Australia Records Its First Month With EVs Outselling Petrol Cars, BEV Share Hits 24.9% in August
Battery-electric vehicles sold 27,078 units in Australia in August 2026 — a 171% year-on-year rise, 24.9% of the market — outselling petrol cars (25,824) for the first time in Australian history; the Tesla Model Y topped the entire new-car market and seven of the eight best-selling EVs were Chinese-built models.
Battery-electric vehicles outsold petrol cars in Australia for the first time in August 2026, according to data published by the Electric Vehicle Council and reported on 3 September. A total of 27,078 BEVs were registered in August — a 171% year-on-year increase — against 25,824 petrol-only registrations. The result gives EVs a 24.9% share of the 108,760 total new vehicles registered during the month.
Electrified vehicles as a whole commanded a majority of the market: battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid cars together accounted for 51.8% of August registrations — the first time the combined electrified share has crossed 50% in Australia.
The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling vehicle in the entire Australian new-car market in August, with 6,414 registrations, up 176% year-on-year. BYD placed second among brands with 8,231 vehicles, up 68.8%. The BYD Sealion 7 alone moved 2,213 units. Seven of the eight top-selling electric models were built in China.
Australia had previously trailed most Western markets in EV adoption. The August milestone mirrors Europe's trajectory — the EU first recorded more BEVs than petrol cars in early 2025 — and represents the strongest signal yet that Australia's transition has reached structural momentum.