Tesla Model Y Becomes Second Best-Selling Car in Australia as EV Share Hits Record 8.8% in June

Posted on July 5, 2023

The Tesla Model Y has jumped to the second spot on the list of best-selling cars in Australia, surpassing the Ford Ranger Ute. Meanwhile, electric vehicles (EVs) have captured a record share of 8.8% of new car sales in June 2023.

Data from the Federated Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) reveals that the Tesla Model Y, which was the top-selling SUV in May, recorded 5,560 sales in June, making it the second-highest selling vehicle after the Toyota Hi-Lux Ute, which made 6,142 sales.

Battery electric vehicles made up 8.8% of June's total sales, translating to 11,042 units sold in the month, and represented 7.4% (a total of 43,092) of new vehicle sales in the first half of 2023. The CEO of the FCAI, Tony Weber, stated, “The early adopters of the new powertrain technology continue to push up the sales of electric vehicles across the country.”

When accounting for plug-in hybrid vehicles, the share of EVs in overall sales jumps to 16.6%.

This trend is expected to continue with the release of more competitively-priced models, like the MG4 and the BYD Dolphin, which are priced under $40,000. Weber stressed the importance of introducing battery electric models across all segments at competitive prices to meet the needs of mainstream consumers.

Overall, the top-selling models in June were:

Toyota Hi-Lux – 6,142 sales

Tesla Model Y – 5,560 sales

Ford Ranger – 5,334 sales

MG ZS – 3,756 sales (including 387 EVs)

Toyota Rav4 – 2,858 sales

Tesla continues to lead the EV market in Australia, recording its biggest month of sales this year in June with 7,018 units sold, a 57% increase over May. So far in 2023, Tesla has sold 25,577 EVs, accounting for 60% of the total 43,092 EV sales in the first half of the year.

The recent growth in EV sales in Australia follows the launch of the national EV strategy and the arrival of more affordable EV models. These developments are expected to keep the EV market share above 8.8% in the coming months, further contributing to reducing transport emissions and saving drivers thousands in fuel costs.