Australia, 1986 to 2066
26 dated events in ten lanes, from 1993 to 2027: how road vehicles in Australia are powered, regulated, certified, traded and used, and what is already dated ahead.
Conditional deployment of automated vehicles in select areas
On 21 Nov 2025 transport ministers agreed an approach enabling conditional deployment of automated vehicles in select locations from 2027, with full national readiness as soon as practical.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busesinfrastructure.gov.au
Where it stands on 1 November 2026
How vehicles are approved
UN rulebook: ADRs largely harmonised with UN Regulations (1958 Agreement party since 2000), applied by self-certification and compliance plates under the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 since July 2021
Emission stages in force
Euro 6d (ADR 79/05) for new light-vehicle models since Dec 2025, all by July 2028; Euro VI (ADR 80/04) for all new heavy vehicles since Nov 2025; non-road engines unregulated; motorcycle stage not confirmed
Safety rules and ratings
ESC mandatory for new passenger cars since 2011-2013; compulsory Takata recall (2018); ANCAP ratings aligned with Euro NCAP since 2018; AEB mandate not confirmed in sources reached
Zero-emission target
None official (NVES fleet CO2 targets fall to 58 g/km for cars and 110 g/km for light commercials in 2029)
Net zero
2050 (legislated September 2022)
Market
Full-year 2025 total not confirmed; Sept 2026: 102,924 new vehicles (+0.9%), BEVs 18.9% of 2026 sales to date (FCAI)
Fuel and charging
10 ppm sulfur petrol since 15 Dec 2025 and diesel since 2009; E10 and up to B5 allowed; public charging counts not confirmed
End of life
Voluntary, ACCC-authorised product stewardship (tyres since 2014, batteries via B-cycle) under the Product Stewardship Act 2011; no ELV or EV-battery scheme found
Rulebook: UN Regulations
UN Regulations under the 1958 Agreement. A party to the UN 1958 Agreement and to the 1998 Agreement.
Also on this rulebook: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, South Africa, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
Every event, lane by lane
26 events in time order within each lane.
Powertrain and batteriesTechnology
Local production of the Camry Hybrid begins
Toyota began full-scale production of the Camry Hybrid at Altona, Victoria, on 11 December 2009; sales began in February 2010.
Carsen.wikipedia.org
Battery EVs reach 24% of monthly new-vehicle sales
BEVs took 24.2% of the 102,924 new vehicles sold in September 2026 and 18.9% of sales so far in 2026, against 8.1% a year earlier; plug-in hybrid sales rose 122.7%.
Cars, vans and pickupsfcai.com.au
None for the vehicle you picked.
Software, data and automationTechnology
South Australia first to allow on-road driverless trials
South Australian laws in place by 31 Mar 2016, an Australian first, let companies apply to trial self-driving vehicles on public roads if they submit trial plans and hold enough insurance.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busesdit.sa.gov.au
Ministers agree a national Automated Vehicle Safety Law
On 11 Feb 2022 transport ministers agreed the future Automated Vehicle Safety Law will be Commonwealth law, giving national rules for automated vehicles on public roads; start expected by 2026.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busesinfrastructure.gov.au
Draft: plan to adopt UN R155 and R156 as design rulesDraft
The infrastructure department began targeted consultation in April 2026 on adopting UN R155 (cyber security) and R156 (software updates) as two new ADRs plus a rule change; feedback due May 2026.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, buseshvia.asn.au
Conditional deployment of automated vehicles in select areasDated ahead
On 21 Nov 2025 transport ministers agreed an approach enabling conditional deployment of automated vehicles in select locations from 2027, with full national readiness as soon as practical.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busesinfrastructure.gov.au
None for the vehicle you picked.
Energy and infrastructureTechnology
Diesel sulfur limit cut to 10 ppm
Automotive diesel sulfur fell from 500 ppm (end-2002) to 50 ppm (2006) and 10 ppm from 1 January 2009; up to 5% biodiesel has been allowed without labelling since March 2009.
Trucks, buses, vans and pickups, tractors and machinerydieselnet.com
Petrol sulfur limit cut to 10 ppm
From 15 December 2025 all petrol grades must contain no more than 10 ppm sulfur (from 50-150 ppm), and 95-98 RON petrol is capped at 35% aromatics.
Cars, vans and pickups, two- and three-wheelersdieselnet.com
None for the vehicle you picked.
Emissions and climateRegulation
Euro 5 for new light-vehicle models (ADR 79/03)
ADR 79/03 applied 'core' Euro 5 limits to new light-vehicle models from November 2013; ADR 79/04 applied full Euro 5 to all models from November 2016.
