Market Scan - Issue 39 | August 2026 - Summit Fleet

AI SHOULDN’T REPLACE FLEET MANAGERS. IT SHOULD EMPOWER THEM

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape business operations, Managing Director Darren Gore recently joined the Fleet News Group podcast to discuss how AI is helping fleet organisations transform data into faster, more informed decision-making.

EV SALES REMAIN STRONG DURING RECORD-BEST JULY

Australia’s new-vehicle market has recorded its strongest ever July result, supported by another strong month for battery electric vehicle sales.

MARKET INSIGHT: PRESTIGE UNDER PRESSURE

AUSTRALIA’S established premium vehicle brands are enduring a difficult 2026, with eight of the nine marques assessed recording lower year-to-date sales and several suffering double-digit declines.

AI TURNS FLEET ACCIDENT DATA INTO A SAFETY ACTION PLAN

Fleet accident reporting has traditionally focused on what happened: the number of claims, total cost, location and driver details.

FUEL ECONOMICS ACCELERATE AUSTRALIA’S FLEET ELECTRIFICATION

New data by Australia’s commercial EV charging specialists, JET Charge, reveals that a company with a 100-vehicle heavy fleet could save as much $4.5 million per year by switching to electric.

SAFER RURAL ROADS START WITH BETTER FLEET DATA

Transport operators are being urged to look beyond regulatory compliance and use better data, technology and workplace practices to reduce the risks facing truck drivers on rural and regional roads.

EVS AND HYBRIDS CAPTURE ALMOST HALF OF AUSTRALIA’S NEW CAR MARKET

Electric and hybrid vehicles accounted for almost half of all new light vehicle sales in Australia during the June 2026 quarter, as battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales recorded their largest quarterly increase on record.

VFACTS JULY: WINNERS AND LOSERS

Seven months into 2026 and the market’s biggest trends are becoming impossible to ignore. Some brands have adapted brilliantly to Australia’s rapidly changing automotive landscape. Others look like they’re being left behind.

ELECTRIC CAR TAX BREAKS BEING SNAPPED UP BY AUSTRALIANS WITH SOLAR IN FAR-FLUNG SUBURBS

Aussies living in outer suburbs are more likely to take advantage of EV discounts, recent data shows, and it’s likely due to a bill-slashing asset on their roof.

EMERGENCY FLEETS TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT AFAC26

AUSTRALASIA’S largest emergency management conference is under way in Melbourne with fleet capability front and centre.

EV CHARGER PRICE SLASHED IN QUEENSLAND WITH GOVERNMENT-BACKED OFFER

A deal between charging provider EVSE and a Federal Government-backed program will discount household electric-car chargers to as little as $95.

USED CAR MARKET RECOVERS IN JULY

Australia’s used vehicle market bounced back strongly in July, with sales rising 11.8 per cent to 240,311 units sold. New data from the Australian Automotive Dealers Association (AADA) and AutoGrab shows this was largely driven by the market’s recovery from end-of-financial-year (EOFY) dealer demonstrator clearances.

ANOTHER CHINESE LUXURY BRAND IS COMING TO AUSTRALIA: AVATR

Chinese automotive giant Changan is preparing to launch its luxury Avatr brand in Australia, setting up another Chinese challenger to established premium marques as well as newer rivals from BYD and Geely.

THE PHEV THAT MAKES A STRONG CASE FOR ITSELF — UNTIL YOU RUN THE NOVATED LEASE NUMBERS

During my time with it, people stopped to look at it in car parks and took a second glance as we walked back towards it. That matters because for close to $40,000, the Starray Inspire manages to look and feel like a considerably more expensive SUV.

AUSTRALIANS SWITCHING OFF POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING CAR SAFETY TECH

Australians are routinely switching off advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) that new research estimates could potentially prevent almost one in five serious road casualties.