Toyota aims to derail Australia’s EV strategy – they won’t have it
Toyota is at it again. The automaker’s Australian leader reiterated that Toyota would not be going all-electric despite the federal government’s recent initiatives to boost EV adoption, cut emissions from passenger vehicles, and improve the overall well-being of Australians.
Less than two weeks ago, Australia’s government introduced its new National Electric Vehicle Strategy, consisting of three main objectives.
- Increase the supply of affordable and accessible EVs.
- Establish the resources, systems, and infrastructure to enable rapid EV uptake.
- Encourage increased EV demand.
The government says despite Australian buyers’ demand for EVs, its lack of national policy has made them harder than they should be to access. EV sales accounted for only 3.8% of overall car sales last year.
With transportation in Australia on track to be the largest emitting sector by the end of the decade, the country is committed to becoming more competitive globally for EV supply.
New cars in Australia use 40% more fuel than in the EU and 20% more than in the US, making it urgent for government officials to adopt a Fuel Efficiency standard and accelerate its pace toward zero-emission electric vehicles.
Although Australia is planning to limit how much carbon emissions through its new strategy, as of right now, the country is next to Russia as one of the only advanced economies without a Fuel Efficiency Standard.
Australia’s new EV strategy includes discount legislation to enhance affordability, increased access to charging infrastructure, and battery recycling to promote adoption.
Despite Australia’s recent initiatives to increase EV adoption, one automaker is looking to derail the mission in the Land Down Under.
Toyota Australia leader speaks out against new EV strategy
According to the Australian newspaper, Canberra Times, Toyota’s sales boss in the country, Sean Hanley, continues to push for hybrid and fuel cell options.
Despite Hanley claiming he was “not against battery electric vehicle technology,” he says Toyota will lobby for a standard with a generous time frame that will cut pollution without cutting vehicle options. He added:
Through the (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries), we’ve spoken to the government and I think we have represented the silent voices of hundreds of thousands of Australians consumers who use their cars for leisure, towing, and lots of other activities.
Meanwhile, Behyad Jafari, CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council, shut down these arguments, saying EVs have been proven in other countries and are already becoming popular in Australia with upgraded tech enabling longer range and power. Jafari added:
When we hear those arguments, what we need to pay close attention to is the economic interest of the car company.
As Australia’s largest automaker (and largest automaker globally), Jafari points out Toyota’s reluctance to go all in on EVs is already costing the automaker, saying:
Some businesses haven’t spent time developing electric vehicles and they don’t have a firm enough grasp on the issues.
Greenpeace campaigner Lindsay Soutar says Toyota’s Australians will not put up with Toyota’s call for weaker pollution standards or any delays, claiming:
Toyota has stalled on pure electric cars, opting to promote hybrid and fuel-cell technologies that will lock customers into paying for fossil fuels for decades to come. Pushing for petrol cars in 2023, in the middle of a climate and cost-of-living crisis, is laughable and Australians won’t be convinced.
Despite the comments from Hanley, Toyota is planning to launch its first EV in Australia, the bZ4X SUV, before the end of the year.
Electrek’s Take
For one, Hanley is blatantly wrong in suggesting EVs can’t be used for leisure, towing, and other activities. In fact, they are enabling more of these kinds of activities with more power and zero emissions.
The Australian government is saying Australians are ready to move to EVs – they just don’t have the supply needed. Perhaps if the most prominent automakers in the country accelerated EV production rather than fighting it, it would be a win-win for everyone.
As Jafari points out, Toyota is looking to protect its profits at this point. The automaker is already late to the EV party and wants more time to catch up before governments like Australia implement new laws to promote EV adoption and lower emissions in the transportation sector.
Australia, like the rest of the world, will not be convinced by Toyota’s lobbying. The auto industry is moving to a cleaner future, with or without Toyota.
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Despite hyping the product for a year and half, it is fairly clear that Tesla doesn’t want to sell its new cheaper Model Y. At least, in the US.
Here’s why.
Remember the Cybertruck RWD?
Tesla launched the new cheaper version of the Cybertruck in April for $10,000 less than the AWD and about $20,000 worth of features removed.
By September, Tesla discontinued the model. It lasted a solid 6 months.
Many believed that Tesla wasn’t actually looking to sell the new version, which served more as making the Cybertruck AWD seemed like better value.
We might be witnessing a redo here witht the new standard Model Y that Tesla launched yesterday.
It costs $5,000 less than the Model Y Long Range RWD, which Tesla now calls “premium”, along with the AWD and Performance versions, while Tesla removed roughly $6,000-$8,000 worth of features.
The value proposition is not great, but that’s not the only reason why Tesla doesn’t seem to want to sell it.
