The argument is mainly around the issue of whether government subsidies are a waste of taxpayers' money or a vital helping hand for Australian jobs.
But a broader issue is Australia's manufacturing industry and how to ensure that the country keeps making things to export as world markets change.
How do the major parties policies stack up in achieving that goal?
In the 1960s manufacturing activity provided one-quarter of the Australia's GDP, but in 2013 that's fallen to around seven per cent.
The World Bank says manufacturing accounts for 11 percent of GDP in the United States and Britain, and around 30 percent in China.
In Australia, the sector remains a major employer, with 88,000 manufacturing businesses employing 940,000 workers.
That's far more than the mining industry, and not far short of levels seen five decades ago.
The sector is, however, going through a prolonged transition from the big auto and white goods makers of the past into smaller niche and high-skilled manufacturers focused on supplying global markets with high tech products.
Labor, the Coalition and the Greens all believe the car industry needs federal support.
Labor has committed more than a billion dollars to help prop up the industry up to 2016 and another one billion after that date.
Industry Minister Kim Carr says Labor wants the car industry to survive.
"The Labor Government remains absolutely committed to having a prosperous automotive industry in Australia. We are amongst 13 countries in the world that can produce an automobile from the point of conception to the showroom floor and we want to keep it that way."
The Coalition policy is to cut funding by $500-million, leaving one billion dollars for the sector to 2015.
This one billion dollars in assistance would remain the same from 2016 to 2020.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says a Coalition government would wholly support Australia's manufacturing industry.
But he says he has no intention of committing to open-ended funding for the car industry.
"If the motor manufacturers want to come to us after the election obviously they can and we will sit down and have and adult discussion with them about trying to ensure that those industries have a strong future because that's what all of us want."
In terms of broader policies which effect the manufacturing sector industrial relations is seen to be critical for increased productivity.
The Coalition promises it would not to act on unfair dismissal and penalty rates until after the 2016 election, but workplace laws would be subject to a Productivity Commission review.
It says a coalition government would also appoint a trade and investment minister, provide an initial $50-million in export market development grants and put $50-million into a manufacturing transition fund.
Mr Abbott says there's no reason why Australia's manufacturing sector can't flourish into the future.
"We want to work with the manufacturing sector to ensure that it has the best possible overall economic environment in which to succeed. There are many many manufacturing businesses in this country which even under the current difficult environment have survived and even flourishe. I am confident that with lower taxes, much less regulation I am confident that manufacturing will again start to expand."
Workplace Minister Bill Shorten says Labor's policy would ensure that manufacturing flourish's unlike the oppositions.
"There's a clear choice at the next election. The Liberal Party's policy on manufacturing is a white flag saying Australia can no longer compete with the rest of the world. Labor says that manufacturing is important, we can keep manufacturing jobs in this country and we're the only group who will fight hard for manufacturing jobs."
The Greens back Labor's funding for the car industry, but believe the grants should be linked to a transition to making electric cars.
The Greens' leader Christine Milne says the incoming government must also agree to find an initial $100-million to fund renewable energy projects to develop a new manufacturing industry.
Senator Milne says the funding could lead to more than 200 projects, generating 650 megawatts of energy and a further billion dollars in flow-on investment in manufacturing in Australia.
"It not only helps reduce emissions, it creates jobs, it builds community and it builds resilience because it spreads the ownership of energy through the whole community. It's a win-win for the climate, for the community, for jobs and for the future."
