Coming to Australia in 2023 — Cars, Cars, Cars

Dan Smith MARCH 6, 2024

It looks like there will be at least 10 new EV models in 2023, similar to the electric vehicle models currently available in Australia. Some have already been tested, some may be delayed, some may be vaporware. Recent history has taught us to be wary of announcements from the media and car companies. The two big questions are whether it's cheap enough to qualify for state government rebates. And will they arrive in sufficient numbers to make a difference? Only time will tell. Perth Now reports that 2023 will be another milestone year for electrified vehicle technology. You'll see most form factors, including SUVs, vans, utes, and hatchbacks. Toyota is promising a BZ4, Fiat a 500e, Subaru a Solterra and Ford an E Transit van. There are rumors of a Mustang Mach-E being available, pending confirmation. Volkswagen is testing his ID.4 in Australian conditions. Electric Ute and Delivery Van are now available from LDV. These are all new EV brands to the Australian market. General Motors Holden, where are you? Big car brands need to be careful. Australian buyers, like international buyers, may not prove loyal if their EV offerings do not stack up. For example, in recent months, various vehicles have been traded in for the new Tesla Model Y. Historically, automakers have relied on loyalty to protect their market share, but EV buyers say new brands are "going." This is especially true in Australia, where the majority of EVs are purchased from the 'new' brand Tesla. all Of these sales, the conquest sales. Automakers that can attract early adopters are likely to turn them into loyal customers, but if they don't have EVs, they can't sell cars. On average, about half of people who buy a particular brand will buy another car of the same brand. But all that good reputation for fossil fuel-powered cars means, if the first EV can't beat the competition. The Mazda MX30 is a perfect example. How many times will a loyal customer give their favorite brand a chance before they try "novice"? To be eligible for state government rebates in Australia, an EV must sell for less than A$58,000 in Queensland and less than A$68,000 in most other states. Incentives such as stamp duty exemption and reduced registration costs are offered. Therefore, the selling price around A$40,000 is very attractive. Note: The Toyota Corolla currently sells for AUS36,000. Has price parity been achieved? On the price-for-value market, BYD Dolphins have already been spotted on the streets of Sydney. His distributor, EVDirect, has confirmed that the hatchback will sell for under his A$40,000 in the first half of 2023. According to reports from China, BYD has no problems supplying products. The MG 4 also he is due by mid-2023 and is expected to be cheaper than the MG ZS EV. It is currently Australia's cheapest EV and he competes for second place with the BYD Atto 3 in the great EV race to the heart and roads of Australia.

Can you spot the BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS EV in this photo? Photo courtesy of Majella Waterworth.

Later in the year came the Fiat 500e, the Toyota bZ4x, its clone Subaru Solterra and the VW ID.4. It's unclear how many are available and whether they qualify for state-level incentives. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 could arrive in early 2023 at roughly the same price as the Tesla Model 3. Once again, get your hands on Hyundai's amazing lottery tickets! The Cupra Bone looks like a lot of fun. Pre-orders have been opened, but there is no data yet. Cupra is VW's consistently competitively priced part. The BMW iX1 costs about the same as his Ioniq 5, so it doesn't qualify for the rebate. However, even if there's no reason to justify air cooling, the iconic green bean grill is still there, which might be good for a laugh. The vans and utes segment has Ford and LDV, and hopefully there will be more models as this segment is ripe for electrification.The LDV ute is part of a promotion supported by Solar Citizens. as a tour of eastern Australia. I will be attending most events in Queensland so I will keep my readers informed. It makes no sense to mention the EV models of Mercedes, Jaguar and Maserati. Demand for electric vehicles is still outstripping supply in Australia, but drivers are rushing to buy each model as it comes out. As supply moves from drip feed to flood, there should be an EV to suit every driver's needs soon. New EV penetration will increase significantly in 2022, rising from about 2.4% at the beginning of the year to 8-10% at the end of the year, averaging about 5% per year. The changemakers were the Tesla Model Y, BYD Atto 3, and refreshed MG ZS EV. There are many ship reports for docking and unloading in the New Year, so expect regular updates.

Australian electric car podium — BYD Atto 3, Tesla Model 3 and MG ZS EV (left to right). Photo courtesy of Majella Waterworth.

Majella and I will be attending a number of events along the Queensland coast as we did in 2022. As these dates become available, we will share them with you. Hopefully you can join us, especially if you're local.We hope to see you at events in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Gympie, Townsville and Gladstone. Please let us know if you plan to host an event. I will be happy to write about it. At least a dozen new EV models are expected to hit the market in 2023. These will be SUVs, sedans, vans, and hatchbacks. Some will be sold traditionally through dealers and mainstream advertising (such as MG4). Some, like the Model Y and BYD Dolphin, are so viral that they don't even need an ad. It doesn't really matter. Choice, competitive pricing and visibility are key. And this is being achieved. Take the 2022 CleanTechnica Reader Survey for a chance to win an electric bike.

Appreciate CleanTechnica's creativity and cleantech news reporting? Consider becoming a CleanTechnica Member, Supporter, Technician, Ambassador or Patreon patron.

Don't want to miss the cleantech talk? Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica by email. Or follow us on Google News.

Looking for CleanTechnica tips, promotions, or guests on the CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.