Fleet News Group has announced the three finalists for the 2026 Novated Lease Car of the Year, presented in partnership with the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA).
The finalists are:
- BYD Sealion 7
- Tesla Model Y
- Zeekr 7X
Unlike the other Fleet Car of the Year categories, the Novated Lease Car of the Year finalists are selected using real-world market data from NALSPA members covering the previous financial year.
NALSPA members manage or facilitate more than 200,000 salary packaged motor vehicles across Australia, providing a strong indication of the vehicles attracting the greatest interest from novated leasing customers.
Fleet News Group Managing Editor Marc Sibbald said he was pleased to see the Novated Lease Car of the Year become an official category within the Fleet News Group Awards program.
“We’re very excited to announce the finalists for the Novated Lease Car of the Year and to formally include this award in the Fleet COTY program,” Sibbald said.
“Fleet News Group has announced a Novated Lease Car of the Year every year since 2017, so this is the next step in recognising the importance of novated leasing within the Australian new vehicle market.”
“A special thank you goes to NALSPA for partnering with us and providing the industry data that allows this award to reflect what Australians are actually choosing through salary packaging.”
Sibbald said the novated leasing market had changed significantly following the introduction of the FBT exemption for eligible electric vehicles.
“The FBT exemption has transformed the novated leasing market. Thousands of Australians are now taking advantage of the savings available through salary packaging while also enjoying the benefits of zero-emissions commuting.”
“It has made electric vehicles financially attractive to a much wider group of employees and has changed the type of vehicles people are considering when they take out a novated lease.”
The 2026 finalist list reflects that shift, with all three contenders being battery electric SUVs.
The BYD Sealion 7, Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X will now carry finalist status as part of the broader Fleet News Group Awards program, with the winner to be announced at the Fleet News Group Awards Night in Sydney on 14 October 2026.
Sibbald also acknowledged the companies supporting the broader awards program.
“I’d like to thank all of our sponsors for supporting the Fleet News Group Awards and for their willingness to recognise and reward excellence across fleet management,” he said.
“The awards are about recognising the people, organisations, suppliers and vehicles that are helping to lift standards across the industry, and that support makes the program possible.”
The Novated Lease Car of the Year joins the other Fleet COTY categories as part of the 2026 Fleet News Group Awards, with winners to be revealed at the October awards night.
