Car news today: Luxury car tax facing the chopping block, BYD beats Tesla for best selling EV, and more – 07 May 2025

Thanks for joining us this Wednesday, Could maybe 07th 2025. Significantly in automobile knowledge today: Labor would possibly likely maybe likely also toss luxury automobile tax, BYD Sealion 7 extra standard than Tesla in April.

Browse this explain:

• The ALP will more than likely be scrapping the controversial Luxurious Automobile Tax
• BYD Sealion 7 triumphs over Tesla in EV battle of attrition
• Jaecoo J8 impress and specs revealed earlier than June birth
• Mercedes-Benz C350e marks the return of Benz PHEVs

Why the ALP will more than likely be scrapping Luxurious Automobile Tax

• The no longer too long within the past reelected Australian Labor Celebration (ALP) is reportedly pondering scrapping Luxurious Automobile Tax (LCT), per a checklist published by The Australian. The switch helps firm up free trade with Europe within the face of the impact of US trade tariffs imposed on the EU.

• Offered in 2001, the LCT imposes a 33 p.c tax to autos valued above $80,567. In the period in-between, gas atmosphere pleasant autos (these with a claimed gas consumption below 7.0L/100km) possess a better $91,387 threshold.

• An economic domino kill has observedly begun from US tariffs. Australia hopes to expend the abolishment of LCT to assign free trade with Europe and other continents.

• Claims of abolishing LCT observe from requests of the European Union to befriend its increasingly struggling car industry following most contemporary US tariffs as well to gradually rising competition from Chinese carmakers.

READ: Luxurious Automobile Tax on the chopping board as Federal Authorities eyes trade negotiations with Europe

BYD Sealion 7 triumphs over Tesla in EV battle of attrition

• The BYD Sealion 7 has claimed the title of April 2025’s most practical possible-promoting EV, pulling earlier than several EV producers along side reigning Australian EV gross sales champion Tesla.

• BYD’s Sealion 7 midsize electrical SUV shifted 743 autos in April, impressive for its third month on sale. Its closest rival, the Tesla Mannequin Y, offered genuine 280 fashions, with the Mannequin 3 trailing shut within the befriend of at 220 registrations.

• Tesla has knowledgeable Chasing Vehicles that they mediate the Could maybe 2025 gross sales rollout of the all-new 2025 Mannequin Y will stabilise the logo’s uncharacteristically low gross sales figures.

• Several electrical autos outsold both model of Tesla in April, along side the MG4 (363), Kia EV5 (342), Kia EV3 (336), and Geely EX5 (324). The Tesla Mannequin Y remains the most traditional EV in Australia One year to this level, with a filled with 3394 deliveries.

READ: BYD Sealion 7 outsells Mannequin Y to be most traditional electrical automobile in April

Jaecoo J8 impress and specs revealed earlier than June birth

• Luxurious Chery subdivision Jaecoo has announced pricing for its new J8 medium/tidy size SUV earlier than its legitimate June 2025 birth date.

• The Jaecoo J8 will within the foundation be offered in two tremendous ranges, starting at $49,990 pressure-away for the J8 Note entrance-wheel pressure and $54,990 pressure-away for the J8 Ridge all-wheel pressure. Both autos will likely be powered by a 183kW/385Nm two-litre turbocharged four cylinder.

• The Jaecoo J8 opponents an analogous uncommon monocoque softroaders along side the $44,190 (MSRP) Subaru Outback, $50,240 (MSRP) Mazda CX-60 and $Fifty three,000 (MSRP) Hyundai Santa Fe.

• No matter being a key promoting level in foreign markets, the Australian model Jaecoo J8 will no longer be on hand with a six- or seven-seat configuration. A Chery spokesperson divulged to Chasing Vehicles the importer became as soon as “dissatisfied” to omit out.

READ: Jaecoo’s J8 appears to be like to rob on Hyundai Santa Fe and Mazda CX-60 with top price fitout and keen impress

Mercedes-Benz C350e marks the return of Benz PHEVs

• Mercedes-Benz Australia has announced it’ll be bringing the brand new C350e plod-in hybrid to Australia – the first time the three-pointed megastar has offered a PHEV for the explanation that discontinuing of the A250e sedan in Could maybe 2022.

• The Mercedes-Benz C350e is on hand to repeat from today, with a starting impress of $98,200 (list). It facets a 25.4kWh battery, two-litre turbocharged four cylinder, and nine-velocity automatic transmission with P2 mounted electrical motor. Combined output is quoted to be 230kW and 550Nm.

• Mercedes-Benz claims the C350e is able to up to 100km (NEDC) electrical-completely driving vary. Same outdated equipped 11kW AC charging accomplishes a pudgy payment in a claimed 2 hours, with $1500 optional rapid DC 55kW charging conducting a 0-80 p.c payment in 20 minutes.

• The C350e opponents an analogous mid-size European govt sedans, essentially the $88,990 (list) Volvo S60 T8 PHEV and upcoming Audi A5 PHEV.

The following explain of Automobile Files At the novel time will likely be published on Thursday 08th Could maybe at 4.30pm Sydney time.