Overview

• A report by the Centre for International Economics for the Australian Automotive Dealer Association forecasts Chinese-built vehicles will surge from 16% of imports in 2025 to 43% by 2035.
• Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard penalises higher-emission models, effectively granting Chinese hybrids and electric cars a competitive edge.
• China already accounts for 65% of Australia’s electric vehicle imports, with BYD, Xpeng, Zeekr, Geely and MG topping local sales.
• Japanese-made car share is projected to fall from 32% to 22% and Thai-made from 21% to 11% by 2035, while South Korea’s share dips to 8%.
• Automotive dealers are calling on the government to strengthen ACCC-backed guarantees to ensure timely parts supply, shorter service wait times and robust warranty support.