1. Xiaomi EVs are coming to Australia — but bring patience
Xiaomi's EVs are locked in for Australia in 2028. Before that, the brand goes into left-hand-drive European markets — Germany first — from the second half of 2027. Expect the SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV, which line up against the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, and Xiaomi is already hiring for Sydney-based roles to run its Australian car business. Two years is a long wait. But more brands here means more choice, and more pressure on the prices the established players charge. And it's not all mainstream stuff — the SU7 Ultra is claimed at 1138kW with a 1.98-second 0–100km/h sprint. Xiaomi was already China's ninth-best-selling car brand in September, so this is a serious player, not a curiosity.
Source: Drive
2. Chery's boxy iCaur SUVs land from early 2027
Chery's SUV spin-off iCaur has laid out its Australian rollout, starting early 2027. First is the electric V25, with an 80kWh battery and a WLTP range of less than 400km, followed by a range-extender (REEV) version of the V25 and the larger V27. The V27's all-wheel-drive version claims up to 335kW, around 145km of electric-only range and about 900km combined. Boxy, Defender-style looks, with a full EV or a range-extender to choose from — that'll suit plenty of Aussies who like the shape but aren't ready to go fully electric yet. The smaller V23, a Jimny-sized electric SUV, is not confirmed for Australia and is not expected until an updated model arrives in 2028 or 2029.
Source: Drive
3. Tesla's Texas robotaxi fleet passes 1,200 — and trails Waymo by 55
Tesla's Texas robotaxi fleet now stands at 1,204 registered vehicles after 124 Model Ys were added, splitting into 631 Model Ys and 573 Cybercabs. That leaves Tesla 55 behind Waymo's 1,259 on the same Texas register, with Avride third on 344 and Zoox on 63. One catch: these are state registrations, not a count of cars actually carrying paying riders. Even so, the jump is big — four days earlier the fleet sat at 1,051. Tesla has also stretched Robotaxi hours to 2am, so the fleet is growing and the nights are getting longer.
Source: TeslaNorth
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