The Australian car market already one of the most competitive in the world with
over 50 brands on sale is about to heat up further as a swag of new Chinese
brands head down under next year. More than a dozen new Asian brands are due
with the potential to lower prices of existing EV and hybrid brands. Chinese
brands Skywell, Jetour, GAC, Leapmotor, Geely, Jaecoo, Changan, Xpeng, Aion
and Lynk and Co have all confirmed they will be here by the end of next year and
most have high aspirations for growth. Just how the market will cope with this
influx of Chinese brands will be interesting to watch. According to KIA Motors
Australia Chief Damien Meredith there will be casualties, some will survive but
others won’t. For the consumer it can only mean sharper prices across the board.
I’m David Berthon

The Australian car market already one of the most competitive in the world with over 50 brands on sale is about to heat up further as a swag of new Chinese brands head down under next year. More than a dozen new Asian brands are due with the potential to lower prices of existing EV and hybrid brands. Chinese brands Skywell, Jetour, GAC, Leapmotor, Geely, Jaecoo, Changan, Xpeng, Aion and Lynk and Co have all confirmed they will be here by the end of next year and most have high aspirations for growth. Just how the market will cope with this influx of Chinese brands will be interesting to watch. According to KIA Motors Australia Chief Damien Meredith there will be casualties, some will survive but others won’t. For the consumer it can only mean sharper prices across the board. I’m David Berthon

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon. 

For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873.

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon.&nbsp;
For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873.

Motor Torque with David Berthon

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon. 

For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873 

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon.&nbsp;
For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873&nbsp;

Influx of Chinese car brands expected in 2025 to stir the market

Driving Mazda’s light SUV, the CX-3 – a model that’s been with us for close to 10
years but it remains the segments best seller against a number of newer models –
updated last year in a new five model range with the introduction of the sportier
G20 Touring SP model at $34,450n plus on-road costs, a 2.0-litre naturally
aspirated four-cylinder in six-speed automatic with manual shift paddles driving
the front wheels. Comprehensively equipped the G20 Touring SP is a more
polished CX-3 distinguished with black elements like larger 18-wheels, a black
grille and roof, and combination black suede and leather seat trim. The driving
experience aided by manual shift paddles that let you tap the power and torque
better relative to road speed – in automatic the engine can surge a little under a
hard throttle at lower speeds. The CX-3 may have been with us a while however
Mazda has kept it updated in the right areas with more active safety elements and
it doesn’t feel old or outdated in any way – still a good-looking bobtailed wedge
design with the only limitation rather tight boot space. Built in Thailand and with a
five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. The CX-3 G20 Touring SP well worth the
extra money adding some very appealing styling and driving elements. I’m David
Berthon

Driving Mazda’s light SUV, the CX-3 – a model that’s been with us for close to 10 years but it remains the segments best seller against a number of newer models – updated last year in a new five model range with the introduction of the sportier G20 Touring SP model at $34,450n plus on-road costs, a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder in six-speed automatic with manual shift paddles driving the front wheels. Comprehensively equipped the G20 Touring SP is a more polished CX-3 distinguished with black elements like larger 18-wheels, a black grille and roof, and combination black suede and leather seat trim. The driving experience aided by manual shift paddles that let you tap the power and torque better relative to road speed – in automatic the engine can surge a little under a hard throttle at lower speeds. The CX-3 may have been with us a while however Mazda has kept it updated in the right areas with more active safety elements and it doesn’t feel old or outdated in any way – still a good-looking bobtailed wedge design with the only limitation rather tight boot space. Built in Thailand and with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. The CX-3 G20 Touring SP well worth the extra money adding some very appealing styling and driving elements. I’m David Berthon

Mazda’s CX-3 SUV – the sportier G20 Touring SP well worth the extra money

Mazda’s small CX-3 SUV has been with us a long time, in fact nearly 10 years,
yet it represents a 1/3 rd of the light SUV sales against a number of newer models.
It’s a model that’s always appealed, a five-door bob tailed SUV that’s aged well.
I’m driving the higher spec 2.0-litre six speed auto G20 Touring SP, a sportier
model added last year at $34,450 plus on-road costs. The G20 Touring SP has
some nice touches, well worth the extra, elements that give it more class
including larger gloss black 18-inch alloy wheels, a black grille and roof,
combination black suede and leather seat trim, a 10-way power adjustable
driver’s seat, heated front seats and manual gear shift paddles. And importantly,
the CX-3 was freshened with a number of active safety elements including a rear-
view camera, front and rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert, tyre pressure
monitoring, lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring. And it gains a
handy head-up display on a flip up screen on top of the instrument binnacle. As I
found when I first drove the Mazda CX-3 nearly 10 years ago the bob tail nature of
the body limits luggage capacity, apart from that there’s little to criticise. I’m
David Berthon

Mazda’s small CX-3 SUV has been with us a long time, in fact nearly 10 years, yet it represents a 1/3 rd of the light SUV sales against a number of newer models. It’s a model that’s always appealed, a five-door bob tailed SUV that’s aged well. I’m driving the higher spec 2.0-litre six speed auto G20 Touring SP, a sportier model added last year at $34,450 plus on-road costs. The G20 Touring SP has some nice touches, well worth the extra, elements that give it more class including larger gloss black 18-inch alloy wheels, a black grille and roof, combination black suede and leather seat trim, a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats and manual gear shift paddles. And importantly, the CX-3 was freshened with a number of active safety elements including a rear- view camera, front and rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert, tyre pressure monitoring, lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring. And it gains a handy head-up display on a flip up screen on top of the instrument binnacle. As I found when I first drove the Mazda CX-3 nearly 10 years ago the bob tail nature of the body limits luggage capacity, apart from that there’s little to criticise. I’m David Berthon

Mazda’s CX-3 SUV – an oldie but a goodie

BMW’s CEO Oliver Zipse speaking at an automobile congress in Berlin this week
said that the move to ban the sale of petrol and diesel models in Europe and
around the globe by 2035 threatened the livelihoods of thousands of workers.
This is not the first time the BMW CEO has been outspoken on the move to
outlaw the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines, suggesting the
industry will look different in terms of scale and structure that it does today if it
goes to just one technology. Zipse comments echo those of Toyota’s Chairman
Akio Toyoda, who last month said Japan’s plan to ban sales of new petrol and
diesel-powered vehicles, also by 2035, would lead to millions of job losses there.
Toyota recently announced a partnership with BMW to build a mass-produced
hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. I’m David Berthon

BMW’s CEO Oliver Zipse speaking at an automobile congress in Berlin this week said that the move to ban the sale of petrol and diesel models in Europe and around the globe by 2035 threatened the livelihoods of thousands of workers. This is not the first time the BMW CEO has been outspoken on the move to outlaw the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines, suggesting the industry will look different in terms of scale and structure that it does today if it goes to just one technology. Zipse comments echo those of Toyota’s Chairman Akio Toyoda, who last month said Japan’s plan to ban sales of new petrol and diesel-powered vehicles, also by 2035, would lead to millions of job losses there. Toyota recently announced a partnership with BMW to build a mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. I’m David Berthon

Influx of Chinese car brands expected in 2025 to stir the market

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