rich Lister who drives a 1959 Aston Martin DB4
Toby Dymond’s appreciation for classic motor vehicles stems from his late father, JD, and mother Margaret.
Australian car buyers are flocking to this BYD rival
Chinese car conglomerate Geely Group is quietly building its sales with a diverse portfolio of models, with one surging 1634 per cent in April year-on-year.
This CEO sold planes to Jack Brabham, then bought his racing car
Classic car collector Steve Padgett shared many special moments with the world champion – and also owns the BT23 he raced in 1967.
The ‘Temu Range Rover’ is winning the cost-of-living crisis
Chinese car maker Jaecoo is outselling established rivals with its mass market luxury SUV.
AutoBarn-owner Bapcor cuts earnings outlook as petrol prices bite
The auto parts retailer cut its earnings outlook by 5 per cent as fuel and freight costs override the sales growth it experienced in the three months.
Wheel maker Carbon Revolution racked up $347m in losses in four years
The Geelong manufacturer’s operations were too far from its customers, including car giants Ford and Ferrari, according to a report by its administrator.
Diesel ute sales fall off a cliff as fuel prices bite
Electric vehicles made up one in every six cars sold in Australia in April as the Iran crisis drives a historic shift in Australia’s new car market.
a2 Milk product recall hammers shares; Chalmers plays down tax cuts; Buffett’s bet against AI is a warning
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Trump ‘pleased’ to lift tariff rate on EU cars, trucks to 25pc
The US president, angered by Europe’s unwillingness to help his war against Iran, says the bloc has failed to fully comply with the terms of a 2025 trade agreement.
Batteries overtake EVs as Tesla’s top earner in Australia
Profits at the company’s Australian operations, which include home storage batteries and grid-scale energy systems, as well as cars, slumped 19 per cent.
