Australia's hybrid car sales grow 11.3% in May 2026

Hybrid vehicles continue to gain traction in Australia, with sales increasing 11.3 per cent year-on-year in May 2026. According to the latest VFACTS sales data, Australians purchased 19,024 hybrid vehicles during the month, making hybrids one of the country’s most popular low-emissions powertrains.

However, while hybrid sales continued to grow, both battery-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) expanded at a much faster rate.

Read more: Top-selling car brands in Australia for May 2026

Hybrid sales at a glance

Key takeaways

• Hybrid sales increased by 11.3 per cent year-on-year.
• Australians bought 19,024 hybrid vehicles in May.
• Hybrids accounted for 17.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales.
• EV sales reached 21,303 units, overtaking hybrids.
• PHEV sales surged 202.3 per cent year-on-year.
• Electrified vehicles accounted for 46.4 per cent of the market.

Australia’s best-selling hybrid models

While VFACTS does not break down sales by individual powertrain, several of Australia’s top-selling vehicles are offered with popular hybrid variants and remain key contributors to hybrid demand.

The Toyota RAV4 remains Australia’s hybrid success story, finishing as the country’s fourth best-selling vehicle overall in May.

Meanwhile, the Toyota Corolla and Camry continue to perform strongly in their respective passenger-car segments, while the Yaris Cross remains one of Australia’s most popular compact SUVs.

Toyota remains the hybrid benchmark

Toyota continues to dominate Australia’s hybrid landscape, with several of its core models available exclusively or predominantly with hybrid power.

Strong performances from the RAV4, Corolla, Camry and Yaris Cross helped reinforce the brand’s position as the country’s hybrid leader, despite Toyota’s overall sales declining by 30.7 per cent compared with May 2025.

The Camry was one of the few Toyota models to record growth during the month, with sales increasing 12.5 per cent year-on-year to 1,034 units.

Read more: Top-selling car models in Australia for May 2026

EVs and PHEVs are growing faster

Although hybrid sales continue to rise, they are no longer the fastest-growing electrified powertrain in Australia.

May marked the first time EVs outsold conventional hybrids in Australia, with battery-electric vehicles recording 21,303 deliveries.

Plug-in hybrids posted the strongest growth of any powertrain category, more than tripling their sales compared with the same period last year.

Why hybrids remain popular

Despite growing competition from EVs and PHEVs, hybrids continue to appeal to Australian buyers for several reasons:

• No charging required.
• Lower fuel consumption than conventional petrol vehicles.
• Well suited to long-distance driving.
• Lower running costs.
• Familiar ownership experience.

These advantages have helped hybrids maintain steady growth even as more electric alternatives enter the market.

Read more: Top-selling SUVs in Australia for May 2026

Nearly half of all vehicles sold are now electrified

When hybrid, EV and PHEV sales are combined, Australians purchased 49,642 electrified vehicles during May.

That represents 46.4 per cent of all new vehicle deliveries, highlighting the growing shift towards lower-emissions motoring. While EVs and PHEVs are currently recording the strongest growth rates, the latest VFACTS figures show hybrids remain a key part of Australia’s electrification journey and continue to attract thousands of buyers every month.

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