Good afternoon all
Please see March 2026 sales figures for Tesla and Polestar attached, and commentary from EV industry participants attached and below.
MEDIA RELEASE 2 April 2026
EV sales are up 40% in the first quarter of 2026, compared with the same period last year for two leading brands, according to new data released today by the Electric Vehicle Council.
Tesla and Polestar sold a combined 7,725 vehicles in the first quarter of 2026, up from 5,549 in the same period in 2025.
In March 2026 alone, Polestar and Tesla sold a combined 3,645 new vehicles with March sales growing 21.1% year-on-year and up 6.6% from the previous month, February 2026.
EVC CEO Julie Delvecchio said interest in EVs was growing rapidly, as people look to save up to $3,000 per year in running costs.
Second-hand EV sales in March for Pickles were up 60% on February and EV searches on the Pickles website jumped 163% month‑on‑month.
New data from Pickles shows 82% of used EVs are selling under $50,000 - with 43% under $30,000. Commonwealth Bank reported their lending data saw a 161% lift in demand for EV finance since the start of March.
EVC CEO Julie Delvecchio said the numbers reflected a fundamental shift in how Australians think about EVs.
"With fuel prices rising, every EV on the road is doing something simple but powerful - taking pressure off fuel supply for the people who need it most."
"EV drivers are driving the country's fuel resilience while cutting costs on their household budget. This has never been more important than now, given the PM's address urging people to use petrol and diesel responsibly and 'save fuel for people who have no choice but to drive".
"Volatile global oil markets are changing the conversation. Australians aren't asking whether EVs are the future anymore. They're asking which one they can get their hands on, and when."
Thom Drew, Tesla Country Director, Australia & New Zealand said more stock is on the way.
"The fuel crisis is pushing Australians to look for more certainty - both on energy and cost of living - and EVs are delivering exactly that.
"We're seeing strong customer demand clear out local stock, so we're ramping up Q2 supply, with more vehicles arriving over the coming weeks."
Scott Maynard, Polestar Australia Managing Director said the market is changing.
"There is a clear sense of urgency from customers, which is driving strong order volumes. Interest in Polestar's electric cars is surging in Australia. Test drive bookings have tripled in the last fortnight, and traffic to our showrooms is what we'd expect to see during a sale event. The vulnerable state of our nation's fuel security has been exposed, and won't magically improve when the current crisis ends."
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Brand Director Nathan Johnson said operating costs are driving interest.
"We're seeing steady growth in enquiries and conversion for electric Volkswagen passenger and commercial vehicles, with more businesses exploring how EVs can reduce operating costs in everyday use. While the transition is happening gradually, interest is clearly rising and our expanding electric lineup in Australia is designed to support customers as they take their first steps into e‑mobility."
Hyundai's Chief Operating Officer Gavin Donaldson said market conditions are driving uptake.
"Hyundai is seeing a clear increase in consumer interest in electric vehicles as Australians respond to rising petrol prices and heightened global fuel market uncertainty. These conditions are accelerating the shift toward EVs, which offer lower running costs, greater energy security and reduced exposure to international supply shocks."
Audi Australia's Brand Director Jeff Mannering, said knowledge of EVs is improving.
"What we're seeing now is a maturing BEV and PHEV market where customers arrive with a better understanding of the technology, charging and real‑world range. That shift in confidence is accelerating demand for our electric and plug-in hybrid models, and we are experiencing momentum for these models online and in showrooms."
Julie Delvecchio said now was not the time to change policy settings to make EVs more expensive.
"The Electric Car Discount, currently under review, is making EVs more available than ever before. Removing or scaling it back risks depriving Australians of $3,000 a year in savings on fuel and maintenance costs. With the cost-of-living front of mind for every Australian family, those savings couldn't be more timely."
"What we're seeing is a tipping point. The fuel crisis hasn't created interest in EVs - it's accelerated a shift that was already underway. Our website saw almost 100,000 page views in the past month, up 71%, with 97% of visitors new to our site. The most visited page? 'EVs available in Australia.' Australians are ready - the industry needs to meet them there."
