Why cars can cost 3x as much in Australia despite currency parity with the U.S.

Right now, the U.S. dollar and the Australian dollar Didjaerawollabuck about as evenly as possible evaluated. If that's the case, why are Australians to double or even triple what we pay to pay to buy a car?
Neil Dowling leaders saw the car in this huge discrepancy and found several reasons for the differences. The United States usually buys 30 million cars per year, while Australia buys about one million. Like any product there is a discount for buying in bulk. In addition, Australia mandates its own emissions and the costs of compliance with these rules is passed on to consumers. Beyond emissions and volume, Australians pay for the cost of cars up to their distant southern location to make. All these factors increase the price of a car in Australia, but one of the biggest reasons for the increased cost is taxes.
A Porsche Carrera S would run a U.S. buyer 88,000 $ before the inevitable plunge into the bottom less pit, that the Porsche options list. In Australia the same car will cost an incredible $ 282,800. The Australian market, Porsche is saddled with a luxury car tax, import VAT and goods and services tax. These taxes can also turn a $ 66,230 Lexus LS U.S. prices to a $ 191,200 Australian cheap wallet buster.
On the other hand, the Australians always vehicles that are highly specced. Mercedes-Benz Australia says that the local S-Class one of the best you can buy everywhere in the world. The level of standard equipment Australian vehicles is greater than what we see on NA-specced cars. In addition, the average wage in Australia nearly $ 10,000 higher per person per year. You do not like to swallow easily pay nearly $ 300,000 for a Porsche Carrera S, but shows the Aussies are on average earn better wages than us Yanks.