Australian EV sales surpass petrol cars for first time amid fuel price shock
Electric vehicles outsold petrol cars in Australia for the first time in August, capturing a record 24.9% of new car sales, according to The Guardian.
More than 27,000 EVs were sold in August, a record for a single month and representing 24.9% of new cars sold. That surpassed petrol vehicles, at nearly 26,000 sales, and diesel cars at 23,600. When plug-in hybrids were included, vehicles with a plug accounted for 36% of the market.
The surge was helped by two factors: the war in Iran pushing up oil prices and making petrol cars significantly more expensive to run, and the federal vehicle emissions standard introduced last year that requires automakers to cut average tailpipe emissions annually. That rule triggered a sharp increase in the number of low- and zero-emission models available across a range of prices.
Australia had previously trailed most OECD countries in EV uptake, with the technology targeted by political scare campaigns. Former prime minister Scott Morrison claimed in 2019 that a vehicle emissions standard would “end the weekend.” EVs made up less than 2% of sales just four years ago and about 8% last year.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen called the milestone a “landmark moment.” He said Australians had seen through scare campaigns and were voting with their wallets for cars that cost less to run, are cleaner and reduce their exposure to international petrol price shocks.
Toyota was the most popular car brand in August, followed by Chinese EV maker BYD and Tesla. Five of the top 10 brands were Chinese: BYD, GWM, MG, Geely and Chery. The Tesla Model Y was the most popular new model, with more than 6,400 sold.
The Electric Vehicle Council said the figures showed a “structural shift” in how Australians choose cars, with economic and environmental benefits driving the change. Council CEO Julie Delvecchio said nearly 200 EV models were now on offer. “The priority now is to make the benefits of going electric accessible to more Australians, including people in regional communities, apartment residents and the 30% of Australians who rent their home,” she said.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries CEO Tony Weber said consumer choice and competition were rapidly reshaping the new-vehicle market, and infrastructure settings needed to keep pace. “Accessible and dependable charging will remain critical to consumer confidence, particularly on highways, in rural and regional areas and for motorists without access to charging at home,” he said.