[REVISION HISTORY]

EV market competition in Asia‑Pacific

Updated 8 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-05 01:33 UTC → 2026-09-07 05:48 UTC · added ~~removed~~

By September 2026, the rapid expansion of Chinese manufacturers and Tesla has significantly reshaped the electric vehicle (EV) landscape in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in Australia and South Korea. In Australia, EV sales have tripled compared to the previous year, reaching 116,000 units through August. ~~This surge follows a~~ A structural shift occurred in August ~~where~~ when battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales surpassed petrol and diesel models for the first time. BEVs accounted for 24.9% of all new car sales in August, marking a 171% year-on-year increase. Specifically, BEV sales reached a record of over 27,000 units, with 25,824 units outselling petrol cars. When including plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids, electrified vehicles represented more than half of all new vehicle sales in the country. Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen described these figures as a ‘landmark moment,’ attributing the transition to the federal government’s Electric Car Discount and the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. Furthermore, analysis from the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association suggests that Australians utilizing the Electric Car Discount in the first half of the year are expected to save $76 million in 2026 alone. The Tesla Model Y remains a dominant ~~force,~~ force in Australia, recording 6,414 sales. Chinese manufacturers have also disrupted the market, with five of the top ten best-selling models ~~in Australia~~ originating from ~~China. Leading~~ China, including brands ~~include~~ such as BYD, ~~which secured the second position in the overall market, alongside~~ GWM, MG, Geely, and Chery. In South Korea, a similar trend is emerging. Tesla continues to lead the import market, maintaining over 10,000 monthly sales for six consecutive months, driven primarily by the Model Y. Simultaneously, Chinese brands are gaining substantial ground, with five of the top ten best-selling imported models ~~in South Korea~~ being Chinese-made. ~~BYD has expanded its presence in the South Korean market through a variety of electric vehicles, such as the Dolphin and Sealion 7, as well as plug-in hybrid models like the Sealion 6 DM-i.~~

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