The Coalition's assertion that fuel efficiency standards would raise car prices was questioned after it was revealed their example vehicle is no longer on sale.
The Coalition just tried to rev up a scare campaign about car prices—and it backfired like an unserviced Holden Barina. In a bid to torpedo Labor’s fuel efficiency standards, the Libs claimed new rules would hike prices by checks notes $9,700. Their case study? A discontinued RAV4 model that hasn’t been sold in years.
Bravo. Turns out the entire argument was based on a ghost car. Toyota’s current RAV4 lineup is hybrid-only and emits far fewer greenhouse gases—aka, the kind of car that wouldn’t be penalised under the new rules. But don’t let that get in the way of a good old-fashioned political freak-out.
To make matters worse, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries fed the Libs this info, but left out the tiny detail that the model no longer exists. Now electric vehicle makers like Tesla and Polestar are calling the whole thing “misleading.” It’s like warning that seatbelts are dangerous—if you’re still driving a 1973 death trap.
So what we’ve got is the Coalition, trying to sound the alarm on a climate policy... using a car no one can buy... with emissions stats that don’t apply. The only thing getting wrecked here is their credibility. Sources: The Guardian Australia, April 19, 2025
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