The Australian auto market stays vibrant, with 109,425 gentle automobiles bought in Might 2025, of which 12% have been plug-in fashions. This contains 10,065 battery electrical automobiles (BEVs), accounting for 9.2% of the gross sales, and three,081 plug-in hybrid electrical automobiles (PHEVs), representing 2.8% of the market. Over the primary 5 months of 2025, 33,976 EVs have been delivered, down from 40,966 throughout the identical interval in 2024. There’s optimism that elevated Mannequin Y deliveries and a gradual rollout of latest electrical automobile fashions will assist bridge this hole.
A latest report by Rho Movement highlighted that globally, 600,000 plug-in automobiles have been bought within the "Remainder of the World" (ROW) in Might, marking a 36% year-on-year progress. Australia contributes to this general progress, though its progress fee trails behind different areas. International EV gross sales are projected to extend by almost 30% yearly, probably surpassing 23 million items in 2025.
PHEV gross sales have been considerably influenced by authorities insurance policies. In April, companies rushed to capitalized on a window to keep away from Fringe Advantages Tax, main to six,932 PHEVs bought. Nonetheless, gross sales dropped to three,081 in Might, primarily pushed by BYD’s Shark 6 and Sealion 6 fashions. With the upcoming introduction of a brand new automobile effectivity customary (NVES), these hybrids turn out to be important for producers centered on lowering general CO2 emissions, significantly for industrial vehicle-heavy corporations like Ford.
In Might 2025, the top-selling BEVs have been as follows:
- Tesla Mannequin Y — 3,580 (Yr up to now — 6,974)
- Kia EV5 — 703 (Yr up to now — 2,212)
- Geely EX5 — 511 (Yr up to now — 1,023)
- BYD Sealion 7 — 488 (Yr up to now — 1,961)
- BYD Seal — 355 (Yr up to now — 982)
- BYD Dolphin — 345 (Yr up to now — 776)
- BYD Atto 3 — 322 (Yr up to now — 1,278)
- MG MG4 — 319 (Yr up to now — 2,017)
- Tesla Mannequin 3 — 317
- Kia EV3 — 310 (Yr up to now — 832)
The Mannequin Y skilled a exceptional surge, with 3,580 items bought in Might in comparison with simply 280 in April. Notably, the Kia EV5 and Geely EX5 have solely just lately entered the market. Different promising fashions just like the MG5 and Hyundai Inster are gaining traction, though particular gross sales knowledge for the Xpeng G6 stays unavailable.
Professor Ray Wills from the College of Western Australia remarked that Australian EV gross sales are poised for vital progress, forecasting a shift to double-digit market shares. The persevering with decline in ICE automobile gross sales coincides with an anticipated inflow of extra reasonably priced EVs from China and manufacturing partnerships in Europe, set to take form by the tip of this yr and accelerating into 2026.
Hybrid electrical automobile gross sales elevated, with 17,089 items bought in Might 2025, largely attributed to Toyota. As Toyota aligns its concentrate on battery-electric automobiles in China, a few of these will seemingly be exported to Australia, bolstering BEV adoption. In Might, Toyota bought 371 BZ4X and Subaru bought 111 Solterra automobiles.
With the Tesla Mannequin Y’s spectacular efficiency, it ranks fourth amongst all automobiles bought in Australia, trailing the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Toyota RAV4. The rising presence of the BYD PHEV Shark, which bought 1,300 items in Might, underscores the growing competitors and acceptance of electrical utes out there.
Nice Wall Motors is ready to introduce a PHEV ute, the GWM Canon Alpha, with a 115 km electrical vary, aimed toward competing in opposition to the Shark’s market share. In the meantime, the Ford Ranger’s PHEV providing faces criticism for being underwhelming in vary and specs in comparison with its opponents.
Ford’s management has defended its concentrate on towing and payload over electrical vary within the Ranger PHEV. In evaluating costs and vary, the BYD Shark affords 100 km at roughly AU$58,000, whereas the GWM Canon Alpha offers 110 km for AU$64,000, and the Ranger PHEV is at AU$72,000 for simply 49 km.
Wanting forward, hypothesis about Tesla’s Cybertruck getting into the Australian market is heating up. Feedback from Tesla Australia counsel a close to debut, and the general public’s curiosity is eager, aided by the automobile’s ongoing tour of main cities.
To adjust to Australian Design Guidelines, the Cybertruck would require minimal modifications, primarily relating to bumper widths and left-to-right conversions, seemingly leading to a value enhance of AU$5,000 to AU$10,000.
As for charging infrastructure, Australia is quickly increasing its community to help the growing variety of electrical automobiles. Bunnings, the nation’s largest {hardware} chain, is putting in chargers at its places, with 14 already in place. Public high-speed chargers have gotten more and more obtainable, significantly alongside main highways.
General, the ROW is taking part in a vital position in paving the best way for a vivid electrical future in Australia.
