The week in perspective

This week's briefing is bookended by Toyota news on two very different fronts. Toyota Australia has recalled 5925 current-generation RAV4 plug-in hybrids built in 2026 over an MG-ECU manufacturing issue that could cause fail-safe mode, shutdown and loss of motive power at higher speeds, with free dealership repairs following written owner contact and the conventional hybrid unaffected; the campaign is part of an international effort covering about 31,000 US, 7846 Canadian and 5307 Japanese examples. It is the PHEV's first recall since its June 2026 launch, and Toyota separately reports PHEVs have taken about 30 per cent of RAV4 sales since launch, matching its planning assumption, with 4624 September deliveries and a GXL 2WD PHEV grade planned for the first quarter of 2027.

Toyota has also agreed to a reported record $750 million settlement of the Williams and Taylor DPF class actions, covering about 264,170 HiLux, Prado and Fortuner turbo-diesel models acquired between October 1, 2015 and April 23, 2020, with no admission of liability reported; the deal remains subject to Federal Court approval at a hearing scheduled for November 20, 2026, individual payment amounts are unconfirmed, and the free repair available since 2020 stays open to eligible owners. Jaguar Land Rover Australia also recalled 94 Australian-delivered Range Rover Sport SVs built between 2023 and 2026 over possible rear subframe cracks, per a federal notice published October 14 (CarExpert puts the count at 95, unresolved), mirroring a US campaign covering 1,073 vehicles.

Pricing moved sharply. Tesla launched the 2027 Model 3 RWD from $45,900 before on-road costs, the country's cheapest electric sedan, $9000 under the Premium RWD, with equipment deletions rather than mechanical changes and first deliveries due mid-to-late October 2026; BYD separately dropped the Seal Dynamic on weak demand, leaving the Seal Premium from $52,990 before on-road costs. BYD also launched the Atto 2 DM-i, Australia's cheapest PHEV, from $24,990 before on-road costs (Premium $29,990), with reviews praising the powertrain and value but flagging 3.3kW AC-only charging, a firm ride and no ANCAP rating yet. Nissan confirmed the China-built Navara Pro PHEV for 2027, with preliminary 300kW/800Nm outputs, a 3.5-tonne braked towing target and up to 1000kg payload, all subject to homologation and with grades, battery and range unconfirmed.

The Australian Financial Review reports about 85 per cent of battery electric vehicles sold in Australia in 2026 were built in China, with more than 180,000 BEVs sold in the first nine months, up 136 per cent year on year; August was the first month on record in which BEVs outsold petrol and diesel on VFACTS data, BYD ranked second among brands in September, and used EV sales rose 29.8 per cent in September while used petrol and diesel values slumped. As a retrospective briefing, none of this guarantees current pricing or availability.