Award-Winning EVs Skipping Australia — What's Going On?
The Renault 5 E-Tech and Nissan Micra EV keep winning prizes overseas but aren't sold in Australia. Here's what that means for novated lease buyers right now.
The Renault 5 E-Tech and Nissan Micra EV are racking up awards in Europe. Affordable, compact, genuinely popular — the kind of cars that should be selling themselves. Yet neither Renault nor Nissan has committed to bringing them to Australia, a point The Driven noted with some bewilderment in a July 2026 report [[Source 1]](https://thedriven.io/2026/07/16/renault-5-e-tech-and-nissan-micra-evs-win-yet-ever-more-prizes-overseas-but-why-wont-they-bring-them-to-oz/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=renault-5-e-tech-and-nissan-micra-evs-win-yet-ever-more-prizes-overseas-but-why-wont-they-bring-them-to-oz).
This isn't a niche problem. The affordable EV gap in Australia is real. Buyers who want a small, entry-level BEV that qualifies for the FBT exemption on novated leases are working with a limited shortlist. When award-winning models from established brands simply don't show up here, that shortlist gets shorter.
What this means for novated lease customers
If you're a PAYG employee eyeing a novated lease, the FBT exemption for eligible battery electric vehicles is still one of the most straightforward tax benefits available to you right now. The catch is that the vehicle has to actually be on sale in Australia and sit under the luxury car tax threshold to qualify.
The absence of competitively priced small EVs like the Renault 5 or Nissan Micra means your options at the entry end of the market are narrower than they should be. You're not imagining that — it's a genuine supply-side problem, not a flaw in the novated lease structure itself. What is on the market — from MG, BYD, and a handful of others — can still stack up well under a novated arrangement, particularly if the EV FBT exemption applies.
The practical takeaway: don't wait for a specific overseas model to arrive before running the numbers on what's available today. Manufacturers can announce Australian launches quickly, but they can also delay indefinitely. A novated lease on an eligible EV that's actually available is worth more than a hypothetical one on a car that may never land here.
Common questions
Are the Renault 5 E-Tech or Nissan Micra EV available on novated lease in Australia?
As of mid-2026, neither model is on sale in Australia. You can only novate a vehicle that is available for purchase here, so neither qualifies for a novated lease at this stage.
Which small EVs are currently available for a novated lease in Australia?
Options at the more affordable end include models from BYD, MG, and GWM Ora, among others. Availability and pricing change regularly, so it's worth getting a current quote rather than relying on older comparisons.
Does the EV FBT exemption still apply in 2026?
The FBT exemption for eligible low-emission vehicles has been a key feature of novated leasing in recent years. You should confirm current eligibility rules with a licensed adviser, as thresholds and policy details can change — millarX can walk you through what applies to your specific situation.
Why would established manufacturers skip Australia?
Right-hand-drive conversion costs, relatively low sales volumes compared to Europe, regulatory compliance expenses, and distributor network decisions all play a role. It's a commercial call manufacturers make independently of how popular a model is elsewhere.
Should I wait for more affordable EVs to arrive before setting up a novated lease?
That depends on your circumstances. If an eligible EV available today meets your needs, waiting for a model that has no confirmed Australian launch date means delaying real savings. A good broker will show you what's achievable now, not just what might be possible later.