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Three Deepal electric vehicles parked in front of a beach at sunset

Drive

The rise of new challenger car brands in Australia

In this episode, we chat with Stephen Moir, the CEO of the Motor Trade Association of WA about a dynamic shift in the automotive landscape: the growing influx of challenger car brands in Australia.

Mandy Walsh profile picture

by Mandy Walsh

Published May 2025

1 min read

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Mandy Walsh profile picture

by Mandy Walsh

Published May 2025

Text size

Watch the podcast interview on YouTube with Stephen Moir, the CEO of the Motor Trade Association of WA. Stephen sheds a light on the new challenger car brands in Australia and whether they stack up to old favourites. Or listen to this podcast episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

As legacy manufacturers face competition from emerging players — many of them electric and tech-driven — what does this mean for consumers and local dealerships? How do these new brands compare?  

Stephen shares his insights on the opportunities this disruption could bring for innovation and consumer choice.

Chapters 

(0:00) Introduction to Emerging Car Brands 

(1:42) The Rise of Japanese Car Brands in Australia 

(6:18) The Impact of Korean Car Brands 

(7:01) The Surge of Chinese Car Manufacturers 

(12:52) Technological Innovations and Future Trends 

(15:32) Challenges with EV Depreciation 

(16:49) Innovative Features in New EVs 

(18:52) Chinese Brands Making Waves 

(25:00) The Future of Car Dealerships 

(28:12) Autonomous Vehicles: The Next Frontier 

(29:00) Legacy vs. New Brands: A Personal Take 

(29:37) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Listen to Horizons Podcast on YouTube, Spotify or Apple

Tune in to find out about issues impacting life in WA, from the cost of motoring to the new technologies and social trends that are shaping our future.

Listen now

The views expressed in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and may not be shared by the Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc) or its related bodies corporate (together “RAC”) or any of its or their councillors, directors or employees. This podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only. Listeners should not rely on the content as a substitute for independent advice. References to a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RAC. RAC accepts no liability for any reliance placed on the content.

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