Anthony Albanese makes surprising rule change that means massive American-style utes are set to flood the streets of Australia – even as they cause chaos at the shops

Giant American pick-ups will be spared from Anthony Albanese’s plan to cut carbon emissions when new rules come into force early next year – with the green light for wannabe owners.

Six-metre behemoths such as the Chevrolet Silverado and RAM 1500 are becoming increasingly popular in Australia, regularly causing outrage on social media by taking up space in shopping center car parks.

Now it can be revealed that they will be temporarily exempt from the government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, a major policy due to start in January 2025 to reduce emissions from new cars by 59 percent over four years.

A consultation document from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development proposes a temporary exemption for commercial vehicles weighing 3.5 to 4.5 tonnes, such as these pick-up trucks that have been locally converted to drive on the right.

The department argued that certain plus-size traditions ‘cannot practically meet the standard and should be allowed to be sold in Australia for longer without being replaced by electric or hybrid versions.

That’s despite the fact that these larger, American pick-ups emit significantly higher emissions than mainstream, best-selling cars in Australia, such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

The government gazette proposes making an exception for giant vehicles in 2025, giving manufacturers of these American pick-up trucks an extra year to comply with the rules.

This means that motorists who buy an oversized pickup (to tow a boat or a horse-drawn wagon) won’t have to pay a fine for driving a car with higher pollution levels that annoy other drivers.

A consultation document from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development proposes a temporary exemption for commercial vehicles weighing 3.5 to 4.5 tonnes, such as these vehicles (shown is a privately imported Ford F-250)

A Chevrolet Silverado, which weighs 3.7 tons, emits almost 300 grams of carbon per kilometer – which is 49 percent more than the 199 gram CO2 emissions of a best-selling Ford Ranger.

However, the Australian-designed Ranger will still have to comply with the new emissions rules as the exemption will not apply to traditional single-cab models weighing less than two tonnes.

The Toyota RAV4 SUV, Australia’s most popular vehicle sold in September, emits just 115 grams of carbon per kilometer, but it will also be subject to tough new emissions standards.

But the outdated Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series GXL with double cabin could also be spared, despite emitting 281 grams of carbon per kilometer for a model that has been in production since 1984.

This is much higher than the 208 grams per kilometer of a double-cab Toyota HiLux.

A RAM 1500 TRX weighing 3.8 tons would fall under the exemption, but a Ford F-150 would not because it weighs 3.3 tons less.

The exemption for large pickups, based on gross vehicle mass, marks the second time Transport Minister Catherine King and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen announced the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard in February.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government announced a plan earlier this year to cut passenger car emissions by 59 percent, so that new vehicles would emit just 58 grams of CO2 per kilometer in 2029, down from 141 grams in 2025.

But at the end of March, the rules for light commercial vehicles were weakened.

This meant that average emissions from new passenger and van fleets only had to fall by 48 percent instead of 59 percent in four years.

Sellers of light commercial vehicles would now be required to reduce emissions from new fleets to 110 grams per kilometre, down from 210 grams per kilometre.

The Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series double cab, which weighs 3.5 tonnes, is spared despite emitting 281 grams of carbon per kilometer

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government announced a plan earlier this year to cut passenger car emissions by 59 percent by 2029, but Labor has made concessions to commercial vehicle sellers

Tradies have little choice when it comes to electric vehicles with a decent towing capacity.

A diesel Ford Ranger ute can tow 3.5 tonnes, but a Chinese-made fully electric LDV eT60, priced from $93,968, can only tow one tonne.

Under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, which comes into effect in January, manufacturers would be penalized if their new fleet exceeded CO2 emissions targets, with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries charging a $13,250 fine for a Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, for example.

From July next year, carmakers will face fines of $100 per gram for each vehicle that exceeds a CO2 limit, but they will be able to buy credits from other car companies that meet the target.

Automakers should also reduce the average fuel consumption of a new fleet by selling more smaller cars, electric vehicles or hybrids to offset the effects of larger cars and all-wheel drive.

Both major parties have committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, but Labor, with the support of the Greens, has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 43 percent by 2030.

Submissions on the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard exemptions close on October 8.