Automotive news

• Tesla electronic door releases could be responsible for 15 deaths – report

  01-01-2026 23:00 via drive.com.au
  An investigation by Bloomberg attributes 15 deaths to entrapment caused by Tesla’s electronic door release system in crash situations.An ongoing investigation by news outlet Bloomberg reports that Tesla’s electronic door release system could be responsible for at least 15 deaths in the United States.The report filed by Bloomberg analysed crash data going back to 2012, following multiple reports by owners that Tesla’s electronically operated doors could fail to operate following
  
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• Ford CEO says it couldn’t compete with Toyota, Hyundai and Kia – report

  01-01-2026 22:00 via drive.com.au
  Ford’s global CEO Jim Farley says the Blue Oval made a ‘mistake’ in offering a full product line-up similar to Toyota, Hyundai and Kia.
  Ford Focus
  Ford wants to focus on specialised products, such as commercial vehicles, sports and electric cars, saying it was a “mistake” to be a full-line manufacturer similar to Toyota, Hyundai and Kia.In an interview with Argentina’s La Nacion, Jim Farley, the global CEO of Ford, said the brand’s “costs were not
  
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• 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Calligraphy review

  01-01-2026 22:00 via drive.com.au
  If you’re looking for a stylish, fully-electric, seven-seat family car, look no further. Just make sure your pockets are deep, because as beautiful, powerful and practical as the Hyundai Ioniq 9 is, it is priced firmly at the pointy end.
  Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 CalligraphyFully-electric seven-seat SUVs are still relatively scarc
  
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• 2025 GWM Cannon Alpha, Tank 300 and Tank 500 hybrids recalled in Australia

  01-01-2026 21:00 via drive.com.au
  The fault could cause reduced vehicle performance and affect the cooling operation of its hybrid system, according to the recall notice.Great Wall Motors Australia has recalled 1445 examples of its 2025 GWM Cannon Alpha, GWM Tank 300 and GWM Tank 500 hybrids, citing a potential fault with their high-voltage wiring harness. The affected vehicles are stamped 2025 models, affecting the Cannon Alpha Plug-In Hybrid, the Tank 300 Hybrid, and the Tank 500 Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid. The recall
  
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• Used Imports: 2025 sees slowdown as Toyota dominance continues

  01-01-2026 20:57 via autotalk.co.nz
  The used import market faced a challenging year in 2025, with total registrations dipping across both passenger and commercial segments. For the full year, the total used import market (passenger and commercial) sat at 89,188 units, a significant drop from the 103,925 recorded in 2024. The passenger segment bore the brunt of the decline, finishing the year with 85,031 registrations, down […]
  The post Used Imports: 2025 sees slowdown as Toyota dominance contin
  
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• December: A solid finish to a rollercoaster year

  01-01-2026 20:48 via autotalk.co.nz
  The year has signed off with a steady month of trade, with 15,728 new vehicles hitting the road in December. While the overall market was down slightly on the same month last year (which saw 17,523 registrations), the passenger segment remained robust. A total of 12,844 passenger cars were registered, compared to 14,418 in December 2024. The commercial sector […]
  The post December: A solid finish to a rollercoaster year appeared first on Autotalk.
  
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• 2025 Market: RAV4 takes top spot as passenger sales drive recovery

  01-01-2026 20:11 via autotalk.co.nz
  The New Zealand new vehicle market finished 2025 on a high note, showing resilience and growth after a challenging previous year. The overall market reached 137,853 registrations, a solid increase from the 128,818 units recorded in 2024. This year’s growth story was driven entirely by a resurgence in the passenger vehicle segment, which surged by 12% to reach 97,987 registrations. This […]
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• Ford Focus is dead, but here are five of the best models that lived

  01-01-2026 03:00 via drive.com.au
  After 27 years in production across four generations, the Ford Focus reached the end of the line in 2025. These are the five most memorable Focuses from Ford’s small car glory days.Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the life and legacy of the Ford Focus.It’s not uncommon to eulogise memorable, landmark, high-performance supercars, but what about affordable and accessible small cars?For Ford, the Focus represented a power play in Europe, a bold new model designed
  
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• Honda’s ‘fun side’ signals the start of a new approach in 2026

  01-01-2026 00:00 via drive.com.au
  Cars like the Prelude and Super-One may not be volume sellers for Honda, but they point to what’s to come from the Japanese brand.
  Honda Super-One and Honda Prelude
  Honda appears to be gearing up to entice enthusiasts to the brand in 2026, returning to its roots as an enthusiast brand.While the sales benefit of niche sports cars may not be immediate, behind the scenes, the new models coming in 2026 point to what the brand has in store in later years.The Honda Prelude returns to showrooms t
  
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