# Friday Drive: Kia Tasman PHEV Hits Fast-Track, Policy Flip-Flops, and the Return of the Moke > Friday Drive: Kia Tasman PHEV Hits Fast-Track, Policy Flip-Flops, and the Return of the Moke Days like this remind me why the car world is never dull. Policy winds shifting, clever engineering sneaking in the side door, a beach buggy... > Published 2025-12-12 by Thomas Nismenth. 8 min read (1616 words). > Blog: News at AutoWin (https://www.autowin.com). ## Details - Canonical URL: https://www.autowin.com/en/blogs/news/kia-tasman-phev-set-to-fast-track-development-amid-demand-daily-car-news-2025-12-12 - Author: Thomas Nismenth - Published: 2025-12-12 - Updated: 2026-01-23 - Reading time: 8 minutes - Word count: 1616 - Topics: Australia, Automotive, BYD, Car News, Daily, EV, hybrid, Kia, News, PHEV, pickup, Shark, Tasman, Volkswagen - Featured image: https://www.autowin.it/cdn/shop/articles/daily-car-news-2025-12-12.png?v=1765521226&width=1200 ## Summary Friday Drive: Kia Tasman PHEV Hits Fast-Track, Policy Flip-Flops, and the Return of the MokeDays like this remind me why the car world is never dull. Policy winds shifting, clever engineering sneaking in the side door, a beach buggy making a gloriously unserious comeback, and one tiny roadster reminding us lightness still solves most problems. And yes—the Kia Tasman PHEV is the headline act today, because the ute everyone’s been asking about is getting hustled through development. I’ve been in enough plug-in pickups lately to know why people are impatient.Policy swing: the ground under EVs ... ## Full Article Friday Drive: Kia Tasman PHEV Hits Fast-Track, Policy Flip-Flops, and the Return of the MokeDays like this remind me why the car world is never dull. Policy winds shifting, clever engineering sneaking in the side door, a beach buggy making a gloriously unserious comeback, and one tiny roadster reminding us lightness still solves most problems. And yes—the Kia Tasman PHEV is the headline act today, because the ute everyone’s been asking about is getting hustled through development. I’ve been in enough plug-in pickups lately to know why people are impatient.Policy swing: the ground under EVs keeps movingAustralia’s federal settings for EV and PHEV incentives are under review. Not a bonfire—more like a recalibration. The mood music suggests eligibility tweaks and timing shifts rather than pulling the plug entirely. If you’re planning a purchase in 2026, keep your ducks (and receipts) in a neat little row.Meanwhile, a report out of Europe claims the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars has been shelved. If it sticks, it’s a monumental about-face. I’ve driven EVs that stand on their own merit without a single mandate, but carmakers hate uncertainty more than consumers hate queues at a broken fast charger. Expect more hybrids, more PHEVs, and a lot of dusty “Plan B” binders becoming “Plan A.” Australia: likely refinement of incentives—details matter, timing matters more. Europe: if the 2035 ban is paused, hybrids and PHEVs will carry the load longer than expected. Industry: product roadmaps are being re-plotted as we speak.Range anxiety’s cheat code: a small engine when you need itVolkswagen is reportedly cooking up range-extended EVs—electric drive, small petrol generator tucked away for the long hauls. Not new (BMW i3 REx fans, I see you), but the timing feels on the nose. When I lived with a range-extender during a cold snap, the stress just… evaporated. I charged at home, did my week electrically, and when an impromptu road trip popped up, I wasn’t at the mercy of one questionable 350kW charger out by the roadhouse.Which brings us straight to the ute buyers circling plug-ins like seagulls around hot chips.Kia Tasman PHEV vs BYD Shark: the plug-in pickup showdownThe Kia Tasman PHEV is getting loud before it’s even official. Dealers are reportedly fielding enough “put my name down” calls to nudge Kia into accelerating development. The obvious sparring partner is BYD’s Shark, which has become the poster child for PHEV pickups—EV for the commute, petrol for the boat ramp and Bunnings runs.On a bumpy backroad loop earlier this year in a similarly configured plug-in ute, I noticed right away how easy life gets in traffic and on corrugations. Silent crawl, instant torque, fewer gearshifts when you’re threading into a tight parking spot. Around town, it’s like driving in slippers. On a long haul, you’ve got a safety net. Why PHEV utes click: electric smoothness for city miles, petrol backup for road trips, easier towing than many current BEVs. What buyers keep asking me: electric range with a load on, onboard power outlets for tools or camping, and pricing that doesn’t require a second mortgage. What matters in Australia: payload and braked towing that stand shoulder to shoulder with the diesel benchmarks. Did you know? Many plug-in pickups will let you force-charge