Electric Vehicles Outsell Petrol Cars in Australia for Second Month
Electric vehicles surpassed petrol-powered models in Australia for the second consecutive month in September, driven by rising fuel costs and increased Chinese imports.
Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids outsold petrol vehicles in Australia for the second consecutive month in September 2026. According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, petrol vehicle sales plummeted by more than 36 percent year-on-year, while diesel sales fell 18.4 percent. BEVs accounted for approximately 24.1 percent of all new vehicle sales, with over 26,200 units sold.
Chinese automotive brands now represent 35.5 percent of the new vehicle market, overtaking Japan and Thailand as the primary source of new cars in Australia. The Chinese manufacturer BYD saw a 102 percent increase in sales compared to the same period in 2025, narrowing the market share gap with Toyota, which remains the top overall brand. While the Ford Ranger remained the best-selling individual model for September, other top performers included the Toyota RAV4 hybrid and Tesla Model Y.
Industry leaders attribute the shift to soaring fuel prices and a broader range of affordable models. The Electric Vehicle Council reported that Australian motorists are now purchasing an electric car every 100 seconds. This transition is particularly evident in the decline of diesel-powered vehicles, with diesel SUV sales dropping 24.5 percent compared to September 2025.
