Alright, let's dive in with the Hot Topics of the day. First up, Xiaomi has revealed their new all-electric SUV, the YU7. It’s sporty, upscale, and—I'll say it—pretty sleek with those coupé-inspired lines and that bold stance. Honestly, it looks like Xiaomi isn’t messing around.Exactly! And what really stands out, apart from the design, is the focus on safety. It’s definitely building on the momentum from their SU7 sedan, but you know, it’s still unclear if we’ll see these in New Zealand. Xiaomi’s ambitions are growing, so the YU7 could be one to watch.Next, the Motor Trade Association, or MTA, is calling Budget 2025 a quiet win for the automotive industry. Sure, no big flashy announcements about roads or cars, but the new Investment Boost tax incentive is where it gets interesting.Yeah, businesses can immediately deduct 20% of new capital assets, on top of standard depreciation. For workshops and dealerships here, this could mean big savings on equipment or even vehicles. It’s definitely helpful for small and medium businesses, which make up a large chunk of the industry.Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has reopened its House of Luxury showroom in Auckland. We're talking about a nine-month renovation, and the entrance now has this signature luxury purple look. Fancy, huh?Very fancy. And it’s not just about the revamp—the new Ghost Series II and Black Badge Sceptre models are on display too. So, if you’re into ultra-premium, that’s the place to be right now.And lastly, Land Rover is celebrating 35 years of the Discovery line-up with the Tempest Edition. Copper accents everywhere, a Petra Copper Gloss roof—it screams upmarket. I mean, it's pricey but it’s got that premium ruggedness right?Completely. It’s also a nod to the Discovery's heritage, with the Tempest name dating back to the late '90s. It’s clear they’re going for a strong identity shift with this model.Now, time for a quick word from our sponsor. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Autocheck. Stop paying too much for vehicle checks. Get your comprehensive vehicle reports for less! Check out Autocheck.co.nz, your trusted vehicle data provider.Now, the Best of the Rest for the day. First up, Trade Me Motors has appointed Steve Vermeulen as its new industry relationships manager. He’s got over 30 years of experience and will focus on strengthening ties with the sector.Yeah, and Trade Me Motors says it’s a move toward deeper industry engagement. Sounds like a solid fit to me.Next, the new government fleet management contract is live. Agencies now have access to a refreshed panel of 11 providers, with services across maintenance, compliance, telematics, and more. It's all about streamlining and saving costs in fleet management.Alright, In other News today! Tesla’s updated Model Y, the one they’re calling 'Project Juniper,' has landed in New Zealand. Looks like the make-or-break model for them globally, and it’s already out for test drives at South Auckland.True, and speaking of new fees, from July 1, NZTA will charge a $22.46 fee for registering newly imported light vehicles. It’s part of covering the administration costs for the Clean Car Standard.And how about this—three electric vehicles, the Kia EV3, MG S5, and Tesla Model 3, have scored top crash safety marks. Nice to see safety continuing to be a priority in EVs.In International EV news today, things aren’t looking good in the U.S. Congress for EVs. They’ve voted to kill the clean energy tax credits and California’s emissions rules. If it all goes through, America could fall even further behind in EV adoption.Yeah, bad news. Losing those $7,500 tax credits alone would make EVs more expensive to own. It’s a tough hit at a time when other countries, like China, are pushing ahead in this space.Finally, our One Liners today. Hyundai’s striking Obsidian concept car? Developed by design students. Z Energy has launched a new EV charge card and business portal. The Hyundai Xcient fuel-cell truck has had its Australian debut. Lotus is considering a V8 for the Emira, and Chinese electric car maker BYD has outsold Tesla in Europe for the first time, in what experts described as a “watershed moment”.And that’s all for today’s episode. Don’t forget to subscribe and check out thefullbrief.nz for all the articles we covered and more, plus you can subscribe to the daily email while you’re there. Catch you next time!

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NZ Automotive News - 26th May 2025