EV (electric vehicle) News and Discussion

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › EV (electric vehicle) News and Discussion

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#3479583 9-Apr-2026 19:45

SaltyNZ:

Yeah I saw another article about that the other day. WTH are they too proud to sell the damn things anywhere else?

I think it is competing too much with other models in Toyota's lineup, and that they don't want to disrupt their own sales. Which is stupid, because other Chinese brands will happily take their customers.

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kangaroo13

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#3479586 9-Apr-2026 20:05

SaltyNZ:

dafman:

... the Sealion has a higher quality of finish.

...

...

When I was teenager, my uncle, a mechanic, told my dad never to go near a Hyundai because they were utter rubbish that would basically explode the day the warranty ended. You wouldn't say that about a Hyundai anymore.

Indeed - it appears that Chinese cars have come a long way over the last few years. I think it is still a bit early to make a call on quality though. We need to wait until a bunch of them get up around 10 years, 200,000km, and see how things have lasted. Particularly all the electronic wizardry/gadgetry in modern EVs.

Much the same could be said of early Japanese cars - and they did have some issues in some of the early models that hit our markets in the 70s, particularly the upmarket ones with electric everything. Well sorted now.

But - when push comes to shove, if I needed to replace my car in the next year or two, would I take a punt on a Chinese EV? Yes - most probably. The Japanese are still playing catch up. And the choice from Europe and Korea is rather limited.

gzt

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#3479588 9-Apr-2026 20:27

dafman:
gzt: Other brands have been in the market for a long time. The main feature of Japanese cars is long life iterated technology based on experience. That is why people continue to buy Japanese cars with all the other choices available. That is not going to change.
Oh yes it is. Proven technology can only go so far when faced with better value for money.

Toyota for example has excellent brand loyalty. That goes some way. The overall market for cars and vehicles continues to expand. Japanese car manufacturers can afford to lose some percentage market share and yet still continue to grow sales in absolute numbers.

As the earlier post implies, Toyota currently avoids disruption to it's high value hybrid market and other existing sales while competing successfully in China's electric vehicle market. Toyota knows with that success in the China market for BEV it can beat the same players in the wider world market anytime Toyota decides to scale for export.

gzt

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#3479594 9-Apr-2026 21:09

Serious long haul electric truck with one million kilometer battery warranty USD$285,000

Description has details. Built by Belgian joint venture in China for Europe market.

gzt

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#3479598 9-Apr-2026 21:18

Australia invests in electric heavy truck depots:

https://thedriven.io/2026/04/09/australias-biggest-electric-truck-depot-takes-shape-secures-government-support/

Demonstration trial runs are using the Windrose truck above.

fastbike

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#3479601 9-Apr-2026 21:26

SaltyNZ:

jarledb:

One such car is the Toyota bZ7.

Yeah I saw another article about that the other day. WTH are they too proud to sell the damn things anywhere else?

I was blocked, required access for ads. Really?

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RunningMan

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#3479602 9-Apr-2026 21:35

@fastbike, yep ads are how site pay for themselves. You wouldn't work for free would you?

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#3479606 9-Apr-2026 22:34

fastbike:

SaltyNZ:

jarledb:

One such car is the Toyota bZ7.

Yeah I saw another article about that the other day. WTH are they too proud to sell the damn things anywhere else?

I was blocked, required access for ads. Really?

Loaded for me with UBlock Origin...

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gzt

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#3479937 10-Apr-2026 20:15

Great news for NZ's used import market - EV sales are taking off in Japan:

"In Toyota’s home market of Japan, the updated bZ4X ranked as the top-selling domestic EV for the first time in the second half of fiscal year 2025. Toyota sold over 2,000 bZ4X models in Japan in February, marking its fourth consecutive month as the most popular domestic EV"

https://electrek.co/2026/04/08/toyotas-updated-electric-suv-sleeper-hit/

dafman

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#3480804 14-Apr-2026 17:46

gzt:
dafman: Why legacy Japanese carmakers don't stand a chance ...

Avatr 06T wagon with Huawei lidar and fastback rear design

Other brands have been in the market for a long time. The main feature of Japanese cars is long life iterated technology based on experience. That is why people continue to buy Japanese cars with all the other choices available. That is not going to change.

Mazda’s upcoming all electric CX6e, to be launched in Australia later this year, and presumably NZ as well, is manufactured by the same Chinese company that produces the Avatr 06T wagon.

A Japanese legacy name happy with Chinese quality and reliability.

And it looks amazing and less expensive than a Telsa Y to boot link here

deepred

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#3480856 14-Apr-2026 19:02

dafman:

gzt:
dafman: Why legacy Japanese carmakers don't stand a chance ...

Avatr 06T wagon with Huawei lidar and fastback rear design

Other brands have been in the market for a long time. The main feature of Japanese cars is long life iterated technology based on experience. That is why people continue to buy Japanese cars with all the other choices available. That is not going to change.

Mazda’s upcoming all electric CX6e, to be launched in Australia later this year, and presumably NZ as well, is manufactured by the same Chinese company that produces the Avatr 06T wagon.

A Japanese legacy name happy with Chinese quality and reliability.

And it looks amazing and less expensive than a Telsa Y to boot link here

They probably have Japanese QA officers.

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fastbike

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#3480923 15-Apr-2026 07:15

dafman:

Mazda’s upcoming all electric CX6e, to be launched in Australia later this year, and presumably NZ as well, is manufactured by the same Chinese company that produces the Avatr 06T wagon.

A Japanese legacy name happy with Chinese quality and reliability.

And it looks amazing and less expensive than a Telsa Y to boot link here

Looks like a platform designed for an ICE version, very poor packaging.

Otautahi Christchurch

HarmLessSolutions

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#3481962 18-Apr-2026 16:56

Here we go. The NZ Herald knows better than us EV owners. What a load of misinformed BS

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

gzt

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#3481969 18-Apr-2026 17:20

I think I skimmed the companion article for that. I'm not going to watch the video. The only relevant concern seemed to be lifetime of the vehicle.

I think most people are well aware of that and make the decision based on the excellent warranty provided. Often 8 years on the battery and 160,000km on the car which is about 10 years of driving for most people.

Pretty good cover for most of a new buyer's ownership.

gzt

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#3482218 19-Apr-2026 17:26

Radio NZ reviews EV and Solar low interest loans and mortgage add-ons:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/592773/so-you-want-to-buy-an-ev-here-s-what-your-bank-could-offer

Westpac comes out on top for existing mortgage customers with $50k interest free over five years.

For new or existing customers without a mortgage Westpac offers a 7.99% EV personal loan. That is definitely way better than retail finance if you don't have a mortgage to draw from.

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