Luxury cars may not be hit with extra costs under Labor’s plan to cut fuel emissions

Aston Martin, Maserati and Rolls-Royce are among the high-end sport cars expected to avoid being hit with Bill Shorten’s aggressive plan to cut fuel emissions. Labelled a ‘free ride’ for the rich, the proposed emissions standard of 105g CO2/km is unlikely to apply to companies selling fewer than 2500 cars a year.

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Aston Martin, Maserati and Rolls-Royce are among the high-end sport cars expected to avoid being hit with Bill Shorten’s aggressive plan to cut fuel emissions.

In what is being labelled a “free ride” for the rich, the proposed emissions standard of 105g CO2/km is unlikely to apply to car companies selling fewer than 2500 vehicles a year in Australia.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor said it exposed Labor’s hypocrisy as battler families and tradies would bear the brunt of the policy, which could add up to $5000 to the drive-away cost of a new car.

The opposition’s policy documents states that, if elected, there would be consultation on the timeline and coverage of standards consistent with Climate Change Authority advice.

Small fry … buyers of the Bentley Continental GT Convertible could avoid having to pay an extra $5000 under Labor’s plan to cut emissions. Picture: Supplied

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CCA states that the obligation should only be applied to companies that supply more than 2500 light vehicles into the Australian market each year, noting that in the US and EU there were weaker targets available for manufacturers producing small volumes of cars.

Based on sales data for last year, applying that measure would block the standard being applied to car brands such as Alfa Romeo, which sold 1279, Maserati (642), Ferrari (241), Bentley (208), Aston Martin (167), Lamborghini (134), McLaren (88) and Rolls-Royce (40).

Mr Taylor said “Labor wants to give a free ride to billionaires.”

“Bill Shorten and Labor would force Australian families and tradies to pay up to $5000 more for new Mazdas and Hiluxes, but would give those who can afford high-end sports cars and ultra-luxury vehicles a break,” he said.

Australian Energy Minister Angus Taylor. Picture: AAP/Lukas Coch

Opposition climate change spokesman Mark Butler last week labelled the attacks on the electric car policy the “dumbest and loopiest scare campaign in Australian political history”.

“Labor’s policy saves motorist hundreds of dollars a year in petrol costs. It’s not just Labor saying that — the government’s own report says that, and Josh Frydenberg says that,” he said.

The price of popular family vehicles including Holden Commodores, Ford Rangers, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota Corollas is expected to rise as the models currently sold in Australia all breach the proposed new emission standard.

Labor leader Bill Shorten with his son Rupert, wife Chloe and daughter Clementine after addressing the 2019 Federal Election volunteers rally on Sunday. Picture: Kym Smith

Labor argues that while there could be a small rise in upfront costs, modelling the Coalition has relied on shows the standard could save motorists $500 a year at the bowser.

Coalition analysis of Australia Bureau of Statistics data has revealed voters in the Labor-held electorates of Hunter, Paterson and Shortland are most reliant on cars to get to work but also are among the poorest in the country, with each with a median household income below $1300 a week.

Whereas residents in the electorates of Sydney and Melbourne, where fewer than a third of commuters rely on a car to get to work, would be more able to absorb the added cost to the drive-away price of cars, which could be up to $5000, with relatively higher weekly incomes of $1933 and $1488 respectively.