The energy minister has urged car manufacturers to "act in good faith" as the government looks to negotiate with automakers about fuel efficiency standards.
The federal government is looking to introduce laws that would set fuel efficiency standards on new cars sold in Australia.
The standards, which would bring Australia in line with other comparable countries, is set to come into effect from 2025, should legislation pass.
But Chris Bowen has rejected suggestions of a longer time frame to implement the standards following concerns from car makers.
"Not every car company welcomes new and better regulation, but we would expect all car companies to act in good faith," he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
"We will consider sensible suggestions which keeps the government's policy intention: a better choice, cheaper to run cars, lower emissions, cars that are healthier."
Submissions on the efficiency standards closed on Monday ahead of consultation with the industry.
Concerns had been raised that the fuel standards could lead to vehicle manufacturers passing on higher costs to motorists on the price of cars.
But Mr Bowen said Australia was already behind large parts of the world in implementing better fuel standards.
"There has been no increase in car prices in any country where this has been introduced over the last 50 years or so," he said,
"Australians deserve these better choices, it has been way overdue for Australia, and that's why ... we have taken a very considered approach, but it is a reform way overdue."
It's estimated cars in Australia use 20 per cent more fuel than similar vehicles in the US.
The government's preferred model for fuel standards would see Australia catch up to the US average for efficiency by 2028, just three years after it was implemented.
"This is an ambitious approach, but one that is required to give Australian more choice to use less petrol," a government analysis paper released in February said.
Mr Bowen said while the government was open to amendments, he dismissed opposition to the proposal as a scare campaign.
"If there are sensible suggestions in keeping with the approach we've taken so far, we'll consider them," he said.
"But we will be delivering better choices, cheaper to run cars, lower emission cars for Australians, which previous governments should have done years ago."
