Automakers are adjusting their strategies to meet stricter emissions regulations, and Ford Australia has recently made changes to its vehicle line-up, including price increases and the discontinuation of certain engines and variants, in response to the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).

The Ford-supported lobby group, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), continues to support the tightening of emissions standards, and the carmaker itself does not appear concerned by them.

According to local media reports, Ford expects its expanding hybrid and all-electric vehicle line-up to support compliance with Australia's NVES regulations.

This line-up currently includes the Mustang Mach-E, E-Transit, E-Transit Custom, Transit Custom PHEV, and Ranger PHEV.

Ford is currently the second-best-selling brand in Australia, after Toyota, and recorded 25 per cent and 95 per cent sales increases for its hybrids and PHEVs, respectively, in October.

"There are a number of factors that determine whether a vehicle is introduced to the market. From an NVES perspective, for a vehicle to have a positive impact, there must be customer demand for it," stated Ford Australia's Marketing Director, Ambrose Henderson.

"It is necessary to consider whether it aligns with the brand and whether the company can deliver the product. Transitional technologies will remain relevant in the foreseeable future as the industry adjusts," he further added.

Henderson also noted that "there must be a broader discussion regarding the infrastructure required in a country such as ours to support adoption."

As previously reported by media sources, the Blue Oval intends to continue offering traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) models in Australia for the foreseeable future, despite stricter regulations, although recent adjustments to the line-up have been made.

These adjustments include the removal of two-wheel-drive Ford Everest SUVs from the Australian market, as the NVES classifies rear-wheel-drive models as "Type 1" (MA) passenger vehicles, which are subject to lower CO2 targets than Type 2 (MC) four-wheel-drive models.

Additionally, Ford increased Mustang prices by AUD 5,000 (US$ 3,240) in July to offset CO2 penalties imposed under the same standards.