The automaker currently doesn’t offer a lease on the new version, which is not unusual after having just launched a new variant or model. For example, Tesla is still not offering leases on the Model Y Performance, which only recently launched in the US.
But more importantly, Tesla is financing the new Model Y Standard at an APR almost 30% higher than for the cheaper “Premium” version.
The result is only $72 difference in monthly payments between the two versions:
The difference is virtually the same as between the Premium RWD and AWD, but you get a whole additional motor for that.
Electrek’s Take
We have been anticipating a situation like this, but it is honestly even worse than we thought.
For example, we didn’t anticipate Tesla removing Autopilot as standard. That alone is a few thousands dollars of value removed before even accounting for the hardware changes, such as the cloth interior, cheaper seats, or even the power folding mirrors.
Then, there are the honestly quite lazy changes, like not actually removing the glass roof, but covering it inside with a headliner.
The only really good thing I see from this launch is that it is very efficient EV and Tesla still has a lead on that front over most.
However, I have to reiterate that it is getting lazy with this lead.
The standard version is only 125 lbs lighter than the premium despite Tesla seemingly using the same battery pack with a few cells removed. When you add up all the features removal, the weight loss should be much more significant, but that’s harder to do when you make decision such as covering the glass roof rather removing it.
Tesla has to know that the value proposition here is not good.
It’s a bummer that Tesla went with that rather than a new smaller and less expensive vehicle as originally planned.
Especially when you consider that the decision was made to try to increase the utilization rate of Tesla’s current production lines, which appears to be running at about 60% amid this demand slump.
I don’t think this, and the new standard Model 3, which is better value to be fair, solve this situation.
As I previously stated, I believe this boost demand between 10-15% and that’s after Tesla either drops the price or introduces 0% interest financing, which I expect before the end of the quarter.
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On today’s incredibly frustrating episode of Quick Charge, Tesla is making it easier than ever to make fun of them by rolling out a new, “affordable” Model Y that costs $2,000 more than the “expensive” one did last week, thanks to the cancellation of the $7,500 tax credit that Elon Musk (the guy who is so good at business that he’s allegedly worth $1 trillion) spent $200 million campaigning for.
We’ve also got the new, single-motor Volvo EX30 at a price that undercuts the cheap Tesla, but includes a full length glass roof that isn’t inexplicably covered in upholstery to punish poor people. All this and more – enjoy!
Source Links
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
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Chevy’s electric SUV is now the best-selling EV in the US outside of Tesla. The 2026 Chevy Equinox EV is slightly more expensive than the outgoing model, but GM has added new style packages for you to choose from.
GM raises 2026 Chevy Equinox EV price, adds options
The Chevy Equinox EV doesn’t need much help. Starting at just $34,995, the 2025 Chevy Equinox quickly became one of the best-selling electric vehicles in the US.
Entering its third year, the Equinox EV remains GM’s most affordable EV, with starting prices slightly higher at $36,495. That includes the $1,395 destination fee.
Since it’s a carryover model, there aren’t too many changes, but buyers will have several new style packages to choose from.
The 2026 Chevy Equinox LT gains a new Midnight Package, which adds black emblems, bowtie, badging, wheel caps, and 19″ black painted aluminum wheels, for $595.
There’s also a new Tech Bronze Package available on the LT and RS trims. The new option includes a Tech Bronze decal, a black nameplate, a black bowtie emblem, and 21″ Tech Bronze wheels. It costs an extra $3,595.
The 2026 Chevy Equinox EV is now listed on GM’s website. It’s still available in LT1, LT2, and RS trims with Front Wheel Drive (FWD) and All Wheel Drive (AWD) powertrain options.
The base 2026 LT FWD trim starts at $36,495 with up to 319 miles of range, including a $1,395 destination fee. Upgrading to AWD costs an extra $5,300, with a slightly shorter range of 307 miles.
| Chevy Equinox EV trim | 2025 Starting Price | 2026 Starting Price | EPA-estimated Range |
| LT 1 FWD | $34,995 | $36,495 | 319 miles |
| LT 1 AWD | $38,295 | $39,795 | 307 miles |
| LT 2 FWD | $43,295 | $43,295 | 319 miles |
| LT 2 AWD | $46,595 | $46,595 | 307 miles |
| RS FWD | $44,795 | $45,595 | 319 miles |
| RS AWD | $48,095 | $48,895 | 307 miles |
Following another record quarter of EV sales in Q3, GM said that the Chevy Equinox EV was the best-selling non-Tesla electric vehicle in the US.
With several new affordable EVs arriving, including the new Nissan LEAF, will the Equinox continue to be a top seller in 2026? It will be interesting to see where the rankings end up at this time next year.
Wondering if Chevy’s electric SUV lives up to the hype? You can use our link to find 2025 and 2026 Chevy Equinox EV models near you and try it out for yourself.
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