The Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7 are the most popular BEVs on the market. Photo: James Coleman.
August may mark a major turning point in Australia’s switch to electric vehicles, with electric vehicles outselling petrol vehicles for the first time, according to a combination of VFACTS and Electric Vehicle Council figures.
Driven by cost-of-living concerns, the impacts of the Iran war on fuel supply and price volatility, and the federal vehicle efficiency standard boosting the number of low- and zero-emission car models available, the August result prompted calls for charging infrastructure to keep pace with EV take-up.
The new sales data also marked the charge of Chinese-made vehicles into the ranks of the best-selling vehicles in the market.
In the ACT, government data shows 18,792 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are now on the road, representing 5.4 per cent of all vehicles.
VFACTS recorded 100,939 new vehicle sales in August, including a record 27,089 BEVs, or 24.9 per cent of the entire market – a 171 per cent increase compared with the same month in 2025.
While Toyota remained the overall market leader with 19.5 per cent of sales, five Chinese brands ranked among the top 10. BYD, GWM, MG, Geely and Chery recorded a combined 26,610 sales, accounting for 26.4 per cent.
The Chinese carmakers also supplied five of the 10 highest-selling models: BYD Sealion 7, Chery Tiggo 4, Geely EX5, GWM Haval Jolion and Zeekr 7X.
BEV sales surpassed both petrol vehicles (nearly 26,000 sold) and diesel cars (23,600). When combined with plug-in hybrid vehicles, these more economical models account for 36 per cent of the market.
The Tesla Model Y remained Australia’s best-selling new vehicle in August with 6414 sales – around 17 per cent higher than its nearest competitor. BYD and Tesla ranked second and third respectively among manufacturers for the month, behind Toyota.
Both the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Electric Vehicle Council said the market was undergoing a structural shift and required a boost to charging infrastructure.
Chief executive Tony Weber said the sustained level of BEV sales, together with changing brand preferences, showed how quickly consumer choice and competition were reshaping Australia’s new-vehicle market.
“These changes continue to reinforce the need for infrastructure settings that keep pace with the market,” he said.
“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 Electric Vehicle Council said the results reflected a structural shift in the way Australians choose their cars, with economic and environmental benefits clearly driving demand.
CEO Julie Delvecchio said more Australians were crunching the numbers and turning to EVs to find savings.
“As more households do the sums on buying, charging and servicing an electric car, they increasingly find the maths more than stack up against petrol or diesel cars,” she said.
“And those real savings are magnified across the lifetime running cost of a vehicle.”
Ms Delvecchio said greater choice and more competitive pricing was making the decision to go electric easier for more people.
“With almost 200 EV models now available in Australia, consumers have never had more choice across price point, size and features,” she said.
“That means every driver can now find an electric vehicle that suits their budget, their lifestyle and their family needs.”
Ms Delvecchio said the sustained growth in electric vehicle sales reinforced the importance of policy certainty and continued investment in charging infrastructure.
“The August numbers show that demand for EVs keeps growing. The priority now is to make the benefits of going electric accessible to more Australians, including people in regional communities, apartment residents and the 30 per cent of Australians who rent their home.
“That means maintaining policies that support ongoing electric vehicle adoption, and ensuring that reliable charging is keeping pace with demand – at home, at work and on the road.”
BYD Australia spokesperson Paul Ellis said Australians had recognised the savings of driving a BEV.
Mr Ellis said BYD was perfectly positioned to capitalise on this, being able to deliver vehicles quickly to meet the needs of its customers.
“It’s not about the sales, it’s about the ownership experience,” he said.
“We’re investing in opening up just about a new dealer every week. We’ve got warehousing in four cities.”
Mr Ellis said every new dealership had servicing capability and that BYD was investing in training and career pathways.
He said new faster charging technology arriving in the second half of 2027 would be like going from a 2G cellular network to 5G.
