EV (electric vehicle) News and Discussion

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

1 | ... | 766 | 767 | 768 | 769 | 770 | 771

jarledb

Webhead
3319 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1983

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#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.

Jarle Dahl Bergersen | Referral Links: Want $50 off when you join Octopus Energy? Use this referral code
Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by making a donation or subscribing.

kangaroo13

87 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 90

#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

18669 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7805

Lifetime subscriber

#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

18669 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7805

Lifetime subscriber

#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

18669 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7805

Lifetime subscriber

#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

439 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 312

#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?

Otautahi Christchurch

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

RunningMan

9184 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4832

#3479602 9-Apr-2026 21:35

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

SaltyNZ

8862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9539

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#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...

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

gzt

18669 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7805

Lifetime subscriber

#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/

1 | ... | 766 | 767 | 768 | 769 | 770 | 771