All the cars axed by Australian rule changes as popular models ‘cancelled’

Some of Australia’s most popular vehicles are being “cancelled” - with one carmaker being forced to kill off 60 per cent of its range.

The increasing focus on car safety technology has spelled the end of a number of popular cars on the Australian new vehicle market.

A change to the Australian Design Rules (ADR) for passenger vehicles imported into Australia means a handful of popular models will no longer be available for sale.

We’ve already reported news about Mitsubishi Motors Australia having been forced to kill off 60 per cent of its range, axing the Pajero Sport seven-seater 4WD, the eternally popular ASX small SUV, and the turbo- or plug-in hybrid Eclipse Cross.

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2024 Mitsubishi ASX Street. Photo: Supplied

Each of those now out-of-production models falls foul of the necessary requirements outlined in ADR 98/00, which comes into effect from March 1, 2025.

That rule stipulates all new vehicles must be equipped with an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system. Such systems are made to prevent the car from hitting another vehicle if the driver doesn’t react in time.

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Modern cars have auto emergency braking systems. Image: ANCAP

According to the federal government’s Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 98/00 – Advanced Emergency Braking for Passenger Vehicles and Light Goods Vehicles) 2021, passenger cars and off-road passenger vehicles are affected by the change, which brings Australia in line with United Nations safety protocols.

Officially: “The system shall automatically detect an imminent forward collision, provide the driver with an appropriate warning and activate the vehicle braking system to decelerate the vehicle with the purpose of avoiding or mitigating the severity of a collision in the event that the driver does not respond to the warning.”

These sorts of safety assist technologies have been widespread in hundreds of vehicles over the years, but some ageing models – such as those Mitsubishis – aren’t going to be upgraded to meet the new requirements.

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Suzuki’s Ignis has reached the end of the road.

Other vehicles affected by these new rules include one of Australia’s most affordable models, the Suzuki Ignis.

The tiny crossover hatch was a favourite for budget buyers, and it will be replaced by the new Suzuki Fronx, which will cost more but in turn, will offer better tech and safety specs.

Lower-spec versions of the Suzuki Vitara also miss out on AEB, though that model range is expected to be updated with a hybrid powertrain and more technology in 2025.

Another of the country’s cheapest and smallest cars, the petrol-powered Fiat 500 and the related sporty Abarth 695, are both done and dusted, too. The Italian brand has started selling the new-generation replacement Fiat 500e and Abarth 500e models, both of which are fully electric.

Fiat’s 500 and Abarth 695 are set to be withdrawn from sale.

The plan was always to retire the petrol models following the introduction of the EV versions, despite the latter costing more than twice as much money as the cheap and cheerful original version, which first went on sale all the way back in March 2008.

Further on the European front, we have been told that Renault vehicles will meet the requirements, despite reports from some industry publications suggesting that some examples of Trafic and Kangoo commercial vans may be affected.

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Autonomous Emergency Braking systems use radars, cameras or sensors to detect hazards and brake for you if necessary

The same business imports Chinese-made LDV utes and vans, and it was clarified that some vehicles will be updated to meet requirements, while others were on their way out, anyway.

“The LDV T60 ute and G10 van will meet the upcoming requirements for ADR 98/00,” said an LDV Australia spokesperson, suggesting that base versions of those commercial vehicles may be axed or replaced with more richly specified tech packages.

Meanwhile, the bigger, much older LDV V80 van finished up production in 2024, and we understand there is only a limited amount of stock still on offer.

Porsche’s 718 Cayman GT4 has ceased production.

And a final surprising inclusion on the ‘if they were still building it, it would have been cancelled’ list – the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman models. Those petrol-powered sports cars finished production late last year, but didn’t meet requirements for the AEB rules in play from March this year.

One brand that proudly stands by a “less tech is better” mindset is Ineos, with initial examples of the Grenadier SUV and Quartermaster ute not being sold with AEB technology. Ineos has been contacted for comment.

The INEOS Grenadier is a stripped-back machine. Picture: Supplied

More of these rule changes will come into play next year, with August 2026 seeing ADR98/01 come into action – on that ruling, new vehicles that do not have pedestrian detection systems as part of their AEB technology will no longer be valid for sale in our market.

Originally published as All the cars axed by Australian rule changes as popular models ‘cancelled’