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Achieving a maximum five-star safety rating is something some car manufacturers decide not to chase, according to Euro NCAP. Certain car brands are sacrificing safety to keep prices low, according to Euro NCAP, but homologation rules will keep all vehicles at a bare minimum safety level believes the organisation. Speaking to Australian and New Zealand media, Euro NCAP technical director Richard Schram said there are car brands willing to accept a sub-five-star safety score. “I can’t speak about the Australian market because it does slightly differ than the European, but for the European market, we what see is [for example] Dacia as a brand clearly doesn’t aim for five stars,” Schram said. “They want to be at the budget [level], but they will aim for three [stars]. MORE: Chinese car safety systems to be refined due to global NCAP alignment “What you will see there is its significantly better than regulation, but they made some clear choices – ‘...

Not all Chinese car brands are having a good time in Australia this year, with some struggling to make an impact in the competitive market. China is now officially the largest source of new cars in Australia, but some brands are doing it tougher than others when it comes to capturing local market share. With BYD , GWM , MG , and Chery now firmly entrenched in the Top 10 list and paving the way to success, it has highlighted that not every Chinese marque might not be able to follow in their wake. Yes, these big Chinese players are proving mighty popular for local buyers – and increasing their share monthly – but just how much have they grown this year? And conversely, who are some of the Chinese brands that have proven less popular than last year? MORE: Chinese car safety systems to be refined due to global NCAP alignment BYD – Australia’s overall second-best-selling brand last month – has increased its year-on-year share by 110.8 per cent to 25...

The 2026 Federal Budget has been presented, with plenty of commitments, but just a few surprises for motorists. The 2026 Federal Budget offers a theme of ‘resilience and reform’ with initiatives that weave their way through an ocean of acronyms and numerical data. Among the small-business support packages, tax offsets and healthcare programs though, are a number of items that impact motorists around the country, albeit with significant focus on low and zero-emission cars. Here are the 2026 Federal Budget winners and losers on the road… MORE: Fuel excise to return in full, but a road user charge is still on the way WINNERS Affordable EV buyers: Changes to the fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemption on EVs will see cars priced up to $75,000 still able to claim a 100 per cent FBT (Fringe Benefit Tax) exemption until 31 March, 2029. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners: Expect to see more public EV chargers thanks to a $40-million funding c...

There’s a new police operation hitting Victorian roads to keep pedestrians safe, but it alone won’t solve the problem of rising deaths. Victoria Police have launched an operation in response to high pedestrian deaths in April, but more needs to be done to curb rising pedestrian deaths, says one road safety expert. Road Policing Acting Assistant Commissioner, Justin Goldsmith said while May traditionally has Victoria’s highest numbers of pedestrian deaths, the six pedestrian deaths recorded in April have police concerned. Police will be targeting at-risk areas informed by their intelligence. “This is not about levelling blame at anyone, this is about saving lives and reducing the amount of trauma on our roads,” Goldsmith said “Pedestrians have little to no protection, so when they’re involved in a collision with a vehicle, the consequences can be catastrophic.” “We’ll be focusing on behaviours that puts pedestrians at risk of being involved in a...

Think demerit points are just a police matter? They’re not, and some car insurers in Australia are watching driver records to assess premiums. It’s no secret that in 2026, car ownership costs are some of the most expensive necessities most Aussies have no choice but to pay. And while some state governments, like Victoria, have introduced travel relief – such as free public transport and 20 per cent rebates on registration – insurance costs are usually among the most expensive bills. RELATED: The EV insurance ‘sting’ facing Aussie drivers fleeing the fuel crisis Although insurance premiums depend on a range of factors, including a driver’s history, can demerit points actually impact your car insurance? Here’s what you need to know. Do demerit points affect your car insurance? Yes, demerit points can affect your insurance policies, though it depends on your insurer and your policy. In the case of NRMA, a spokesperson for the insurance company con...

Massive discounts have dropped thousands of dollars from prices of Kia’s struggling Tasman ute, bringing the flagship variant down to the price of a tradie-spec Ford Ranger V6. Kia has slashed prices across top-selling versions of the Tasman by up to $13,000, in the most significant savings for its dual-cab ute since it arrived in Australia nearly 12 months ago. The drive-away discounts apply to 2025-built Tasman dual-cab pick-ups – understood to cover a considerable portion of the Kia utes at dealers around Australia – and are available until 30 June 2026, unless extended. The off-road-focused Tasman X-Pro is the recipient of the $13,000 cut, now $64,990 drive-away – cheaper than the mid-grade SX+ prior to the significant discounts. Purchasing any Tasman variant in Western Australia adds $1000 to the prices listed throughout this story. MORE: Kia Tasman getting even harder to sell amid fuel crisis The X-Pro is now similar in price to the...