Australia to block thousands of hybrid car imports with one small rule change

Summary: A regulation that took effect in December 2025 will all but end the import of Japanese grey-market hybrids into Australia, with ADR 79/05 requiring all newly approved private imports to meet the tighter Euro 6d emissions standard that Japan has not adopted.

The rule demands real-world driving emissions tests and durability certification to 160,000km, double Japan’s 80,000km requirement, Drive exclusively reveals. Vehicles already on the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme register can continue arriving until their approvals expire, but those approvals cannot be renewed, and new models will not be added.

The grey-import channel delivered roughly 10,000 fuel-efficient vehicles in 2025, most of them Japanese hybrids and PHEVs priced well below equivalent new cars. Industry operators say the timing is brutal: fuel prices are elevated, consumer demand for affordable, low-emissions transport is rising, and the government has just removed the most accessible supply. The Federal Government argues the stricter standard better reflects Australian driving conditions. The importers argue it reflects very little else.

Brands mentioned: Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Daihatsu