1. Aussie used-car buyers still want petrol and diesel
New data from the Australian Automotive Dealer Association and Autograb shows 258,127 used cars changed hands in September — up 6 per cent on August — and more than 93 per cent of them ran on petrol or diesel. Hybrids moved a touch better than diesels on the lot, but the EV numbers are the awkward bit: only half the electric cars listed actually sold, versus 72 per cent of petrol cars. The new-car market tells a different story: EVs outsold petrol-only and diesel-only cars in September for the second month straight, up 118 per cent on last year. New-car buyers are going electric; used-car buyers aren't there yet. One constant across both: the Ford Ranger, with 5,062 new ones registered plus the used ones for a combined 13,767 — Australia's favourite, full stop.
Source: Drive.com.au
2. Honda bins the e:HEV badge — it's just "Honda Hybrid" now
Honda has ditched the badge that baffled everyone: e:HEV is a terrible name, so from now on its next-generation hybrid system will just be called "Honda Hybrid". Announced this week, the system is an evolution of the current e:HEV hardware — new engine, new drive unit, new control software — but wrapped in branding your non-car-nut mate might actually remember. The old badge never rolled off the tongue and did nothing to tell a buyer "this car has a hybrid under the bonnet". Car companies almost never admit a badge was rubbish, so credit where it's due. For us in Australia, where Honda's hybrid range keeps growing, it'll be interesting to see when the new system actually lands in local showrooms — for now, it's a name change first and a tech reveal second.
Source: Autoblog
3. Uber's London robotaxi plan: testing yes, passengers... eventually
Uber and Chinese autonomous-driving firm Pony.ai announced this week that robotaxi testing in London starts within weeks — but pointedly refused to say when you'll actually be able to book one. The vehicles are Pony.ai's seventh-generation robotaxis, and the plan is part of a bigger European push targeting more than 2,000 robotaxis. They've done this dance before: in Zagreb, Croatia, the pair already runs bookable autonomous rides through the Uber app, with local partner Verne (yep, Mate Rimac's outfit) owning and operating the fleet. London's fleet operator is still a mystery, and Uber's hedging bets there too — it already launched supervised self-driving rides in London with British startup Wayve back in September. The robotaxi race is on; it's just stuck in the car park for now.
Source: Founder News
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