Electric cars with a plug accounted for 36% of Australia's new car sales in August 2026 as motorists embraced greater choice and the opportunity to reduce driving costs.
The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) said the results reflected a structural shift in the way Australians choose their cars, with economic and environmental benefits clearly driving demand.
- Battery electric vehicles (BEV) hit record levels in August and accounted for around a quarter of all new vehicle sales (24.9%).
- Combined BEV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales held a 36% share of the new car market.
- Pure petrol and diesel cars took another tumble and accounted for well short of half of the market.
The Tesla Model Y remained Australia's best-selling new vehicle in August with 6,414 sales – around 17 per cent higher than its nearest competitor. BYD and Tesla ranked second and third respectively among manufacturers for the month, behind only Toyota.
Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio said the data demonstrated how strongly EVs are reshaping Australia's transport future.
"Battery electric and plug-in electric cars taking 36 per cent of the new car market is a powerful indication of where Australian motorists are at," Ms Delvecchio said.
"Australians want cleaner transport, but they also want to spend less getting to work, taking their kids to school and travelling to see family and friends on weekends."
"As more households do the sums on buying, charging and servicing an electric car, they increasingly find the maths more than stack up against petrol or diesel cars. And those real savings are magnified across the lifetime running cost of a vehicle."
Ms Delvecchio said greater choice and more competitive pricing was making the decision to go electric easier for more people.
"With almost 200 EV models now available in Australia, consumers have never had more choice across price point, size and features. That means every driver can now find an electric vehicle that suits their budget, their lifestyle and their family needs."
Ms Delvecchio said sustained growth in electric vehicle sales reinforced the importance of policy certainty and continued investment in charging infrastructure.
"The August numbers show that demand for EVs keeps growing." Ms Delvecchio said. "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 per cent of Australians who rent their home."
"That means maintaining policies that support ongoing electric vehicle adoption, and ensuring that reliable charging is keeping pace with demand – at home, at work and on the road."
