Battery electric vehicles outsold petrol cars in Australia for the first time on record in August, with 27,089 EVs delivered for a record 24.9 per cent of the new car market, according to industry figures released on Thursday.
Petrol cars managed 25,824 sales for the month, down 32.6 per cent on a year earlier, while diesel recorded 23,608. Battery electrics beat every other single powertrain, making them the country’s most popular engine type for the month, and Australian EV sales have now held above 20 per cent of the market for three consecutive months, up 171 per cent on August 2025.
Electrified vehicles overall passed half the market. Battery electrics, plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids together took 51.8 per cent of the month, meaning more than half of all new cars sold in Australia now carry a battery of some kind.
Plug-in hybrids contributed 10,591 sales and conventional hybrids added 18,662, up 7 per cent. Vehicles with a plug, counting battery electrics and PHEVs together, reached a record 35.4 per cent of the market.
The wider market also grew. Total deliveries reached 108,760 vehicles in August, up 4.9 per cent on a year earlier, with 848,920 sold so far in 2026, running 2 per cent ahead of last year. The FCAI’s own release described the August market as buoyant.
“The sustained level of [battery electric vehicle] sales… shows how quickly consumer choice and competition are reshaping Australia’s new vehicle market,” said Tony Weber, chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, which publishes the monthly VFACTS data. Thursday’s release came with accompanying analysis from the Electric Vehicle Council.
Tesla’s Model Y was the country’s best-selling vehicle outright with 6,414 deliveries, up 176 per cent year on year, extending the run that began with its record July. Four electric models made the overall top ten, with BYD’s Sealion 7 on 2,213, the Geely EX5 on 1,947 and the Zeekr 7X close behind.
Toyota’s RAV4 held second overall on 5,470 sales, a mix VFACTS records as roughly 70 per cent hybrid and 30 per cent plug-in hybrid. Chinese newcomers filled out the list, with the Chery Tiggo 4 on 2,012 and the GWM Haval Jolion on 1,891 both making the top ten.
Toyota stayed first among brands on 19,712 sales but slipped 5.2 per cent, while BYD held second on 8,231, up 68.8 per cent, and Tesla ran third on 7,685, up 163 per cent. Kia and Mazda rounded out the top five on 6,500 and 6,203, and Chinese brands BYD, GWM, MG and Geely together now hold about 20 per cent of the market. BYD first claimed the number two position earlier this year as EV share began setting records.
A wave of cheaper Chinese models has brought several EVs to price parity with comparable petrol cars. Fuel prices have also climbed since March on the back of conflict in the Middle East, and buyers are weighing total running costs, including charging and servicing, rather than the sticker price alone.
“Environmental and economic considerations are coming together, changing what Australians buy and how they spend,” said Julie Delvecchio, chief executive of the Electric Vehicle Council.
August’s 24.9 per cent share beats the previous record of 23.5 per cent, set only in June. Petrol and diesel together still account for about 45 per cent of sales, and utes such as the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, on 4,833 and 2,440 sales, stayed inside the top five.
Whether August marks a permanent crossover will show in the spring numbers. The next VFACTS release, covering September sales, is due from the FCAI on Thursday 1 October.