Cars, vans and pickupsdieselnet.com
Consultation on non-road diesel engine emissions
Exhaust from non-road engines is unregulated; in May 2023 the environment department consulted on controlling emissions from diesel equipment such as tractors, cranes and generators.
Tractors and machinerydieselnet.com
Euro VI for new heavy-vehicle models (ADR 80/04)
ADR 80/04 requires Euro VI (stage C) emissions for new heavy-vehicle models of all fuel types from November 2024 and for all models from November 2025.
Trucks, busesdieselnet.com
New Vehicle Efficiency Standard starts
NVES fleet targets of 141 g CO2/km for cars and 210 g/km for light commercials apply from 1 January 2025, falling to 58 and 110 g/km in 2029; credits and penalties from 1 July 2025.
Cars, vans and pickupsdieselnet.com
Euro 6d for new light-vehicle models (ADR 79/05)
ADR 79/05 applies Euro 6d laboratory tests to new models from December 2025 and to all models from July 2028; Euro 6 had first been scheduled for 2017-2018.
Cars, vans and pickupsdieselnet.com
None for the vehicle you picked.
Vehicle safetyRegulation
Electronic stability control mandatory
ESC became compulsory for new passenger-vehicle models from 1 November 2011 and for all new passenger vehicles from November 2013; Victoria required it from January 2011.
Carsen.wikipedia.org medium confidence
Compulsory recall of Takata airbags
On 28 February 2018 the government made the Takata airbag recall compulsory for about 2.7 million vehicles; all defective airbags had to be replaced by 31 December 2020.
Cars, vans and pickupsabc.net.au
None for the vehicle you picked.
End of life and recyclingRegulation
Product Stewardship Act sets national framework
The Product Stewardship Act 2011 allows voluntary, co-regulatory and mandatory stewardship schemes; batteries were later added to the products listed for action.
All vehiclesen.wikipedia.org medium confidence
National tyre stewardship scheme starts
Industry set up Tyre Stewardship Australia in 2014 to run an ACCC-authorised voluntary scheme for used passenger, bus, truck and off-the-road tyres.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, buses, tractors and machinerytyrestewardship.org.au
None for the vehicle you picked.
Approval, testing and qualityCertification
ANCAP crash-test ratings begin
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program was founded in 1993 and has published crash-test results since; it adopted Euro NCAP protocols in 2018.
Carsen.wikipedia.org
Accession to the UN 1958 Agreement
Australia acceded to the 1958 Agreement on UN vehicle regulations and reciprocal recognition of approvals on 25 February 2000.
Cars, vans and pickups, two- and three-wheelers, trucks, busestreaties.un.org
Road Vehicle Standards Act replaces the 1989 law
From 1 July 2021 the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 and Rules 2019 replaced the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 for vehicles first provided to the Australian market.
Cars, vans and pickups, two- and three-wheelers, trucks, busesinfrastructure.gov.au
None for the vehicle you picked.
Trade and marketCommercial
End of local car manufacturing
Toyota closed its Altona plant on 3 October 2017 and Holden ended production at Elizabeth on 20 October 2017; Ford had closed its factories in October 2016.
Carsen.wikipedia.org
Fringe benefits tax exemption for electric cars
Electric cars under the luxury-car-tax threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles are FBT-exempt if first held and used from 1 July 2022; plug-in hybrids lost eligibility from 1 April 2025.
Carsato.gov.au
None for the vehicle you picked.
Supply chain and materialsCommercial
National Battery Strategy
Unveiled with the May 2024 budget, the strategy includes A$523.2 million for a Battery Breakthrough initiative and aims for Australia to make batteries with secure supply chains by 2035.
All vehiclestheconversation.com medium confidence
Tax incentive for critical-minerals processing legislated
The Production Tax Credits and Other Measures Act 2025, assented on 14 February 2025, gives critical-minerals processors a 10% tax break on processing and refining costs.
All vehiclesen.wikipedia.org medium confidence
None for the vehicle you picked.
Mobility and customersCommercial
Ridesharing legalised, starting with the ACT
The ACT legalised ridesharing in September 2015; South Australia and Queensland followed in 2016, Tasmania in December 2016 and the Northern Territory in January 2018.
Carsen.wikipedia.org
Used imports limited to enthusiast scheme or 25-year-old cars
Under the vehicle standards updated in 2021, used vehicles may be imported only through the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme or if 25 or more years old, and must be on the approved register.
Carsen.wikipedia.org medium confidence
None for the vehicle you picked.