Sat, 10th Jan 2026

This week's finance podcast by Paige Estritori from Financial Services Online covers two main topics: the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's (ASIC) review on car finance and the future of electric vehicles in Australia. ASIC's review showed concerningly high rates of car loan default, indicating loans are often extended beyond borrowers' repayment abilities. ASIC has urged lenders to improve practices for consumer protection. Meanwhile, in sustainable banking news, Bank Australia will stop financing new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars from 2025, while promoting electric vehicles in response to their lower emissions. Lastly, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, together with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, is launching a program offering discounted electric car loans, particularly targeting lower-income individuals. These developments reinforce a strong move towards an emission-reduced future in the finance and automotive sectors.