Australia’s electric vehicle fleet has surpassed 650,000 vehicles, as battery electric cars continue to gain ground in the new-car market.
According to the latest Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) data, Australians bought 23,510 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in July 2026, giving EVs a 22.3% share of new vehicle sales. The figure was slightly lower than June’s 23.5% share but remains significantly higher than the same period last year.
Battery electric vehicles have now accounted for 17.7% of all new-car sales in Australia in 2026, with around 650,000 EVs estimated to be on Australian roads.
Plug-in hybrids are also contributing to the growth of electrified vehicles. A further 10,359 PHEVs were sold in July, taking combined plug-in vehicle sales to 33,869 for the month.
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Australia’s best-selling EVs in 2026
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Tesla continues to lead Australia’s EV market with the Model Y, which has recorded 25,040 sales so far in 2026.
The BYD Sealion 7 is second with 15,064 sales, followed by the Geely EX5 on 8,790 sales.
The Omoda Jaecoo J5 has also made a strong start to the year, with 7,238 sales, while the Zeekr 7X has recorded 7,424 sales.
Top 10 EVs in Australia in 2026
| Rank | Model | YTD sales | July sales |
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 25,040 | 4,644 |
| 2 | BYD Sealion 7 | 15,064 | 2,548 |
| 3 | Geely EX5 | 8,790 | 2,034 |
| 4 | Zeekr 7X | 7,424 | 1,892 |
| 5 | Omoda Jaecoo J5 | 7,238 | 1,262 |
| 6 | BYD Atto 2 | 6,615 | 1,214 |
| 7 | Kia EV5 | 3,601 | 650 |
| 8 | BYD Atto 1 | 3,536 | 282 |
| 9 | Kia EV3 | 3,462 | 804 |
| 10 | BYD Atto 3 | 3,329 | 277 |
The Tesla Model Y was also Australia’s best-selling EV in July, with 4,644 sales. The BYD Sealion 7 followed with 2,548 sales, while the Geely EX5 recorded 2,034.
The figures show how quickly the Australian EV market has expanded beyond a small number of established models, with Chinese brands now accounting for several of the country’s highest-selling electric cars.
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BYD leads EV brands in 2026
Looking at sales by brand, BYD is Australia’s biggest EV brand so far in 2026, with 34,308 battery electric vehicles sold between January and July.
Tesla follows with 28,366 sales, while Geely has recorded 9,264 sales. Zeekr and Kia round out the top five with 7,950 and 7,861 sales respectively.
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Top 10 EV brands in Australia in 2026
| Rank | Brand | YTD EV sales | July sales |
| 1 | BYD | 34,308 | 5,116 |
| 2 | Tesla | 28,366 | 4,778 |
| 3 | Geely | 9,264 | 2,508 |
| 4 | Zeekr | 7,950 | 2,115 |
| 5 | Kia | 7,861 | 1,657 |
| 6 | Omoda Jaecoo | 7,238 | 1,262 |
| 7 | MG | 6,845 | 1,246 |
| 8 | Hyundai | 2,683 | 448 |
| 9 | Volkswagen | 2,451 | 183 |
| 10 | Toyota | 2,089 | 357 |
BYD’s lead becomes even more pronounced when its broader group sales are considered, with BYD Auto recording 34,394 EV sales year-to-date.
Geely’s parent company, Geely Holding Group, is another major force in Australia’s EV market. When its brands are combined, including Geely, Zeekr, Polestar and Volvo, the group has recorded 20,351 EV sales so far in 2026.
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Volvo shows EV demand is spreading to established brands
The shift towards electric vehicles is no longer limited to EV-focused manufacturers and newer Chinese brands.
Volvo Cars Australia reported that fully electric vehicles accounted for 65% of its sales in July, while EVs have made up 42% of its sales year-to-date.
The result highlights the growing contribution of electric models to established car brands’ sales, as manufacturers expand their EV offerings and Australian buyers have more models to choose from.
Tesla also reported strong interest in its new six-seat Model Y L in July, with the larger version outselling the standard Model Y during the month.
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More EV choice for Australian buyers
Australia’s EV market has changed significantly in just a few years, with more than 127,000 battery electric vehicles sold between January and July 2026 according to combined FCAI and EVC figures.
The growth is being supported by a wider range of models, from smaller and more affordable EVs such as the BYD Atto 1 to larger SUVs including the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and Kia EV5.
With the national EV fleet now exceeding 650,000 vehicles and electric cars accounting for more than one in five new-vehicle sales, 2026 is shaping up to be another significant year for EV adoption in Australia.
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