The Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, Ram 1500, and Ford Transit are on the chopping block. Or at least they will be. They currently sit outside Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES ), enjoying a quiet life of exemption. That peace ends soon.
Right now, the law ignores any vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM ) over 3.5 tonnes. Simple math. Heavy stuff gets a pass. But Canberra is closing that door.
A proposal wants to pull those big beasts into the fold. Specifically, trucks weighing between 3.5 tonnes and 3.855 tonnes. Comments on this change close on July 20, 20. The window is open, but the intent is clear.
The Ram 1500 is in trouble. It sits right at 3505kg. So does the Toyota Tundra, ticking over at 3536. They slip just under the current radar but fit squarely into the new net. The Ford F-1550? It doesn’t care. It’s already counted. Same goes for the Chevrolet Silverado. They are under 3.360kg. Already compliant. Already measured.
CarExpert called several brands. Silence from all.
Here is why this matters.
Carbon dioxide limits aren’t just suggestions. They are hard caps that get stricter every year until 2029. Miss the target and you pay. The price starts at $50 for every gram over the limit. Sounds cheap until you multiply that by millions. The first report out in February 2026 hit 19 brands. Ouch.
“The original NVES was intended to cover heavier vehicles, but the rules just weren’t ready.”
The federal government wanted to include trucks between 3.5 and 4.5 tonnes back when the NVES launched in January 2025. Problem? No measurement standards existed in the Australian Design Rules (ADRs ). Can’t police what you can’t measure. So they excluded them. A necessary delay, or just bureaucratic lag?
Now the pieces click. ADR 114/01 drops in May 202. It covers CO2 emissions measurement. Suddenly, manufacturers can certify these larger trucks. If the proposal sticks, NVES applies to them starting July 1, 0.
There is a grace period. If you buy one before June 30, 7, it’s safe. Exempt. Not counted in the final average. A last call for diesel enthusiasts.
It doesn’t stop there.
The government is looking at the really heavy ones now. Above 3.85 tonnes. The Renault Master. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Vans and utility vehicles that form the backbone of local industry. They have until December 3, 09. A longer leash. Maybe recognizing that logistics run on heavy metal.
The early days of the NVES were brutal for some. Mazda Australia topped the penalty list in that first period. Burning cash for bad efficiency. Others got lucky. Tesla. Polestar. Zero tailpipe CO2. They earned credits. And sold them to the folks bleeding red ink.
The market is adjusting. The rules are shifting. Will you keep driving that big V8 truck when it starts costing more than just petrol? Or will the exemption phase be a sweet, short nostalgia for the age of unchecked horsepower?
No one is saying what happens after the grace period.
