AADA takes Australian dealer voice to Beijing's World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference

Delegation heads to WICV with the dealer perspective

The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) will travel to Beijing this week to participate in the 2026 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference (WICV), bringing the perspectives of Australian dealers to one of the world's leading automotive industry forums, the association announced. The delegation will present on the transformation of the Australian automotive market, the opportunities and challenges arising from increasing competition, and the importance of strong and profitable dealer-manufacturer partnerships in delivering positive outcomes for customers and businesses. ¹

Beyond its presentation, the AADA says the delegation will also meet government and industry stakeholders, including regulators, industry associations and vehicle manufacturers, to discuss developments affecting the Australian market and advocate for the interests of Australian dealerships. Association chief executive James Voortman said Australia had become one of the world's most competitive automotive markets and offered valuable lessons for the global industry. ¹

"Australia is being closely watched by other automotive markets. Intense competition between new and established brands has coincided with rapid technological change which is shaping the future of automotive retail," Voortman said in the AADA's announcement, which also stressed that the body represents thousands of Australian businesses, many of them family-owned dealerships, and that dealerships need "a seat at the table" in conversations that will influence the future of automotive retail. ¹

Why Australia is on the international agenda

The timing reflects how closely the Australian market is now watched internationally. In an interview with China Daily, Voortman said Australia's automotive market is undergoing significant change, with consumers accessing more brands, technologies and vehicle types than ever before, accelerating the transition toward electrification. He said that transition is also being driven by advances in connected vehicle technologies, software integration and vehicle safety systems. ³

"Chinese manufacturers are now a major force in Australia's automotive market and are playing an increasingly important role in the transition towards electrified and connected vehicles," Voortman told China Daily, adding that their success had meant greater choice, increased competition and access to new technologies across a wider range of price points for Australian consumers. ³

China Daily also reported AADA analysis suggesting Chinese brands could account for about 58 per cent of Australia's new vehicle market by 2035, which Voortman said highlighted the increasingly important role they are likely to play in shaping the future direction of the sector. He described Australia as an important market for understanding global automotive trends, given the unusually broad range of brands and technologies available to local consumers. ³

The market backdrop: record EV share and Chinese-brand strength

The most recent industry figures underscore the shift the delegation will discuss. Australia's new vehicle market recorded 102,924 sales in September, up 0.9 per cent year on year, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries said in a statement on 6 October, as reported by China Daily. Battery electric vehicle sales from all sources accounted for 24.2 per cent of the market in September, up from 11.3 per cent for the same period last year. ³

China was the largest source of all vehicles sold in September, supplying 35.5 per cent of the market, with electric vehicles from major brands including BYD and Geely among the top sellers, according to the FCAI figures reported by China Daily. FCAI acting chief executive Dianne O'Hara said the latest figures reflected a sustained shift toward EVs, with many consumers making practical decisions from the range of available technologies. ³

Julie Delvecchio, chief executive of the Electric Vehicle Council, said in a statement reported by China Daily that the figures showed "a huge milestone in Australia's transition to electric transport", describing a sustained change extending well beyond a single strong month, and argued the focus now needs to be on improving EV charging. ³

Presentation themes: dealer councils, connectivity and data

Voortman told China Daily that the AADA's priority in Beijing is to share insights on Australia's rapidly evolving automotive market while learning from global developments in vehicle electrification, intelligent connectivity and automotive retailing. During the visit, the delegation will present on the Australian market and engage with government representatives, vehicle manufacturers, industry associations and automotive leaders from around the world. ³

Key discussion themes include the dialogue between manufacturers and dealers, helping manufacturers better understand customer expectations, local market conditions and emerging challenges, Voortman said. In the AADA's own announcement, he flagged that the association's presentation will highlight the role dealer councils can play in helping manufacturers understand local market conditions, strengthen communication and build more sustainable dealer networks, alongside expected discussions on connected vehicle technology and the changing ownership experience. ¹³

"As vehicles become increasingly connected and software-driven, important questions continue to be examined globally around vehicle data, customer choice and the future ownership experience. The AADA's role is to ensure the perspectives of Australian dealerships and their customers are part of those conversations," Voortman said in the association's announcement. ¹

Connected vehicle questions at home

The Beijing visit follows the AADA's September call for greater transparency on connected vehicle safety and security. In that statement, the association said Australian dealers and their 64,000 employees are increasingly facing customer questions about what connected vehicles can do, what information they collect, what functions can be accessed remotely and what safeguards exist. Voortman said buyers deserve clear answers and called for an urgent, fact-based debate and a thorough understanding of the future regulatory landscape. ⁵

In that September release, the AADA argued responsibility for vehicle design, software systems, connected technologies and regulatory compliance rests with manufacturers and government authorities, and said the issue highlights vulnerabilities in the Australian Consumer Law, reinforcing its position that manufacturers, not dealers, should be liable for the products they supply. The association has also recently formalised closer cooperation with the Motor Trades Association of Australia through a memorandum of understanding, which GoAuto reported was intended to present a coordinated and united industry voice. ⁵⁶

A growing international program for Australian dealers

The WICV trip extends the association's international engagement during 2026. Earlier in the year, the AADA ran a study tour to Auto China 2026 in Beijing from 23 to 27 April, promoted through its study tours program with premium access to the exhibition, a factory visit to Li Auto and networking with international industry figures. Back home, the AADA Convention and Expo returned to ICC Sydney on 29-30 July, where its Global Challenges - Dealer Impact panel examined geopolitical risk, Chinese EV brands and emissions policy with guests including the chairs of the US and Canadian dealer associations. ⁴⁸⁹⁷

Domestically, the association's 2025-26 annual report records a year of advocacy across franchising, the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard and consumer affairs, alongside its independent Australian Consumer Law review and the growth of the AADA Dealer Academy since its launch in October 2025. The AADA represents more than 3,900 franchised new vehicle dealers across Australia and describes itself as the national voice of the retail automotive industry. ²¹