Today in Cars: Aussie EVs Get Cheaper, Autonomy Eyes the City, and BYD’s Wave Keeps Rolling

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to shop small electric, this is it. Australia’s EV scene is doing that peculiar thing where discounts get bigger just as industry bean counters start to sweat. Meanwhile, Mercedes wants you hands-off in the city (with caveats), Uber is teaming with Lucid on robotaxis, and Hyundai’s quietly installing humanoid factory helpers. Let’s unpack it all, with a side of BYD momentum and a security PSA for LandCruiser owners.

Australia’s EV Crosscurrents: Discounts, Pressure, and a BYD Surge

Two storylines collided today. On one side, you’ve got very public price action. On the other, sales charts that look steady but hide a lot of strain.

Hyundai Inster: A$7000 Comes Off the Baby EV

Hyundai’s Inster just had A$7000 lopped off the sticker, a rare bit of cheerful news if you’re shopping a compact EV. For city dwellers, that’s the difference between “interesting” and “I’m booking a test drive.” The Inster’s appeal is simple: tidy footprint, easy parking, running costs you can predict. When I hop into tiny EVs like this for inner-city runs, light steering and visibility is the winning combo—especially threading tram tracks and café delivery zones where your mirrors feel wider than the street.

• Who benefits: Urban commuters, first-time EV buyers, downsizers who still want modern safety kit.
• What to watch: Delivery timelines and any dealer-specific incentives layered on top of the headline cut.

Flatlining Sales, Big Drop-offs, and the EV Top Dogs

Zooming out, fresh VFACTS chatter says overall sales are flat-to-soft, and the list of models suffering steep drops in 2025 is…not short. That pressure is part of why you’re seeing sharper deals like the Inster’s. On the EV side, Australia’s best-sellers list for 2025 underscores a tighter race at the top: the familiar leaders are still there, but new metal is nipping at heels.

Case in point: BYD. The Sealion 7 rode a December swell that put it just outside the top three. You can feel the brand’s momentum when you talk to buyers—tech-forward cabin, pricing that undercuts rivals, and a design that doesn’t scream “science project.”

BYD Sealion 6 vs Sealion 7: Different Directions

BYD’s product shuffle adds another wrinkle. The Sealion 6—framed as a PHEV SUV—has been replaced in China, and it isn’t yet locked for Australia. That doesn’t kill the plug-in dream, but it does slow the drumbeat a little. Meanwhile, the all-electric Sealion 7 is the one actually moving metal locally, which tells you where buyer energy is right now.

Quick Hits: Market Pulse

• Flat sales can mask heavy discounting behind the scenes—buyers win in the short term.
• Models with sharp year-over-year drops tend to see the biggest retail incentives.
• EV best-seller lists are stabilizing but still competitive; newcomers can move the needle fast.

Autonomy Roundup: Cities in Sight, Robotaxis On Deck

Mercedes Plans Hands-Free Driving in Cities (With a Catch)

Mercedes is preparing to let you go hands-free in urban environments. The catch? Limitations. Expect geofenced routes, strict driver-monitoring, and speed constraints typical of stop-and-go traffic. That’s the trade: genuine relief in jams, not a license to nap. I’ve used highway-grade assist systems in real traffic, and the key test isn’t how flashy the name is—it’s how predictably the car handles clumsy cut-ins and unmarked lanes. If Merc’s urban mode is consistent, commuters will feel the difference immediately.

• Where it helps: Congested city corridors, long red-light crawls.
• What to verify at delivery: Activation regions, subscription costs, and update cadence.

Uber + Lucid Robotaxi Coming Later This Year

Uber and Lucid plan to roll out a robotaxi service before year’s end. The ride-hail integration is the interesting bit—getting autonomy into an app millions already use. The open question is the where and how: limited service areas at first, likely with heavy mapping and operational boundaries. If you’re a frequent Uber rider in a pilot city, this could quietly become the most accessible way to sample driverless tech without joining a waitlist.

Factories of the Near Future: Hyundai’s Humanoid Helpers

Hyundai is sending humanoid robots to U.S. manufacturing. This isn’t sci-fi for the sake of it; it’s about ergonomics and repeatability. Think tiresome, repetitive tasks in areas where a wheeled bot struggles—door hinge installs at awkward angles, parts fetching in tight spaces. Every plant worker I’ve spoken to about bots says the same thing: if the robot handles the back-breaking stuff, fine—just don’t slow the line. The proof will be in uptime and how seamlessly these bots play with humans on a live line.

• Likely first tasks: Parts delivery, inspection, and ergonomically tough installs.
• What it means: Potentially steadier quality, safer jobs, and a new skillset for factory teams.

Security PSA: LandCruiser and Prado Theft Spree

Authorities have made more arrests related to the LandCruiser/Prado theft ring. These 4x4s are catnip for thieves—high value, easy to export, and plenty of parts demand. If you own one, stack your defenses. Layering is key.

• Use a Faraday pouch for keyless fobs to block relay attacks.
• Add a visible steering lock; it’s old-school, but it deters opportunists.
• Consider an OBD-II lock and a secondary immobilizer.
• Park nose-in against a wall or in a locked garage when possible.

Culture Palate Cleanser: A Classic Nissan, a Muscle-Car Face, and “520” Reasons

Because car culture should also be fun: someone grafted a Plymouth-style muscle-car face onto a classic Nissan and teased “520 reasons” to care. Whether that number points to power, displacement, or sheer audacity, it’s the kind of build that makes you pause scrolling and smile. Not practical. Definitely memorable. Car meets need cars like this.

What It Means for Shoppers This Week

• Urban EVs: With A$7000 off, the Hyundai Inster jumps to the front of the small-EV queue. Drive it back-to-back with your favored hybrid to sanity-check range and charging fit.
• Waiting on BYD: Sealion 7 demand looks healthy; place an order early if it’s on your shortlist. If you want a PHEV, watch how the Sealion 6 storyline develops locally.
• Hands-Free Features: If you’re speccing a new Mercedes, confirm where the urban hands-free works and what it costs after any trial period.
• Security: LandCruiser/Prado owners—layer your security now, not after a scare.

Conclusion

Discounts on small EVs, BYD’s swelling tide, and autonomy edging into the city: it’s a week of real, usable change, not just concept-car promises. If you’re shopping, leverage the market pressure—it’s finally working in your favor. If you’re just watching, the most interesting experiments this year might not be on the highway anymore, but downtown at 12 km/h.

FAQ

• How much cheaper is the Hyundai Inster? Today’s reports point to an A$7000 reduction on the baby EV, making it a stronger value play for city buyers.
• Is the BYD Sealion 6 coming to Australia? The PHEV Sealion 6 has been replaced in China and isn’t yet locked in for Australia. Keep an eye on local announcements if you’re PHEV-focused.
• Where did the BYD Sealion 7 place in December? It landed just outside the top three, signaling robust demand in Australia.
• Will Mercedes’ hands-free system work in all cities? Expect geofenced operation, speed limits, and strict driver-monitoring. Check availability for your region and model.
• When can I try the Uber/Lucid robotaxi? The partnership aims to launch later this year in select areas, with service likely expanding as validation grows.