the battery from the engine on the highway before you hit a town or a trailhead—handy if you want quiet, electric-only crawling once you arrive.Kia Tasman PHEV and rivals: strategies to bridge the EV gap Brand / Model Strategy Target Market Status Why it matters Kia Tasman (PHEV) Plug-in hybrid ute Australia, pickup buyers Development reportedly being fast-tracked EV during the week, petrol for towing and trips without charger roulette BYD Shark Plug-in hybrid pickup Global markets incl. Australia On sale/rolling out Current benchmark for plug-in utes rivals are chasing Volkswagen (REx EVs) Range-extended EV lineup US and Europe In planning/report stage Reduces charging anxiety without abandoning electric drive Geely Starray EM-i Efficiency-focused PHEV SUV China, expanding Just nabbed a Guinness record—with caveats Shows the ceiling of PHEV efficiency in controlled conditions Why the Kia Tasman PHEV could fit Aussie life Commuter calm: quiet EV running for the 9-to-5 grind and school runs. Weekend workhorse: petrol onboard for towing the boat or camper to the coast. Tradie-friendly: potential for tray power outlets—run tools without lugging a generator. Side tip: If you plan to tow regularly, ask the dealer how the PHEV’s electric range changes with a trailer hitched. A few owners of other PHEV pickups told me they see bigger drops than with a load in the tub.Kia Tasman PHEV ripple effect: VW, Geely, and the hybrid middle laneThe Tasman’s momentum is part of a bigger shift. Volkswagen’s range-extender talk, Geely’s record-chasing PHEV efficiency, and a wave of “just enough battery” products suggest buyers want electric most of the time without having their lives revolve around public charging. Honestly, that sounds like progress—at least until ultra-fast chargers are as common as coffee shops.Cadillac aims lower (in price), not in polishCadillac’s first Australian foot in the door was the premium EV halo. Next up: a more attainable luxury SUV to grow the showroom. Think smaller footprint, tight panel gaps, hushed cabin, and the sort of suspension tuning that takes the sting out of coarse-chip tarmac. I’ve sampled recent Cadillac setups, and their steering weight on our roads is better than you’d expect. If they nail pricing, it could surprise a few German badges.California dreaming, recharged: the Mini Moke returns (as an EV)The Moke is back in California as an EV, and the price will make your eyebrows do burpees. Practical? Not unless your weekly shop is a loaf of sourdough, sunscreen, and a humble brag. But on a boardwalk at sunset, roofless and effortless, it’s impossible not to grin. Steering like a cartoon doodle, instant go, and the sort of attention you can’t buy—unless, well, you do.Limited-run fever: Porsche exclusives and a Star Wars camper you can’t just buyPorsche has brewed up a 911 GT3-based special—about 90 cars—with access baked into the price tag. Track time, curated experiences, bragging rights. They understand that scarcity plus adventure is the modern currency. Meanwhile, an official Star Wars camper van exists, and no, you can’t just slap down a cheque. Allocations, tie-ins, and campsite selfies under hyperspace lighting are guaranteed.Sleepers, stunts, and a Guinness asteriskSomewhere, a Beetle is out-dragging 911 GT3s. I love a proper sleeper—the moment the other driver hears the turbo whoosh and realises the flower vase on the dash was a decoy. Geely’s Starray EM-i PHEV just notched a Guinness World Record with a few fine-print caveats—route, temperature, the whole lab-coat lark. Still, it’s a billboard for what strict power management can wring out of a hybrid system when conditions are right.London’s new vibe: tow it now, discuss laterLondon authorities are towing exotics owned by foreign-plate drivers who rack up fines and ghost the bill. If you’ve wandered Knightsbridge at midnight, you’ve heard the 8000 rpm arias echoing off old brick. Fun for five minutes—not so fun for residents. The new policy flavour is short on patience. Park your Huayra like it’s a handbag, and it might be gone by breakfast.In praise of small, simple joy: the humble roadsterAutocar’s long-haul on the Mazda MX-5 reads like a love note to balance. I took an ND out before sunrise earlier this year: heater on blast, roof down with one-arm effort, and every roundabout a quiet conversation with the front tyres. We drown in oversized, overpowered everything. The MX-5 is proof you don’t need 600 horsepower to feel a... ## Related Store Context - [AutoWin Blog & News](https://www.autowin.com/blogs/news): Automotive news and fitment guides - [AutoWin Store Index](https://www.autowin.com/llms.txt): Full product catalog for AI agents - [Agent Instructions](https://www.autowin.com/agents.md): Commerce protocol and Shop skill - Reviews verified on [AutiVex](https://autivex.com/business/autowin-com): AutoWin customer ratings