Penalties beneath the New Automobile Effectivity Normal (NVES) at the moment are in impact, however Renault Australia says it isn’t fearful about having the ability to meet any mandated targets.
The French model solely sells two electrical automobiles (EV) in Australia, the Megane E-Tech and Kangoo E-Tech, and solely not too long ago launched a mild-hybrid within the type of the Duster. That’s regardless of Renault providing a number of fashions with mild-, full-, or plug-in hybrid powertrains, plus extra EVs, in abroad markets comparable to Europe.
Although hardly any of these European fashions have been confirmed for Australia, the model’s native normal supervisor Glen Sealey says nothing is off the playing cards and maintains NVES is simply one other regulatory framework to stick to.
“From a Renault perspective… we at all times respect the umpire’s choice. That’s the regulatory framework that’s on the market at present, and that’s the framework that we are going to function beneath,” he advised media on the native launch for the Duster.
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Above: Renault Megane E-Tech
“Renault as a model is European-based, so we now have a unbelievable product vary to function inside an surroundings the place NVES is in play.”
Renault, like each different producer working in Australia, is now obliged to fulfill set common carbon emissions targets throughout its fleet annually, or be penalised $100 per g/km of CO2 for each automobile that exceeds the goal.
The model’s passenger automobiles match into the Sort 1 NVES class, which suggests the fleet is at present topic to common carbon dioxide emissions of 141g/km for 2025. This restrict will drop annually, finally reaching 58g/km in 2029.
Sadly for Renault, solely mild-hybrid Duster variants and the Arkana are beneath that restrict, which seemingly gained’t be sufficient to offset emissions from the remainder of the fleet. The model’s business lineup – Kangoo, Trafic, and Grasp – is topic to the present Sort 2 automobile restrict of 210g/km, and all three are ‘clear’ sufficient for now.
Above: Renault Kangoo E-Tech
Renault Australia has confirmed six new fashions and updates will come within the subsequent 18 months, together with the brand new Captur – probably with hybrid tech – and the area of interest Renault 5 Turbo 3E, which will likely be an unique efficiency EV.
Whereas unconfirmed, additional fashions are prone to have a point of electrification.
“Once we have a look at these six new fashions to return, there’s a little bit of water beneath the bridge, there’s foreign money, there’s regulatory adjustments, there’s tariff adjustments rolling across the place,” Mr Sealey mentioned.
“It’s a really dynamic surroundings. So for me to sit down right here and say ‘I’ll undoubtedly have that automotive tomorrow’, I wouldn’t be ready to try this.
“However what I can say, I do know I’ve received six of them coming. They might differ between from time to time, however by way of electrification, going again to that, you would need to say there’s nonetheless going to be a baseline for electrification in Australia.”
Above: Renault Symbioz (abroad mannequin)
Mr Sealey defined that in 2024, earlier than NVES got here into impact, EVs held a market share of 8.0 per cent. Following the beginning of the NVES, within the first half of 2025 the share remained related at 7.6 per cent.
“So the one factor that we do see, and all automotive corporations should respect, is [that] it’s the shopper that drives the market, and so will probably be the buyer that dictates whether or not electrification is adopted additional,” Mr Sealey mentioned.
When requested whether or not Renault Australia is anticipating to must pay fines for exceeding CO2 limits, Mr Sealey replied, “We’re well-positioned to function inside an NVES surroundings.”
“If you have a look at Renault, we now have sometimes four-cylinder engines, very environment friendly, we’re light-weight, so you would need to say, no,” he mentioned.
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