EVs the most popular new vehicles in Australia for the first time
Mark August 2026 as the month electric vehicles made an indelible mark on the Australian automotive landscape, becoming the most popular power source by out-selling petrol cars.
For the first time in Australian new-car sales history, EVs were the most popular fuel type of choice last month, outselling pure petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, while attaining an almost 25 per cent market share.
In August 2026, data from the the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) shows 108,760 vehicles were delivered across the 31 days, with EVs accounting for 27,078 sales, or 24.9 per cent of the market.
All up, electrified vehicles (EVs, hybrids and PHEVs) made up 56,281 deliveries, or 51.7 per cent of the total market, the first time the three power sources have contributed to more than half the monthly total.
Petrol and diesel vehicles added 25,824 and 23,608 deliveries to the total, respectively.
Leading the charge was the Tesla Model Y with 6414 deliveries (split across the five-seat Model Y and the three-row Model Y L), comfortably ahead of the new Toyota RAV4 (5470 deliveries), Toyota HiLux (4833 deliveries), Toyota LandCruiser Prado (2475 deliveries), and Ford Ranger (2440 deliveries).
To put the Model Y’s success into context, the next-most popular EV was the BYD Sealion 7, racking up 2213 deliveries.
“The sustained level of BEV sales, together with changing brand preferences, shows how quickly consumer choice and competition are reshaping Australia’s new-vehicle market,” said FCAI chief executive, Tony Weber.
“These changes continue to reinforce the need for infrastructure settings that keep pace with the market. Accessible and dependable charging will remain critical to consumer confidence, particularly on highways, in rural and regional areas and for motorists without access to charging at home.”
The race to become the best-selling vehicle in Australia this year is heating up, with the Ford Ranger (32,796 deliveries, includes Ranger Super Duty), Toyota HiLux (32,161) and Tesla Model Y (31,454) split by fewer than 1400 sales, with four months still to run.
Toyota continued its dominant run as the most popular brand for the month, recording 19,712 deliveries, well ahead of second-placed BYD (8231 deliveries), which itself edged Tesla (7685 deliveries).
After becoming Australia’s most popular source of vehicle imports in February, China is still leading the way, last month contributing 43,882 deliveries, or 40.3 per cent of the total market share – again, a new record, and an increase of 88.9 per cent over the same month last year.
For context, Japanese-sourced cars added 24,892 deliveries (22.9 per cent), while Thailand had 15,658 deliveries (14.4 per cent).
