Electric vehicles outsell petrol cars in Australia for the first time
Electric vehicles achieved a historic milestone in Australia in August 2026, selling 27,078 units representing 24.9% of the new-car market, surpassing petrol-powered vehicles which sold 25,824 units. BEVs grew 171% year-over-year, while electrified vehicles including hybrids captured 51.8% of total market share. The shift marks the first month combustion-only cars became a minority in the Australian market.
In a significant shift, electric vehicles surpassed petrol cars in Australia during August 2026 for the first time. Battery-electric vehicles achieved 27,078 sales against 25,824 for petrol vehicles and 23,608 for diesel, as the total market expanded 4.9% to 108,760 units.
Tesla Model Y led individual models with 6,414 sales, yet a broader picture reveals decisive Chinese dominance. Eight of the top-selling EVs came from Chinese manufacturers, with BYD, Geely, Zeekr and Jaecoo leading. The BYD Sealion 7 alone recorded 2,213 sales, ranking sixth across all models. The Geely EX5 surged more than 385% year-over-year.
At brand level, Toyota maintained the highest volume with 19,712 sales but fell 5.2% annually. BYD ranked second with 8,231 units, up 68.8%, leveraging a substantially broader lineup than Tesla's two-model range. Tesla placed third with 7,685 units, up 163%. Combined electrified vehicles—BEVs, hybrids and plug-in hybrids—captured 51.8% of market share, marking Australia's emergence as a predominantly electrified market and reflecting the impact of minimal EV tariffs enabling rapid Chinese manufacturer penetration.
Editorial takeaway
Electric vehicles achieved a historic milestone in Australia in August 2026, selling 27,078 units representing 24.9% of the new-car market, surpassing petrol-powered vehicles which sold 25,824 units. BEVs grew 171% year-over-year, while electrified vehicles including hybrids captured 51.8% of total market share. The shift marks the first month combustion-only cars became a minority in the Australian market.
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