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All the models that will disappear from local showrooms over the coming year, or have left us in recent months.
It’s been a big year for automotive in 2020, with the exit of Holden, the cancellation of international motor shows and the Australian Grand Prix due to coronavirus, and the steady decline of new car sales.
In a challenging climate, it’s perhaps unsurprising that carmakers are reducing their ranges, discontinuing under-performers and replacing older models with hybrids, electric cars or new creations altogether.
Following Infiniti’s late-2019 exit from the Australian market, plus Holden’s sudden departure, the body count for cars exiting local roads in 2020 is high.
To keep track, we’ve rounded up every model line that’s already gone, or is soon to depart our shores, in 2020 (that we know of).
UPDATE, 27/10/20: This article was originally published in March 2020 but has been updated as various model announcements have been made.
Alfa Romeo’s smallest, cheapest model will end global production sometime this year, almost a decade after it was first introduced.
It was revealed Alfa Romeo would be discontinuing its mid-engine coupe and drop-top in late 2019.
In February 2020, the German marque announced it would be ending production of its hybrid sports car – seven years after it premiered at the 2013 German Motor Show.
According to BMW, a total of 155 i8s have been sold in Australia since the car first arrived in 2014.
In mid-2020, BMW made the decision to drop its 6 Series GT offering from Australian showrooms after less than three years on sale here.
BMW Australia CEO Vikram Pawah told CarAdvice of the axing: “The BMW 6 Series GT has always been a niche product for us in Australia. [BMW Australia] will continue to cater to specific customers by delivering products that suit their individual requirements.”
However, the recently-refreshed model will carry on in the European market with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology across all trims.
The Chevrolet Camaro muscle car reached the end of the line in Australia in April 2020, when the last example rolled off the Holden Special Vehicles assembly line, which had been converting the car to right-hand-drive since its debut Down Under in September 2018.
“There are no plans to bring back the Camaro. Once these cars are gone, they are gone,” Chris Polites, the executive director of sales and marketing for HSV, told CarAdvice.
Ford’s compact SUV is expected to disappear from showroom floors later this year, with Ford confirming to CarAdvice that it has taken its last delivery of EcoSport stock in Australia and will not be adding to this stock.
The decision comes as the brand ushers in a new crossover vehicle, the Ford Puma.
Ford’s Mondeo model line was trimmed as of early 2020, with a plan to remove it completely by mid-2020, in keeping with “changing customer preferences including an overall shift towards SUVs”, according to Ford Australia communications boss Matt Moran.
For obvious reasons, Holden’s entire range – including the compact Astra – has been heavily discounted to clear remaining stock as the brand exits the market.
The 2020 discontinuation of the Commodore was announced in 2019, before General Motors announced the brand would disappear completely.
Before announcing its exit, Holden revealed the 2020 Equinox would be “streamlined”. Extremely so, it turns out.
Although a fifth-generation 2020 Honda City sedan debuted in November 2019, the new model won’t be making it to Australia. The Australian arm of the Japanese automaker announced the current City model on sale would be the last to reach Australia, citing declining sedan sales.
The future of Honda’s small hatchback remains up in the air after Honda confirmed in December 2019 that the new-generation Jazz wouldn’t be coming to Australia in 2020, although stocks of the existing Jazz would remain on sale throughout 2020. Watch this space.
Although it remains on sale in markets like the United States and United Kingdom, Honda’s NSX supercar is officially exiting Australia, the company confirmed to CarAdvice in October 2020.
Only nine examples of the coupe have sold since its launch in 2016, leading Honda to axe the vehicle from its local line-up – with prospective buyers no longer able to place orders. However, it could be replaced by an NSX-based SUV – more details on that here.
In September 2019, Nissan’s premium brand, Infiniti, announced it would exit Australia in late 2020, meaning its remaining stock has started vacating showrooms, including the Q30 hatch.
After five years on the market, Jeep’s compact SUV was axed in Australia early in 2020, with Jeep blaming the weak Australian dollar for its dismissal and suggesting it could return if it becomes “commercially viable” again.
Australia will no longer receive Kia’s mid-sized sedan, a brand spokesperson confirmed to CarAdvice in September 2020.
As of time of publishing, on two were left in stock, with both expected to sell by the end of September.
In April 2020, Lexus confirmed production of its large sedan, the GS, and its performance sibling, the GS F, would be phased out entirely.
“Lexus has confirmed production of the GS and GS F will cease later this year,” a spokesperson said.
It was revealed the cab-chassis G-Professional would end production in November 2019, with only limited dealer stock remaining, however the broader G-Class range lives on.
In February 2020, Mercedes-Benz confirmed production of the slow-selling X-Class dual-cab ute will officially end in May 2020, less than three years after its reveal.
Although heading into its fifth-generation overseas, the Clio hatchback is on its last legs in Australia after Renault announced it would be phasing it out to make way for a series of new SUV models.
Renault’s compact SUV, the Kadjar, is set to be replaced by incoming all-new SUV model, the Arkana, in 2021.
“Kadjar has been important in building a presence for Renault between Captur and Koleos, but it is nearing the end of its cycle,” a Renault spokesperson told CarAdvice.
“By moving to Arkana, we reap the benefits of South Korean production. We’ve got a few months’ supply left of Kadjar, but we won’t be ordering any more.”
Renault announced it would pull its pint-sized electric car out of Australia in July 2020, citing poor sales and a lack of government incentives supporting electric vehicles.
Our market won’t receive the new-generation 2021 Subaru Liberty when it launches, with Subaru Australia confirming in September 2020 that the Liberty badge will exit Australia when the current model ends its production run for our region.
Subaru Australia communications boss David Rowley said the company has one more production run booked, meaning buyers might expect to see the Liberty model live on until very early in 2021.
In January 2020, Toyota announced its hybrid hatchback offering, the Prius C, would be discontinued in the second quarter of 2020 after eight years on sale here.
“Production of the Prius C ceased in March, and we can confirm there is very minimal stock of new vehicles currently left in Dealerships,” a Toyota spokesperson told CarAdvice.
It is set to be replaced by the all-new Yaris hybrid, due here in August 2020.
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