Real-world information for car buyers acclaimed internationally

The real-world vehicle testing program funded by the Albanese Government and run by the Australian Automobile Association has won an innovation award from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile for Empowering Cleaner Choices.

The program is a global first and allows car buyers to save money and make more informed choices by measuring fuel consumption and emissions of vehicles in real road conditions.

Those results are compared to the results of laboratory tests provided by manufacturers.

The testing gives consumers information they haven’t previously had about how a car may perform. It is intended to help buyers looking for more efficient and cheaper-to-run cars.

It also helps provide policymakers in Australia and overseas with insights to help develop more accurate laboratory tests for the future.

The Albanese Government is providing $14 million to the Australian Automobile Association over the next four years to test the real-world fuel usage of a range of popular cars, SUVs and utes sold in Australia.

The testing to date has found results for 70 of Australia’s most popular cars, with 52 found to be using more fuel than reported from lab testing, and the latest results released today show some new cars consume over 30% more fuel than advertised.

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is the AAA’s international parent body and has membership from 242 organisations in 147 countries and this year held the inaugural Innovation Challenge Awards.

The winners of the four categories were selected from 44 entries.

The FIA congratulated the Real-World Testing program for providing “users with unprecedented information, enabling them to make more informed choices, save money and better protect the planet.”

The Albanese Government committed to funding the Real-World Testing program at the 2022 election, and it was launched in October 2023.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King: 

“This program helps Australians make informed decisions based on the real costs of running a vehicle.

“Transport takes a percentage of every household budget, that’s why it is important Australians have access to tools like this to help maximise savings.

“That’s why we are funding this program and I congratulate the AAA on its success.”