The cost of the Central West's most popular cars could be forced up by thousands of dollars from next year under Labor's new emissions standards, to help the Albanese Government subsidise the price of electric vehicles.
Industry analysis of Energy Minister Chris Bowen's proposed New Vehicle Efficiency Standard predicts some popular models, such as the Toyota Landcruiser, could rise in price by as much as $25,000 by 2029.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud said families in the Central West would suffer as a result, with the top-selling vehicles in the electorate of Calare set to be the most impacted.
Just 0.16 per cent of registered cars in the Central West are electric vehicles.
"The Central West's most popular cars are being targeted by a callous Labor government," Mr Littleproud said.
"During a cost-of-living crisis, the last thing people living in the Central West want to hear is that the price of a new family car or a new ute for a tradie is going to be forced up to subsidise EVs.
"While hardly anyone wants an EV in the Central West, it is families in the Central West who will be forced to pay for subsidies for the EV drivers in the inner-city suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra.
"Labor is completely out of touch with the Central West and the types of cars that families and tradies in areas such as Orange and Bathurst require."
Leahey Auto Group owner Tim Leahey said the proposed Vehicle Efficiency Standard is a direct hit on popular models that people in the Central West love to drive and also use as their work vehicles.
"This is yet more knee-jerk reactions from the government," Mr Leahey said.
"There has been no consulting the industry. This is the third change to our industry in months, all driving up costs without achieving the result they desire. They just love driving up the cost of living and the cost of trying to run a business in Australia."
According to the analysis by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, many hybrid vehicles will exceed Labor's carbon targets and be forced to pay up to $4,890 in penalties by 2029.
Mr Littleproud said Labor needed to rethink its efficiency standard and stop targeting regional Australia to meet its ideology.
"If you're a tradie in the Central West and you're buying vehicles such as a BT-50 or a D-Max or a HiLux or a Ranger, the Albanese Government's family car tax is going to drive up the cost of purchasing that vehicle," Mr Littleproud said.
"Everyone wants to see cleaner, more efficient cars and utes, as we do our bit toward reducing emissions by 2050, but the trajectory under Labor's preferred plan will put so many cars out of reach of family budgets."
Impact of Labor's proposed New Vehicle Efficiency Standard:
| TOP TEN CAR SALES IN THE CENTRAL WEST | PRICE INCREASE IN 2025 | PRICE INCREASE BY 2029 |
| Ford Ranger | Up to $6,150 | Up to $17,950 |
| Toyota Hilux | Up to $2,690 | Up to $14,490 |
| Toyota Landcruiser | Up to $13,250 | Up to $25,050 |
| Toyota Rav4 | Up to $2,720 | Up to $11,020 |
| Toyota Landcruiser Prado | Up to $4,960 | Up to $13,260 |
| Isuzu D-Max | Up to $2,030 | Up to $13,830 |
| Mazda CX-5 | Up to $4,460 | Up to $12,760 |
| Mitsubishi Triton | Up to $8,670 | Up to $20,470 |
| Mazda BT-50 | Up to $2,080 | Up to $13,880 |
| Subaru Outback | Up to $2,580 | Up to $10,880 |
Data: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, 16 February 2024
