carsales has launched three original series on YouTube, marking the automotive marketplace’s expansion into longform storytelling with early viewership figures showing strong audience engagement.
The slate launched earlier this month with Fuel For Thought and Idle Talk, followed by the recent release of Out There. The debut episode of Fuel For Thought has surpassed 100,000 views in its first few weeks, with 72% of viewing taking place on TV screens.
The series launch comes as connected TV viewing continues to surge in Australia, with YouTube now reaching over 20.1 million Australian adults and 13.3 million adults watching YouTube on their TV screens in May 2025, up from 12.9 million the year before.
Fuel For Thought, described as a visually engaging explainer series unpacking the history, culture and big ideas behind Australia’s automotive stories, has attracted 64% new viewers to the channel with a 43% female audience. The series was followed by Idle Talk, an in-car interview series featuring conversations with local entrepreneurs, musicians and athletes, which has attracted close to 30,000 views for its first episode.
The most recent addition, Out There, is a lifestyle-driven travel series showcasing adventure and unique Australian experiences through cars, targeting younger travellers and adventure seekers.
Targeting broader audiences
Ben Tyers, Head of Content at carsales, says each series has its own tone and purpose, from deep-dive explainers to adventure storytelling to intimate conversations.
“What ties them together is our goal to create thoughtful, highly watchable series that fit naturally into people’s lives, whether they’re on the couch with a connected TV, having an episode on in the background while they cook dinner, or listening along on the way to work,” Tyers says.
“We want carsales content to feel as effortless to tune into as a favourite podcast or TV show.”
Rafael Constantinou, EGM – Marketing & Customer, says the original series marks the next step in how carsales shows up and brings the brand to life.
“Connected TV is transforming how people discover and experience video, and we’re leaning into that shift,” Constantinou says.
“We’ve always told stories about cars, but now we’re shaping those stories to be more immersive, more culturally relevant and more accessible than ever.”
The three series are designed to broaden carsales’ reach beyond traditional car buyers, with Fuel For Thought serving curious viewers wanting insights into how cars intersect with society, while Idle Talk targets audiences drawn to culture and entertainment.
Constantinou says the lineup creates meaningful opportunities for brand collaboration, building premium environments where partners can integrate in ways that feel authentic to the story and valuable to consumers.
The company says its trusted news, reviews and comparisons remain a cornerstone of its editorial offering, with the original series introducing new entertaining formats while continuing to deliver the expertise audiences depend on.
Every episode premieres on the carsales YouTube channel, supported by corresponding editorial features that bring added depth, context and behind-the-scenes storytelling.
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