Car News

The cheapest child restraints are sometimes the safest, according to a new study from the NRMA. Conducted alongside Kidsafe NSW, the NRMA test put nine restraints through their paces in safety and ease of use. None of the seats tested scored a perfect five stars, while four snagged a four-star rating. Although all nine complied with Australian Standards, the NRMA and Kidsafe called out the "vast difference in the quality of protection they offer" in the real world.

Federal Labor has promised to devote $1 billion to developing the Australian hydrogen sector, as part of a plan designed to "supercharge Australia's renewable energy industry". The plan would see a $3 million National Hydrogen Innovation Hub created in Gladstone, Queensland, driven by the broader promise of growth in the burgeoning hydrogen industry. According to the Federal Opposition, the industry could be worth $10 billion over the next two decades.

It’s hard for small-volume, albeit highly profitable, brands to stand out in the super-fragmented Australian car market. But Suzuki Australia is nevertheless getting aggressive with its sales targets.

Toyota will team up with Panasonic to accelerate battery production, as the automotive giant attempts to set itself up for future electric vehicle demand. The new joint venture will come into force by the end of 2020 pending approval by the relevant authorities, with Toyota taking the dominant (51 per cent) stake in the partnership. It builds on a lithium-ion battery partnership forged in 2017.

The Bathurst 12-Hour enduro race may not yet draw the same crowds as the Supercars Bathurst 1000, but its profile domestically and internationally is growing rapidly. The four-day 2019 event (January 31 to February 3) has an incredibly strong driver line-up including Le Mans and Spa enduro winners, plus DTM and Supercars touring champs.