7 ms·

Nope. There is no such rule, at least not in the UK. There are several manufacturers of exotic cars that only sell LHD versions here because RHD version isn't w

Nope. There is no such rule, at least not in the UK. There are several manufacturers of exotic cars that only sell LHD versions here because RHD version isn't worth developing. For example Polestar 1 can only be ordered as LHD in the UK, or perhaps more famously, the Bugatti Chiron. It's only a question of whether your clients want your car so much that they will put up with having the steering wheel on the "wrong" side. Volkswagen can't just start selling an LHD golf here simply because your regular buyer wouldn't buy one, not because the regulations forbid it.

skissane 4y ago
I think UK has different rules because it is physically close to LHD markets, and motorists frequently travel to/from them with their vehicles. Whereas, in Australia, LHD vehicles are only street legal if they are either (a) historic (> 25 or 30 years old, depending on the state), or (b) you can demonstrate a genuine business need for some kind of highly specialised vehicle which is available only in LHD. There is far less demand for allowing LHD vehicles than in the UK, so the authorities can get away with being more stringent.
- fomine3 4y ago
  LHD vehicle is totally allowed here in Japan, minor of people prefer it because it feels like a imported car (especially exotic or US car lovers). Though most buyers prefer RHD (and LHD is deal breaker) because it's reasonable and sane.
- gambiting 4y ago
  Well yes, that makes sense - I know some people who spend a lot of time per year in France/Spain and they actually have UK-registered LHD vehicles because it's more convenient that way. Either way, about Australia - I came across this article about the Chiron and indeed, it sounds like Bugatti cannot sell it there because it wouldn't be compliant with the rules(but some people have imported them anyway as "special interest vehicles"). https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/bugatti-chiron-price-what-one-would-cost-in-australia-74173#:~:text=vehicles%20into%20Australia.-,While%20the%20Chiron%20doesn't%20comply%20with%20Australian%20Design%20Rules,brought%20in%20to%20the%20country https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/bugatti-chiron-price....
  - skissane 4y ago
    About the Bugatti Chiron, per my understanding of Australian law - you can legally import a brand-new one-but you can’t legally drive it on public roads. Well, put it away for 25-30 years, then suddenly it becomes old enough to be street legal. You can drive it on a private road (which legally means a road closed to the public). You can drive it on a racetrack. You can move it around on the back of a truck. You can even get a short-term permit to drive it on the public roads, but only to move it to a new permanent storage location, or to take it to the mechanics. If you are wealthy enough to afford one, you are wealthy enough to deal with all these complexities of owning one in Australia.
    - gambiting 4y ago
      The article mentions exception for businesses which have a business need for a vehicle that is only available as LHD - I'm sure an argument can be made that exotic car rental company can only get an LHD Chiron because no RHD version is made, ergo, it should be legal to register for business use. I'd love to know how this was actually done.
      - skissane 4y ago
        I doubt that would work. The bureaucrats who approve the applications would realise it was politically sensitive, and ask their politician bosses, who would say “no”. Australian culture tends to look down on special perks for super-rich people, to a greater extent than British or American culture does (“tall poppy syndrome” maybe), and if what you are talking about happened, the media and opposition politicians would make a lot of noise about it. You’d be more likely to get away with it with an exotic car that was less obscenely expensive. Some kind of special vehicle for mining/construction/etc, that’s practical, no matter how expensive it may be, nobody is going to view it as a rich person’s toy, so no political gain from condemning its approval.

skissane 4y ago

I think UK has different rules because it is physically close to LHD markets, and motorists frequently travel to/from them with their vehicles. Whereas, in Australia, LHD vehicles are only street legal if they are either (a) historic (> 25 or 30 years old, depending on the state), or (b) you can demonstrate a genuine business need for some kind of highly specialised vehicle which is available only in LHD. There is far less demand for allowing LHD vehicles than in the UK, so the authorities can get away with being more stringent.

fomine3 4y ago
LHD vehicle is totally allowed here in Japan, minor of people prefer it because it feels like a imported car (especially exotic or US car lovers). Though most buyers prefer RHD (and LHD is deal breaker) because it's reasonable and sane.
gambiting 4y ago
Well yes, that makes sense - I know some people who spend a lot of time per year in France/Spain and they actually have UK-registered LHD vehicles because it's more convenient that way. Either way, about Australia - I came across this article about the Chiron and indeed, it sounds like Bugatti cannot sell it there because it wouldn't be compliant with the rules(but some people have imported them anyway as "special interest vehicles"). https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/bugatti-chiron-price-what-one-would-cost-in-australia-74173#:~:text=vehicles%20into%20Australia.-,While%20the%20Chiron%20doesn't%20comply%20with%20Australian%20Design%20Rules,brought%20in%20to%20the%20country https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/bugatti-chiron-price....
- skissane 4y ago
  About the Bugatti Chiron, per my understanding of Australian law - you can legally import a brand-new one-but you can’t legally drive it on public roads. Well, put it away for 25-30 years, then suddenly it becomes old enough to be street legal. You can drive it on a private road (which legally means a road closed to the public). You can drive it on a racetrack. You can move it around on the back of a truck. You can even get a short-term permit to drive it on the public roads, but only to move it to a new permanent storage location, or to take it to the mechanics. If you are wealthy enough to afford one, you are wealthy enough to deal with all these complexities of owning one in Australia.
  - gambiting 4y ago
    The article mentions exception for businesses which have a business need for a vehicle that is only available as LHD - I'm sure an argument can be made that exotic car rental company can only get an LHD Chiron because no RHD version is made, ergo, it should be legal to register for business use. I'd love to know how this was actually done.
    - skissane 4y ago
      I doubt that would work. The bureaucrats who approve the applications would realise it was politically sensitive, and ask their politician bosses, who would say “no”. Australian culture tends to look down on special perks for super-rich people, to a greater extent than British or American culture does (“tall poppy syndrome” maybe), and if what you are talking about happened, the media and opposition politicians would make a lot of noise about it. You’d be more likely to get away with it with an exotic car that was less obscenely expensive. Some kind of special vehicle for mining/construction/etc, that’s practical, no matter how expensive it may be, nobody is going to view it as a rich person’s toy, so no political gain from condemning its approval.