The electric vehicle revolution is picking up speed across the globe, with fresh developments emerging from Brazil to Australia and Japan. On December 5, 2025, several landmark events underscored the shifting landscape of the automotive industry, as governments, automakers, and consumers alike grapple with the future of personal mobility. The day brought high-profile launches, bold policy pushes, and even legal drama, all reflecting the dynamic—and sometimes contentious—path toward cleaner, more accessible transportation.
In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva turned the inauguration of the Chevrolet Spark electric car production line at the Pace factory in Ceará into a rallying cry for affordability and inclusivity in the auto market. According to Estadão, Lula didn’t mince words when addressing automakers and workers: "Whoever makes these beautiful SUVs needs to be able to buy them." The president’s remarks came at a time when the dream of car ownership has become increasingly elusive for many Brazilians. In fact, a survey by Bright Consulting revealed that the average car price in Brazil soared from R$70,900 in 2016 to R$159,684 in 2025—a staggering 125% jump, far outpacing the 63.9% inflation rate.
Lula’s speech resonated with a workforce that has watched new cars slip further out of reach. He linked the issue directly to income distribution, arguing, "We work to have access to the things we produce." The message was clear: without wage increases and lower prices, cars risk remaining symbols of exclusion rather than vehicles of social mobility. The president called on the auto industry to prioritize Brazilian consumers over exports, urging that producing a “beautiful car” was meaningless if it didn’t end up in a worker’s garage.
Against this backdrop, the Brazilian government’s Sustainable Car program, launched in July 2025, aims to bridge the widening gap between aspiration and reality. As part of the broader Mover industrial policy for Green Mobility and Innovation, the initiative leverages tax incentives—specifically, reductions in the IPI (tax on industrialized products)—to make entry-level, low-emission, and highly recyclable cars more affordable. The program is already showing results: in October, sales of cars included in the Sustainable Car program were 74% higher than those of other vehicles, according to Anfavea. Notably, car prices in 2025 rose by just 2.4%, below the IPCA inflation rate of 3.64%, marking the first price slowdown in five years. While the average price of a new car still hovers around R$160,000, this moderation opens the door to renewed discussions about making car ownership a practical goal once again.
The choice of Ceará for the Chevrolet Spark’s debut was strategic. The state is positioning itself as a hub for electric vehicle and SUV production, drawing investments and creating jobs in a region with pent-up demand for personal vehicles. By focusing on expanding industrial employment and supporting green mobility, the government hopes to address both economic and environmental challenges. The expectation is clear: as production scales up, costs will come down, making new cars more accessible to a broader swath of the population.
Lula’s push for affordability comes at a critical juncture. The Brazilian vehicle market is expected to reach 2.76 million units in 2025, including cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, and buses. Yet, for many families, a new car remains a luxury. The president’s insistence that “those who produce SUVs need to be able to buy cars” frames the issue as both an economic and social imperative. Whether the combination of tax incentives, compact electric cars, and potential wage gains will be enough to put new vehicles within reach for ordinary Brazilians remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, the electric vehicle conversation is evolving rapidly elsewhere. In Japan, Lexus unveiled its much-anticipated LFA Concept, a fully electric sports car that marks a dramatic departure from its V10-powered predecessor. The LFA Concept, introduced on December 5, 2025, shares its aluminum chassis with Toyota’s new GR GT, but skips the twin-turbo V8 in favor of a cutting-edge electric powertrain. As reported by automotive media, Lexus has been tight-lipped about performance details, but the company emphasized that the LFA name now symbolizes a commitment to preserving and advancing engineering technologies for future generations, rather than being bound to internal combustion engines alone. The LFA Concept is expected to enter production around 2027, possibly following the Toyota GR GT’s own launch.
This move by Lexus highlights the broader industry trend toward electrification at the high-performance end of the market, even as questions linger about consumer appetite for electric sports cars. The LFA Concept’s striking design and advanced platform suggest Lexus is betting on innovation and brand heritage to win over enthusiasts in the coming electric era.
Shifting to Australia, BYD’s local arm is betting on flexibility as it navigates the country’s evolving appetite for electrified vehicles. On December 5, 2025, BYD Australia CEO Stephen Collins told Drive that the company is prepared to meet consumer demand, whether it tips toward battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). "I think at the end of the day, consumers are going to decide [whether BEVs or PHEVs prove more popular]," Collins said. BYD’s strategy is to field 10 models, split between BEVs—including the Atto 1, Atto 2, Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal, and Sealion 7—and PHEVs such as the Sealion 6, Shark 6, Sealion 5, and Sealion 8.
As of October 2025, BYD had sold 41,882 vehicles in Australia, with 19,248 BEVs and 22,634 PHEVs. While overall EV sales in Australia (83,805 year-to-date) outpace PHEVs (42,797), BYD’s numbers are skewed by the popularity of the Shark 6, the first plug-in hybrid ute available in the country. Collins noted that PHEVs remain a "great solution for a lot of people," emphasizing the need for continued consumer education about the benefits of both technologies. BYD’s approach underscores the diversity of consumer needs and the importance of offering multiple pathways to electrification.
Elsewhere in the electric vehicle sector, not all the news was celebratory. On December 5, 2025, a former executive filed a lawsuit against Bollinger Innovations and CEO David Michery, alleging breach of contract and other claims. Bollinger Innovations, known for its electric trucks, now faces legal scrutiny just as the company seeks to expand its footprint in a competitive market. The outcome of this legal action could have implications for the company’s reputation and future operations.
Taken together, these developments paint a picture of an auto industry in flux. From Brazil’s push for affordable green cars and Japan’s high-tech electric sports cars to Australia’s pragmatic embrace of both BEVs and PHEVs, the global transition to electric mobility is anything but uniform. Each market faces its own challenges and opportunities, shaped by local economics, consumer preferences, and policy choices. As 2025 draws to a close, the road ahead for electric vehicles is charged with both promise and uncertainty—but one thing is clear: change is accelerating, and everyone, from factory workers to CEOs, is along for the ride.
