The new-vehicle market in May 2026 ran 19.9 per cent EV. That is a record, and it is up from 6.2 per cent for the same month in 2024. Five models are doing more than their share of that pull. None of them are accidents.

1. Tesla Model Y

The Model Y is the best-selling new vehicle in Australia, full stop. Not the best-selling EV. Not the best-selling SUV. The best-selling vehicle. May 2026 delivered 5,605 units against a Ford Ranger total of 5,292. The why is straightforward: a quietly competent product, a price that is finally inside the volume bracket, a Supercharger network that solves the road-trip anxiety, and a brand reputation that is, despite the headlines, still the most-trusted in the segment among actual buyers. Starts at $58,900 plus on-road costs for the RWD. Long Range Model Y L stretches WLTP range to 681 km. The Performance does 0 to 100 in 3.5 seconds.

2. BYD Sealion 7

In April, the Sealion 7 was the best-selling EV in Australia for the month, finishing seventh overall on 1,780 deliveries and outselling the Model Y that month outright. Year-to-date sales are up 342.2 per cent. The Premium RWD starts at $54,990 drive-away, which is the only sub-$55K mid-size EV SUV available right now with this level of standard equipment, range and pace. The 82.56 kWh Blade LFP battery is good for 482 km WLTP. The Performance AWD makes 390 kW and runs to 100 in 4.5 seconds. The product is good. The price is the reason it sells.

3. Zeekr 7X

The Zeekr 7X is the premium EV story of 2026 in Australia. 2,698 units sold year-to-date. Brand sales up 955 per cent on 2025. From $57,900 plus on-road costs for the RWD Long Range, which has a 615 km WLTP range. The headline trick is the charging: 16 minutes from 10 to 80 per cent at up to 420 kW DC. That is faster than almost any other production EV on sale anywhere in the world. The cabin is the quality story. The Mercedes-style centre touchscreen, the genuinely good seats, the materials that survive a hard look. Zeekr is now the answer to the question of what the Chinese Audi Q4 e-tron actually competes with.

4. Geely EX5

Geely is back in Australia, and the EX5 is the entire reason. May saw Geely brand sales up 416 per cent year-on-year. Starting price is $40,990 plus on-road costs. The 68.39 kWh LFP battery delivers 475 km WLTP. FWD only, 160 kW, 0 to 100 in 7.4 seconds. This is the cheapest mainstream electric SUV in Australia by a meaningful margin. It is undercutting cars that are not as well-equipped, in segments where price is the buying decision. Expect to see one in every suburban shopping centre car park by Christmas.

5. Toyota bZ4X

This is the surprise. The bZ4X averaged fewer than 87 sales per month in 2025. In 2026 it is averaging 330. It peaked at 483 in April. Year-on-year for that single month: up 442.7 per cent. Toyota Australia got the pricing right and the dealer network finally took the order book seriously. From $55,990 plus on-road costs, with 591 km of FWD WLTP range and 488 km on the AWD Touring. The Touring is the spec to look at, with 280 kW of total system power. It is no longer the joke of the EV segment. It is, for buyers who want a Toyota and want a plug, the answer to that question.

The market context

EV sales were up 111.6 per cent year-on-year in May. PHEVs were up 202.3 per cent. Conventional hybrids added another 11.3 per cent on top. Combined, anything with a battery accounted for 46.4 per cent of every new vehicle Australia bought in May. The overall market was down 4.8 per cent. Petrol-only volume is collapsing, and electrification is taking the share.

The five above are the names doing the work. The Model 3, Sealion 6 PHEV, Atto 3 and Polestar 4 are right behind them. The next twelve months will be about whether anyone outside this list can break in.