Bowen defends EV policy against BYD stockpiling claims
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Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen defended Australia’s vehicle efficiency standards Thursday against opposition criticism that manufacturers are stockpiling electric cars to exploit policy incentives, saying consumer demand rather than regulatory gaming is driving import patterns.
The opposition has accused Chinese manufacturer BYD and other companies of importing thousands of vehicles to accumulate credits under Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard before the cars are sold. Bowen rejected those concerns, saying BYD executives have made clear they are responding to strong Australian consumer appetite for electric vehicles.
“The reason they’re importing a lot of cars into Australia is because a lot of Australians want to buy them,” Bowen said at a press conference in western Sydney. “And if you walk around the streets of Western Sydney, you’ll see a lot of electric vehicles, you’ll see a lot of BYDs.”
Bowen, who represents the McMahon electorate in Sydney’s west, dismissed suggestions that manufacturers are manipulating the vehicle efficiency scheme, which he referred to as “Enves” rather than accepting characterizations about carbon credits. He said the program is successfully expanding vehicle choices for Australian consumers.
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“The Enves is driving more models into Australia, and that’s a good thing,” Bowen said. “I’m very pleased with the way the Enves is working because it’s giving Australians more choices and more vehicles.”
The minister said BYD’s popular Shark ute demonstrates strong sales performance rather than regulatory exploitation. He noted the government plans to examine “point-of-sale reforms” next year but declined to provide specifics about potential policy adjustments.
Bowen has not spoken directly with BYD’s chief executive about stockpiling practices, he said, characterizing vehicle import timing as a business decision outside ministerial purview.
“I believe in capitalism and free markets and chief executives of car companies making decisions about when and how they import cars, not the Minister for Energy,” Bowen said.
The opposition’s criticism reflects broader political tensions over climate policy ahead of a parliamentary debate next week on whether the Liberal-National coalition still accepts climate change science. Bowen said the opposition “will use any excuse and any alibi to avoid proper climate policy in Australia in 2025.”
“They don’t believe in climate action,” Bowen said. “Next week they’re going to debate whether they believe in climate change again.”
The minister noted the irony that the opposition now opposes vehicle efficiency standards it attempted to implement while in government with Labor support. That earlier effort failed despite bipartisan backing.
“The opposition, when they were the government, tried to do it and failed. They had our support and they still managed to fail,” Bowen said. “And now from opposition, they’re saying they’re against what they were for when they’re in government. It shows how far they’ve fallen on climate action.”
Vehicle efficiency standards have become a flashpoint in Australian climate politics as the country attempts to reduce transport emissions while managing the transition to electric vehicles. The policy aims to incentivize manufacturers to increase their electric and low-emission vehicle offerings in the Australian market.
BYD has emerged as a major player in Australia’s expanding electric vehicle market, with multiple models gaining popularity among consumers seeking alternatives to traditional internal combustion engines. The company’s stockpiling of vehicles at locations including car parks has drawn media attention and political scrutiny.
Bowen acknowledged he was asked about BYD’s storage practices at a previous press conference Saturday but said his position remained unchanged. The government maintains that companies manage their vehicle inventories based on sales forecasts and market conditions rather than regulatory arbitrage.
The debate over vehicle efficiency standards reflects competing visions for Australia’s automotive future. The government argues expanded electric vehicle access will reduce emissions and provide consumer benefits, while critics question whether current policies create unintended incentives or market distortions.
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