For the first time, battery electric vehicles were the single biggest fuel type in Australia's new car market. In August, buyers took delivery of 27,078 EVs, or 24.9 per cent of the 108,760 new vehicles sold, putting battery power ahead of petrol on 23.7 per cent and diesel on 21.7 per cent.
Model Y beats the RAV4
The Tesla Model Y was the top selling model of the month at 6,414 units, edging out the Toyota RAV4 on 5,470. Toyota still led all brands with 19.5 per cent of the market, but five Chinese brands (BYD, GWM, MG, Geely and Chery) together accounted for 26,610 sales, or 26.4 per cent. Counting hybrids and plug-ins, electrified vehicles made up 51.7 per cent of sales, the first month they have passed half.
Cartell Assessment
This looks like a genuine tipping point, not a one-off. Cheaper Chinese EVs, a much broader model range and steady demand for hybrids have pushed the pure petrol car into the minority. Petrol is not dead, but it is no longer the default choice for a new car buyer.
AU Outlook
Watch whether battery electric holds top spot through the busy end of year plate clearing period, or whether petrol claws back share. Either way the direction is now clear, and the brands that came late to EVs have ground to make up.
