Australia EV Sales Soar as BYD Overtakes Tesla in 2026

Electric vehicles accounted for about one in six new cars sold in Australia during the first half of 2026, raising their market share to 16.4%, more than double the 7.6% share recorded a year earlier. Deliveries rose 119.8% year‑on‑year to 103,843 units, driven by stronger consumer interest, expanding charging infrastructure and federal and state incentives.

Chinese maker BYD displaced Tesla as the country’s top‑selling EV brand, capturing 28.1% of the EV market with 29,192 deliveries, up 241.2% from the previous year. Tesla fell to second place with a 22.3% share, its Model Y alone sold 20,396 units, a 66.7% increase. Other brands such as Geely, Kia, Zeekr and Volkswagen also posted notable growth.

Industry bodies – the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Electric Vehicle Council – provided the sales data, while analysts noted that lower operating costs, advances in battery range and government rebates are accelerating Australia's shift toward cleaner transport.